Mental Floss

TOYS

Cornellier, Wikimedia// CC BY-SA 4.0

In the first edition of "Throwback," our all-new YouTube series, we take a deep dive into the bizarre history of Sea-Monkeys and Harold von Braunhut, the man who created them—then funneled the millions he made into illegal activities.

Alvin Ward






FreedomMaster/iStock via Getty Images

Lava lamp creators are notoriously tight-lipped about their secret ingredients, but DIY lava lamps aren’t impossible.

Ellen Gutoskey


Jon Mayer

When you look back at the colorful life of the frontiersman-turned-solider-turned-president, maybe it isn’t a stretch to put Teddy Roosevelt alongside Duke, Hawk, and the rest of the G.I. Joes.

Jason Serafino
Joe Haupt, Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0

Every holiday season, Hess rolls out a new collectible Hess truck. Take a look at some of the rarest and most valuable Hess truck models that might be idling in your storage area.

Jake Rossen








Target

The Rube Goldberg-esque board game has been a hit for over five decades—but Rube Goldberg never saw a dime from it.

Jake Rossen




JuliScalzi/iStock via Getty Images

What keeps us coming back to old cartoons, movies, and the '90210' reboot? The same reward system in the brain that responds to eating great food or winning money.

Jake Rossen




Build-A-Bear Workshop is a kid's dream.

The children's advisory board of this popular DIY stuffed animal destination is made up of actual children.

Jake Rossen