Mental Floss

WEIRD

Whether an entire town can’t stop dancing or people suddenly start worrying about minor marks on their windshields, these seemingly unbelievable events have had some surprising (and sometimes devastating) effects.

Stacy Conradt
A lot of the methods involved pee.

Before home pregnancy tests, the most reliable test was just to wait and see. But people still wanted to know as early as possible whether they were harboring a tiny human.

Linda Rodriguez McRobbie








“[They] forced the conqueror of conquerors ... to retreat and leave them in possession of the field.”

History tells us that Napoleon’s most upsetting defeat came at Waterloo. But it may have actually occurred eight years earlier, after the French emperor was attacked by a relentless horde of rabbits.

Lucas Reilly
Gallaher's Cigarettes recommended a hack that involved setting butter on fire.

From raw beef for wrinkle prevention to cleaning paintings with potatoes, here are some of the most memorable life hacks from days of yore.

Ellen Gutoskey










These paradoxes will melt your brain.

A good paradox can befuddle the best of us. If you're in the mood to narrow your brow at seemingly irreconcilable facts, have we got a list for you.

Paul Anthony Jones


The Hope Diamond is beautiful—and some also believe it's cursed.

From chairs and cars to mummies and creepy paintings, these supposedly cursed things are said to bring death, doom, or just plain old bad luck upon anyone within reach.

Ellen Gutoskey, Kristy Puchko




Einstein: Not curious about UFOs.

By July 1952, UFOs were a hot topic—and Reverend Louis A. Gardner wanted to know Albert Einstein’s thoughts. Did flying saucers come from space? Or were they military technology?

Erin McCarthy