Mental Floss

WEIRD







Villa Baviera was originally a Germany colony known as Colonia Dignidad.

Inspiring to imagine but nightmarish to live in, these failed communes have become cautionary tales in hubris and ego. 

Colin Scanlon


Hey, little guy.

From the long legs of the jerboa to basically everything about the duck-billed platypus, evolution has taken some weird turns.

Bethel Afful
Steer clear of the blast zone.

Discover some of history's most hilarious—and unforgettable—controversies that were caused by farts, including regime changes in Ancient Egypt and more.

Lucas Reilly
The road through the Guyanese jungle leading to the Jonestown compound.

Congressman Leo Ryan went to Guyana in 1978 to investigate reports of American cult leader Jim Jones holding hundreds of his followers captive. Ryan didn't make it out of Jonestown alive.

Chris Higgins