WEIRD

Not an actual Philadelphia restroom sign, but give it time.

‘Wee the People’: Philly Residents Offer Name Suggestions for the City’s New Public Bathrooms

If you guessed someone would suggest ‘Gritty Sitty,’ you are absolutely right.

The Horror Movie Roger Ebert Couldn’t Review

The late film critic had an open mind, but one 2010 film caused him to throw in the towel.

People really, really hate the word 'moist'—and researchers may have figured out why.

The Science Behind Why People Hate the Word ‘Moist’

You may think you detest the word ‘moist’ because of the way it sounds, but research indicates that that’s not the full story.

You'll never look at time the same way again.

17 Facts That Will Warp Your Sense of Time

From prehistoric animals that lived much closer to us temporally than you might realize to the guillotine lasting way beyond the French Revolution, these facts are to mess with your perception of time.

The USDA would define this ham-and-cheese on bread as a sandwich.

5 Ways to Define a Sandwich, According to the Law

Is a hot dog a sandwich? What about a burrito? It depends on whom you ask—and what state you live in.

The Bizarre Mystery of Virginia's 'TV Fairy'

In 2018, a mysterious stranger left roughly 20 vintage television sets at random doorsteps in Virginia. Then they struck again.

Fact #1: This is definitely not the world's largest ball of hair. / Getty / 4FR

100 Weird, Miscellaneous Facts

In the latest episode of The List Show, host and Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy shares 100 weird facts. Learn about solo synchronized swimming, Dildo Days, and Pope Francis’ past gigs. We know you’re curious.

Some pretty terrible curses awaited history's book thieves.

9 Curses for Book Thieves From the Middle Ages and Beyond

In the Middle Ages, stealing a book was more like stealing someone’s car today. Now, we have car alarms; then, they had chains, chests … and curses.

7 of History’s Strangest Mass Hysteria Events

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.

8 Historical Methods of Detecting Pregnancy

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.

'Weird Tales' was a pioneer in fantasy and horror.

8 Things You Might Not Know About 'Weird Tales' Magazine

The pulp magazine, which turns 100 this year, inspired Stephen King and made a star out of Conan.

An (Almost) Comprehensive History of Rat Kings

Myth, hoax, or Mother Nature's freak accident? Here's the story of nearly every rat king ever discovered.

These facts will have you making this face.

15 Facts You’ll Wish You Had Never Learned

We can’t promise you’ll ever feel the same way about pasta, pools, or your own face.

Is there beaver butt secretion in your vanilla ice cream?

A Brief History of Castoreum, the Beaver Butt Secretion Used as Flavoring

Is there beaver butt in your vanilla ice cream?

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

The Time Napoleon Was Attacked by Rabbits

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.

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

25 Weird Old-Timey Life Hacks

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

'Little Hercules': When 1940s Audiences Were Awed by Wallace Gough, World's Strongest Baby

in the 1940s, mighty tot Wallace could do chin-ups and climb ladders, all thanks to a "secret formula" added to his milk.

If someone were to mention the word 'Fartulum' to you, a snail probably wouldn't be the first thing that came to mind.

11 Naughty-Sounding Scientific Names (and What They Really Mean)

Perfectly innocent Latin or Greekisms that just happen to sound like something else.

'The Coffin Man': Michael “Mick” Meaney, Who Volunteered to Be Buried Alive for 61 Days

One of the hottest fads of the 1960s was being buried alive. Irishman Mike Meaney thought he could take the title away from a Texan.

Pink Trombone is an simulator that simulates how speech is made.

Play With An Odd Voice Simulator That Mimics How Your Mouth Creates Sound

How many sounds can you figure out how to make?

4 People Who Were Buried Alive (And How They Got Out)

While many reported cases of burials of the living were exaggerated, there are a few cases of people who went into their graves while still breathing.

When a South Texas County Changed Its Official Greeting From ‘Hello’ to ‘Heaven-o’

Leonso Canales Jr. was sick of raising ‘hell’ every time he answered the phone.

The taxidermied body of Cocaine Bear on display at the Kentucky for Kentucky Fun Mall.

How Cocaine Bear’s Taxidermied Body Ended Up in a Kentucky Mall

Cocaine Bear’s afterlife as a taxidermied tourist attraction is worthy of its own movie.

This Polish City’s Hottest Attraction Is a Chonky Cat Named Gacek

“He chomnk.” —One Google reviewer who gave Szczecin’s famed feline five stars.

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