40 Times People Found Weird Things And Internet 'Detectives' Came To Help (New Pics)
It seems like there's no item that the users of the What Is This Thing subreddit couldn't recognize.
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Whether you're tidying up your home or taking a walk in the forest, sometimes you stumble upon weird things that leave you confused. Lucky for you, however, there are internet 'detectives' out there that can identify even the most bizarre things in a matter of minutes.
It seems like there's no item that the users of the What Is This Thing subreddit couldn't recognize. From weird slugs and termite poop to underwater mines and rocket parts - check out all the weird things recognized by internet 'detectives' in the gallery below! And if you want more, see our previous posts here and here.
More info: Reddit
Image source: Potetbror
Answer: AV1 is a personal avatar for children suffering from long-term illness, helping them to continue their education and maintain the normality of daily life despite no longer being able to access mainstream education. Through an app, the user can remotely log into the class from their home or hospital. Looking through the robots eyes, the child can watch the lesson, through the robot’s ears they can hear greetings from their friends and they can speak through the robot to interact with the rest of the class.
Image source: HR_92
Answer: So water doesn't stay on the bottom if you put the mug in the dishwasher and stops wet mugs suctioning themselves to coasters.
Pretty clever design actually.
Image source: wowiie
Answer: Termite poop.
Image source: chashaoballs
Answer: These are emergency showers. An affected person (chemical spills, laboratory mishaps, etc) will pull the level on the top and tepid water (OSHA defined between 60F and 100F) will douse the affected from the shower head (above) and boot sprayer (below). The duration of these showers is required to be 15 full minutes at approximately 20 PSI.
Source: I design these systems.
Image source: mickbruh
Answer: Fabulous antique early Victorian chatelaine aide memoir from mid 1800s. Made of sheets of bone, it would have hung on a lady's chatalaine chain or been kept securely in her pocket and she would have used it to make note and appointments for the week to come. It has 6 pages for the days Monday to Saturday, of course a lady would never have made appointments on a Sunday
Image source: pbjburger
Answer: Hag moth caterpillar with fuzzy “false arms” on its back to make it look like a dead leaf. (We’re looking at the belly)
Image source: AppleTangoMike
Answer: a practice gravestone scrap. Someone who carved gravestones would practice engraving lettering and drawings on this broken piece of stone.
Image source: yourlocalpizzajoint
Answer: Settling pond for erosion control and improving the downstream water for happier fish
Image source: genopsyism
Answer: There was recently a Chinese Long March 3B rocket launch that failed, and the rocket and its payload was seen reentering the atmosphere near Guam
Image source: feickuss
Answer: Patient had been tased. It's a taser dart.
Image source: New_Fry
Answer: "It is a wave-powered desalinator that is owned by Oneka Technologies, a firm in Quebec. It takes seawater and turns it into fresh water. It is powered by the motion of the waves."
Image source: CIoverload
Answer: For doing surgery on the cow
Image source: johnsinternetsales
Answer: It's an anti-theft device for pocket watches.
Image source: CloudiaNYT
Answer: Aztec calendar. Funny thing, I remember a bunch of these a while ago being smuggled over the border and they were made of meth.
Image source: mstarrbrannigan
Answer: The white block to the left is made with cashew nuts and sugar : It is called kaju barfi. The yellow block looks like it is mango flavored barfi. The circular one looks like dried fig with nuts stuffed in it. The shiny ones have edible silver foil and are also made from almonds, cashews and pistachio nuts. They are all made with clarified butter and are delicious desserts.
Image source: stephi-
Answer: Checked the tax records... It is or was an alligator farm.
Image source: V-by-V
Answer: It's a fridge, or a old time cold room. Basically a room covered with dirt for insulation
Image source: 4tunabrix
Answer: It's potato art... And I'm not even kidding... The artist is unknown (some say by an artist called NoNose), if you look for 'London bus stop potato art' you can find many more articles written about it.
Image source: idontdislikeoranges
Answer: A rainbow is a rainbow. The cause is refraction/dispersion of light due to water in the air.
Looks like it’s raining over there. The shape is just a matter of angles and height.
Image source: GumAddict5947
Answer: Stonefly larvae. Good sign for the water quality.
Image source: FallAwayAlways
Answer: Those are the studs from your walls -- redistributed by your termites.
Image source: JjzMerheb
Answer: Skateboard prevention device. Keeps em from grinding on edges.
Image source: Damadamas
Answer: It is an underwater mine
Image source: whita_019
Answer: Flying buttresses. They’re there to transfer the weight of the roof outwards to stop the walls bowing and collapsing.
Image source: Ymmy805
Answer: Hoof pick for cleaning horses hooves.
Image source: ErikBech
Answer: Sea grass ball
Image source: hadsecks
Answer: Magic square. It's a popular sort of decoration to put outside math departments
Image source: mosaltedchipz
Answer: This label is used for materials with gamma and neutron emissions This label was specifically used on containers shipped by aircraft, and that reference is from the late 50s/early 60s. Any red label is going to be Group I or II, which as stated above emits gamma rays, neutrons, or both, and is potentially harmful even with the box closed. OP's lid came from something shipped by air, but it's interesting to note that on ground shipments of the same class of materials (like with the label variant I found in my first edit), the trucks themselves were required to be marked "CAUTION" or "DANGEROUS - RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS" on the sides and rear of the vehicle just to haul this kind of material.
Post author update: As of today a 3 man team from the state of Utah department of environmental quality, division of waste management and radiation control, uranium Mills and radioactive materials section (holy [crap]) showed up at my friend's house around 10am and spent a few hours taking readings, swabbing samples and asking questions and after all of that, found nothing but natural trace amounts of radon. The "lid" they think was from the late 1950's and was unrelated to the "vault".
Image source: rpunx
Answer: That’s a bacteria pellicle.
Image source: dwarfstar3434
Answer: Jar opener
Image source: debo3883
Answer: It's a razor blade sharpener. A 1930s salesman's special and it doesn't even sharpen the blades just realigns the edge and gets you a few more shaves.
Image source: aniwrack
Answer: Oval finger splints for treating: Arthritis, Boutonniere Deformities, Crooked Finger, Fractures, Hypermobility (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), Lateral Deviation, Mallet Finger, Swan Neck, Trigger Finger, Trigger Thumb
Image source: StopLookingAtMyName-
Answer: They are the evaporation ponds for the Xinjiang Lop Nur Potash Co., Ltd. one of the world's largest potassium sulfate production mines
Image source: kristhecadet
Answer: They help keep shoes, dresses, handbags, etc. from getting snagged in the tiny gap at the side. I use them as a little shoe shine, too.
Image source: hugosp0ps
Answer: The swastika was one of Britain's favourite lucky charms during WW1, e.g. this swastika key charm from the war. There were swastika cushions in British homes & the Scouts had a swastika badge. There must have been a mass domestic clear out in the 1930s/40s, as such items now rare.
Image source: Ordralphabetix
Answer: Those look like midge eggs, an aquatic fly
Image source: poetry-divided
Answer: A hairless seal flipper
Image source: StayAtHomeDuck
Answer: Alvernia Studios is a film studio located near Kraków, Poland, 18 km (10 miles) from the Kraków-Balice Airport, with additional offices in Mumbai and Warsaw.
Image source: John5671
Answer: If it actually did come out the tap with the water, my guess is some sort of flocculant/coagulant used in tap-water treatment, that somehow made it past the system and was still dissolved/in suspension in the water. Then settled out during the night.
These chemicals are used to attract particle in the water and clump them together for easier removal. Some of those "concoctions" looks similar to this after settling out.
Image source: bikematt7109
Answer: A way to access your crawlspace, there’s usually plumbing, wiring and potentially ductwork that periodically may need maintenance
#1 What Is This Thing In My Classroom? Makes Subtle Fan-Like Sounds And Changes Colour On Top
Image source: Potetbror
Answer: AV1 is a personal avatar for children suffering from long-term illness, helping them to continue their education and maintain the normality of daily life despite no longer being able to access mainstream education. Through an app, the user can remotely log into the class from their home or hospital. Looking through the robots eyes, the child can watch the lesson, through the robot’s ears they can hear greetings from their friends and they can speak through the robot to interact with the rest of the class.
#2 IKEA Coffee Mug, What Is The Thing At The Bottom?
Image source: HR_92
Answer: So water doesn't stay on the bottom if you put the mug in the dishwasher and stops wet mugs suctioning themselves to coasters.
Pretty clever design actually.
#3 Grainy-Like Things? They Appear Inside And On My Closet, And Reappear Whenever I Clean Them. What Are These?
Image source: wowiie
Answer: Termite poop.
#4 What Are These For In An Outdoor Area Of A Hospital?
Image source: chashaoballs
Answer: These are emergency showers. An affected person (chemical spills, laboratory mishaps, etc) will pull the level on the top and tepid water (OSHA defined between 60F and 100F) will douse the affected from the shower head (above) and boot sprayer (below). The duration of these showers is required to be 15 full minutes at approximately 20 PSI.
Source: I design these systems.
#5 Thin Slabs Of Ivory With Days Of The Week On The Top Found In My Closet. What Is This Thing?
Image source: mickbruh
Answer: Fabulous antique early Victorian chatelaine aide memoir from mid 1800s. Made of sheets of bone, it would have hung on a lady's chatalaine chain or been kept securely in her pocket and she would have used it to make note and appointments for the week to come. It has 6 pages for the days Monday to Saturday, of course a lady would never have made appointments on a Sunday
#6 Weird Squirming Living Lovecraftian Nightmare On Our Lawn Chair This Morning. What Is This Thing?
Image source: pbjburger
Answer: Hag moth caterpillar with fuzzy “false arms” on its back to make it look like a dead leaf. (We’re looking at the belly)
#7 My Mom And Dad Were Doing Some Landscaping In The Backyard And Found This Weird Slate With Writing Etched Into It. The Months Are Spelled Out And The Year States 1827 But That’s All The Information Here. I Can Send More Pics In Pm. Also, This Was Located In Southern Missouri
Image source: AppleTangoMike
Answer: a practice gravestone scrap. Someone who carved gravestones would practice engraving lettering and drawings on this broken piece of stone.
#8 Water Flows From A Culvert Beneath A Trail Into This Circular Pool, Then Continues On Into The Woods. What's The Pool's Purpose?
Image source: yourlocalpizzajoint
Answer: Settling pond for erosion control and improving the downstream water for happier fish
#9 Found On Guam In Shallow Water. 3-Meter Diameter Disk. Top Looks Like Polyester In A Honeycomb Shape That Is Fiber Glassed To Flimsy Aluminum Disk. I'm Stumped On This One. Never Seen Anything Like It. What Is This Thing?
Image source: genopsyism
Answer: There was recently a Chinese Long March 3B rocket launch that failed, and the rocket and its payload was seen reentering the atmosphere near Guam
#10 Mini Harpoon Thing Found When Changing Bedding In A Hospital Room
Image source: feickuss
Answer: Patient had been tased. It's a taser dart.
#11 Washed Up On A Beach In Florida. What Is This Thing?
Image source: New_Fry
Answer: "It is a wave-powered desalinator that is owned by Oneka Technologies, a firm in Quebec. It takes seawater and turns it into fresh water. It is powered by the motion of the waves."
#12 Mostly Concerned About Why Is This Thing?
Image source: CIoverload
Answer: For doing surgery on the cow
#13 When You Pull The Ring On This, Four Little Pins Come Out. What Is It Used For?
Image source: johnsinternetsales
Answer: It's an anti-theft device for pocket watches.
#14 My Grandfather Told Us To Not Remove This When Renovating. What Is This Thing?
Image source: CloudiaNYT
Answer: Aztec calendar. Funny thing, I remember a bunch of these a while ago being smuggled over the border and they were made of meth.
#15 My Boss Just Got Married, And Due To A Combination Of Indian Tradition And Him Being A Bro, He Brought Us These Little Snackboxes. He Left Before I Could Ask Him Much About Them. What Are They Called And What Are They Made Out Of?
Image source: mstarrbrannigan
Answer: The white block to the left is made with cashew nuts and sugar : It is called kaju barfi. The yellow block looks like it is mango flavored barfi. The circular one looks like dried fig with nuts stuffed in it. The shiny ones have edible silver foil and are also made from almonds, cashews and pistachio nuts. They are all made with clarified butter and are delicious desserts.
#16 What Are These Swirly Things? Found On Google Maps - Located In Cogdell, Georgia, USA
Image source: stephi-
Answer: Checked the tax records... It is or was an alligator farm.
#17 Saw This In A Forest In Germany. What Is This Thing?
Image source: V-by-V
Answer: It's a fridge, or a old time cold room. Basically a room covered with dirt for insulation
#18 What Are These Things I Keep Seeing On Nearly All The London Bus Stops In My Area?
Image source: 4tunabrix
Answer: It's potato art... And I'm not even kidding... The artist is unknown (some say by an artist called NoNose), if you look for 'London bus stop potato art' you can find many more articles written about it.
#19 This Rainbow Effect?
Image source: idontdislikeoranges
Answer: A rainbow is a rainbow. The cause is refraction/dispersion of light due to water in the air.
Looks like it’s raining over there. The shape is just a matter of angles and height.
#20 Found In Deep Creek Md. What Is This Thing?
Image source: GumAddict5947
Answer: Stonefly larvae. Good sign for the water quality.
#21 Growing From The Basement Ceiling At A Very Rapid Rate. It Is Also Leaving On The Table Below It, Grayish Particles. What Is This Thing?
Image source: FallAwayAlways
Answer: Those are the studs from your walls -- redistributed by your termites.
#22 What Are These Circular Metal Things On These Stairs? I Just Hit My Knee And Goddamn Did It Hurt
Image source: JjzMerheb
Answer: Skateboard prevention device. Keeps em from grinding on edges.
#23 Saw This Rusty Thing On My Walk In A Forest. The Forest Belong To A Estate Wedellsborg, Vestfyn, Denmark. What Is This Thing?
Image source: Damadamas
Answer: It is an underwater mine
#24 What Are Those Things Called? I Think They're Typical Of Gothic Architecture?
Image source: whita_019
Answer: Flying buttresses. They’re there to transfer the weight of the roof outwards to stop the walls bowing and collapsing.
#25 Found This In My House. I Bet My Wife It Has Something To Do With A Tie. Do I Win?
Image source: Ymmy805
Answer: Hoof pick for cleaning horses hooves.
#26 What Is This Fiber/Sand Ball? Found Among Thousands Like It On A Beach In Spain. It Weighs Almost Nothing
Image source: ErikBech
Answer: Sea grass ball
#27 Plaque With Numbers Inscribed On It. Found On The Sidewalk Outside A Building At My University
Image source: hadsecks
Answer: Magic square. It's a popular sort of decoration to put outside math departments
#28 Found In A Crawlspace Of A House From The 80's Next To 3 Red Boxes Encased In Concrete. What Is This Thing?
Image source: mosaltedchipz
Answer: This label is used for materials with gamma and neutron emissions This label was specifically used on containers shipped by aircraft, and that reference is from the late 50s/early 60s. Any red label is going to be Group I or II, which as stated above emits gamma rays, neutrons, or both, and is potentially harmful even with the box closed. OP's lid came from something shipped by air, but it's interesting to note that on ground shipments of the same class of materials (like with the label variant I found in my first edit), the trucks themselves were required to be marked "CAUTION" or "DANGEROUS - RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS" on the sides and rear of the vehicle just to haul this kind of material.
Post author update: As of today a 3 man team from the state of Utah department of environmental quality, division of waste management and radiation control, uranium Mills and radioactive materials section (holy [crap]) showed up at my friend's house around 10am and spent a few hours taking readings, swabbing samples and asking questions and after all of that, found nothing but natural trace amounts of radon. The "lid" they think was from the late 1950's and was unrelated to the "vault".
#29 I’m Not Doing My Dishes Until I Know What This Beautiful Thing Is
Image source: rpunx
Answer: That’s a bacteria pellicle.
#30 On The Underside Of Our Cabinet In The House We Recently Bought, Built In The 70s. Plastic With Metal Teeth On One Side, Very Dull. Each Side Is ~4 Inches Long. What Is This Thing?
Image source: dwarfstar3434
Answer: Jar opener
#31 I Found This Hanging From The Basement Rafters Of My 100 Year Old House. It Appears To Be Two Marbles Or Something Similar In A Hanger Of Some Sort. Any One Have A Clue What This Could Be?
Image source: debo3883
Answer: It's a razor blade sharpener. A 1930s salesman's special and it doesn't even sharpen the blades just realigns the edge and gets you a few more shaves.
#32 What Are These Are What Are They For? The Girl Sitting Across From Me Had Them On All Fingers On Both Hands
Image source: aniwrack
Answer: Oval finger splints for treating: Arthritis, Boutonniere Deformities, Crooked Finger, Fractures, Hypermobility (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), Lateral Deviation, Mallet Finger, Swan Neck, Trigger Finger, Trigger Thumb
#33 Found In The Middle Of Asian Desert, In Google Earth At 40°26'37"N 90°48'00"E. What Is This Thing?
Image source: StopLookingAtMyName-
Answer: They are the evaporation ponds for the Xinjiang Lop Nur Potash Co., Ltd. one of the world's largest potassium sulfate production mines
#34 What Is This Thing That You Always See On An Escalator?
Image source: kristhecadet
Answer: They help keep shoes, dresses, handbags, etc. from getting snagged in the tiny gap at the side. I use them as a little shoe shine, too.
#35 So I Found This Key In With A Bunch Of Things I Was Given Decades Ago When My Grandfather Died. Anyone Ever Seen A Key Like This Before? It’s About 2cm Long An I Have No Clue Where It Came From
Image source: hugosp0ps
Answer: The swastika was one of Britain's favourite lucky charms during WW1, e.g. this swastika key charm from the war. There were swastika cushions in British homes & the Scouts had a swastika badge. There must have been a mass domestic clear out in the 1930s/40s, as such items now rare.
#36 Found In The Wood In A Creek. It Was Under A Piece Of Wood. What Is This Thing?
Image source: Ordralphabetix
Answer: Those look like midge eggs, an aquatic fly
#37 Found On The Norfolk (UK) Coast. Very Soft And Floppy, Pale Pink But Not Rotten Or Water Bloated. What Is This?
Image source: poetry-divided
Answer: A hairless seal flipper
#38 This Sci-Fi Looking Place In Poland, Somewhere By Krakow. What Is This Thing?
Image source: StayAtHomeDuck
Answer: Alvernia Studios is a film studio located near Kraków, Poland, 18 km (10 miles) from the Kraków-Balice Airport, with additional offices in Mumbai and Warsaw.
#39 Poured A Glass Of Water Last Night From The Tap Left It Under The Light On The Night Stand, Next Morning I Found This Floating In It... What Could It Be?
Image source: John5671
Answer: If it actually did come out the tap with the water, my guess is some sort of flocculant/coagulant used in tap-water treatment, that somehow made it past the system and was still dissolved/in suspension in the water. Then settled out during the night.
These chemicals are used to attract particle in the water and clump them together for easier removal. Some of those "concoctions" looks similar to this after settling out.
#40 An Opening In The Bottom Floor Of An 1850s Home In Charleston, Sc. What Is This Thing?
Image source: bikematt7109
Answer: A way to access your crawlspace, there’s usually plumbing, wiring and potentially ductwork that periodically may need maintenanceDE
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