The mysterious world we live in is full of curious objects, each a puzzle waiting to be solved. In this age of technology and connectivity, we often turn to the collective wisdom and problem-solving power of the Internet to unravel the mysteries that surround us. The Internet has become a digital detective equipped with the ability to decipher the most mysterious mysteries. It is the main resource when we come across confusing subjects that leave us scratching our heads in confusion. One such platform that serves as a virtual magnifying glass for these cryptic puzzles is the
“What’s That Thing?” (WITT) subreddit. This online gathering of inquisitive minds has evolved into a hub for uncovering the secrets of a wide range of interesting subjects. In this article, we embark on a journey to explore 20 of the most mysterious mysterious objects that have baffled and enthralled the online community, showcasing remarkable problem-solving skills and the collective knowledge of the internet.
1. He appears to be Clay
After attending an after-school program where he exchanged tickets at the “store” for basically dollar items, my three-year-old returned home. It’s the size of a fingertip, made of rubber or silicone, non-lubricating, and about as hard as a bouncy ball without bouncing. it doesn’t light up.
what is it?
Answer (from u/stargazin4dayz): Without the metal bottom treatment to add that they never really erased anything, it appears to be an 80’s bulb eraser.
2. Biased Bell
What is the purpose of the iron cones in front of the entrance to the building in Bath, England on both sides of the gate?
Answer by u/agamemnonlV: It’s a snuffer. A guest would use it to extinguish his torch.
3. Pig in gold
4. Safety of operation
What is the purpose of these blue reflective markings? Facing the field are on a pole.
Answer (from u/Terror_Raisin24): To prevent deer from crossing the road, they reflect the headlights of cars onto the field. Therefore, it is for the safety of both animals and vehicles.
5. Vintage car accessories
I wonder if this was found on an antique GMC dash. a striated substance that resembles lucite.
Answer (from [deleted user]): This is a traffic light viewer. This helped reflect the light from above so you could know when the light changed, as traffic lights used to be on the side you stopped on, often making it impossible to see the light if you were first in line.
6. Creative road sign
Is there a variable stop sign in Illinois?
Answer (from u/I_Me_Mine): These are flaps that are usually used to read writing at an oblique angle. Another name for them is directional shields. They will be much more common at traffic lights.
7. Obsolete household item
When I was cleaning out my people’s basement, I came across this. It appears to be some kind of book. The paint is heavily scuffed and it is made of wood.
Torn scraps of newspaper, one bearing the date 1967, were discovered inside the upper chamber.
Answer (by u/raygunnysack): Italian Florentine-style phone stand. I forgot to mention that the drawer is a good idea for stationery, paper and a personal phone book. You can store your city phone book or books in the vertical cavity. It is movable using the handle at the top.
8. A pristine bath
Is there a double-sided shallow bath in this luxury hotel? When the button is pressed, one side will light up with hot water and a red light for about 30 seconds. After the same time, the opposite side turns off and lights up with blue light and cold water.
Reaction (from u/notapantsday): This is very typical in Germany; we call it “Wechselbad.” It is prescribed to first leave the feet in warm water and then quickly immerse them in cold water (repeat this several times). It’s said to help with circulation, although I’m not sure there’s any real scientific evidence for this. These are usually found in spas and other wellness or medical facilities.
9. Metal Pumpkin,
What is this object that opens up like a pumpkin and has a small glass container inside that snaps shut? The glass has a sharp pin attached to it. A small compartment can be seen behind the opening flat glass surface.
Answer (from u/codece): It could be a “vinaigrette”, a Victorian-era piece of jewelry that women used to hang from a camomile necklace to hold smelling salts or perfume.
10. An unusual spoon
I came across this while cleaning out the attic. It’s 20cm, it’s made of wood and it looks handmade, but I have no idea what it is or what it does!
Answer (by u/juareno): Possibly the Yacouba Double Spoon, which is a classic African art sign for hospitality. It symbolizes the opposition of two very different universes.
11. Linear crop circles?
Question: There are somewhat parallel but not perfectly straight lines next to my office building.
What is happening there?
Answer (from u/agate_): It’s likely that you live in the UK, where planning authorities often order developers to carry out “assessment test trenching” to ensure that no significant archaeological features can be destroyed during excavation. A more extensive archaeological survey may be necessary before construction begins if test trenches reveal anything fascinating. As far as I know, this is only practice in the UK.
This is absolutely not done in the US and I am not aware of any cases where this has occurred in Europe.
12. Odd style
What is this growth appearing on my microwaved mugs?
Answer (from u/forestreeline): I’m a potter. Therefore, depending on the material, clay bodies can be porous. Earthenware and stoneware are less dense than porcelain. Liquids can pass through the fired clay in both cases. The outer glaze may appear solid, yet it may contain hundreds of microscopic holes and cracks. Liquids can seep and crystallize in gaps and cracks in ceramic containers when heated by microwaves or simply left there. Usually, only cheap or handmade pottery causes this.
This is called “cracking” glazing and is sometimes done on purpose. Cracking is an unintentional phenomenon in which the tensile strength of the glaze differs from that of the clay during the firing process.
13. Cool Handle?
discovered in a used bookstore. Everything is spinning and the marks and moons lead me to believe it could be for mapping.
Answer (from you, Astrohitchhiker):
Astrolabe, GPS in ancient times. commonly used for scientific purposes, timekeeping, and navigation. I got one that resembled a key ring. In my experience, it won’t be easy to use if it’s too little.
14. Elegant scissors
Q: Something I got at a flea market years ago that looks like a pair of scissors.
Answer (by u/woahwoahwoah28): This umbilical clamp is old. That explains why it is shaped like a stork! Midwives used various types of scissor embroidery, which eventually evolved from this technique while waiting to give birth.
15. There is no pet door
What is this hole I notice on the exterior of British houses?
Answer (by u/togtogtog): It’s a shoe scraper used to remove dirt from shoes before entering. They are rather typical.
16. Stationery
What is this little metal thing that fits in my hand? The gold-colored part moves up and down, but the adjustment screw allows it to be fixed. The seller, who was discovered in a consignment shop, is unsure of his identity after other people tried to identify him.
It can only be part of anything or not.
Answer (from u/spork154): It appears to be an embossing fountain pen holder.
17. The truth is not what you believe
Q: The junk drawer contained Scoopy Doodad.
Answer (from u/W6KME): The original Sunbeam Mixmaster came with a bowl-shaped attachment attached to the top of the mixer called the juicer. This is where the juice would come out of the spout. A small sieve was attached to the wire part to remove the pulp.
18. Cigar holders built incorrectly?
Q: This sofa has a sliding tray with holes on both sides.
Answer (from user u/Klutzy_Journalist_36): stack surface. It has an additional folder. It’s a stack with coordinating hooks. The pegs are inserted and the magazine is placed on top. The magazine fits snugly because they fit together. You then return the tray to the kitchen and slide the section back into place so it’s out of the way.
19. The secret of polystyrene
What do these seven sets of dimples on the foam represent?
Answer (from u/agate_): Expanded polystyrene (also known as “styrofoam”) products are not made this way, however, many plastic items have tiny marks where the liquid plastic is injected into the mold. Rather, the tiny plastic granules are pre-treated with steam in a large hopper, causing the granules to expand into small foam pellets. After the foam pellets are inserted into the mold, more steam is pumped in, causing the pellets to expand even further and completely fill the mold. The steam injection locations are marked with small seven-dot marks. The distinguishing feature between expanded and extruded polystyrene is that the former has a “grainy” appearance when broken, allowing you to see individual pellets, while the latter is essentially solid blocks.
20. Homemade insect repellent
The 20th mystery object opens like a pumpkin and has a small glass container inside. This item is identified as a “vinaigrette”, a Victorian-era piece of jewelry used to hold smelling salts or perfumes.
In a world full of mysterious objects, the online community and platforms like “What’s that thing?” the subreddit provide a space for individuals to come together and solve these mysteries. The Internet really works like a modern detective, allowing us to tap into the collective wisdom and knowledge of millions of users. These mysterious objects, each with a unique story and purpose, continue to pique our curiosity and challenge our problem-solving skills. As long as there are mysteries to unravel, the online community will remain a valuable resource for those seeking answers to life’s perplexing questions.
As we conclude our journey with these mysterious objects, it is clear that the Internet, with its vast network of curious minds, continues to serve as an invaluable resource for solving the mysteries that surround us. From unusual artifacts to confusing gadgets, the online community has proven time and time again that no puzzle is too complex for their collective intellect. As new mysteries emerge and inventive solutions are devised, the internet sleuth remains alert and ready to solve the next puzzle that comes his way. So the next time you come across a puzzling item or find yourself wondering the meaning of an unusual object, remember that the Internet’s digital sleuths are just a click away, armed with the knowledge and ingenuity to decode the world’s most puzzling curiosities.