In the vast expanse of the Internet lies a treasure trove of mysteries waiting to be unlocked by the collective curiosity and investigative skills of online communities. Platforms like the “What’s this thinthe subreddit serve virtual detective bureaus where individuals from all corners of the world come together to solve puzzles posed by seemingly mundane but perplexing artifacts.
Amidst the digital landscape, everyday objects acquire an air of intrigue, each carrying its own mysterious story. From a tiny, unidentified rubber-like object to iron cones standing guard at the entrance to a building in Bath, England, and even a whimsical golden pig container serving the purpose of a salt cellar, these artifacts prompt a search for understanding.
Below is a list of the 20 most mysterious artifacts we could find:
It 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?
A: Without the metal bottom treatment that adds that they never really wiped anything down, it looks like an 80’s light bulb eraser.
2. Inquisitive 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? In response, it’s a snuffer. A guest would use it to extinguish his torch.
3. The Golden Piggy
What exactly is this thing? A detachable spoon serves as the tail of this little gold piggy bank. In response, a salt shaker. Also known as salt pig. Before the invention of shakers, it was a useful tool to keep salt on hand while working in the kitchen.
4. Safety of operation
What is the purpose of these blue reflective markings? Facing the field are on a pole.
To prevent the deer from crossing the road, they reflect the headlights of passing cars onto the field. Therefore, it is for the safety of both animals and vehicles.
5. Antique car accessories
That’s the question you’ll find on an ancient GMC dashboard. a striated substance that resembles lucite.
It’s a traffic light viewer, is the answer. In the past, traffic lights were installed on the side you stopped on, which sometimes made it difficult to see the light if you were first in line. However, this served to reflect the light from above, so it was possible to tell when the light changed.
6. Creative road sign
Is there a variable stop sign in Illinois?
In order to be able to read the mark from a limited angle, they are called flaps. 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.
Italian phone stand in Florentine style. 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. Luxury bathroom
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.
In Germany it is called “Wechselbad” and it is extremely widespread. 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.
The answer is that it could be a “vinaigrette,” a Victorian-era piece of jewelry that women hung on a chain to hold smelling salts or perfume.
10. The odd 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: In traditional African art, the Yacouba Double Spoon is a symbol of hospitality. Could this be it? It symbolizes the opposition of two very different universes.
Eleventh, linear crop circles?
Question: There are somewhat parallel but not perfectly straight lines next to my office building.
What is happening in this situation?
It’s likely that the UK is where you live, as planning authorities there often order ‘assessment trial digs’ from developers to ensure there are no significant archaeological sites that could 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. Department of Design
What is this growth appearing on my microwaved mugs?
I am a ceramicist, please answer. 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. A great compass?
Found in an antique store, may I ask? Everything is spinning and the marks and moons lead me to believe it could be for mapping.
The ancient GPS device, the astrolabe, is the answer. commonly used for scientific purposes, timekeeping, and navigation. I got one that resembled a key chain. 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.
It’s an antique umbilical cord, is the answer.
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. The door is not for pets
What is this hole I notice on the exterior of British houses?
The purpose of a shoe scraper is to remove dirt from your shoes before entering. They are not that uncommon.
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.
It appears to be an embossing holder for a fountain pen.
17. The truth is not what you believe
Q: The junk drawer contained Scoopy Doodad.
The answer is that the original Sunbeam Mixmaster came with a bowl-shaped attachment attached to the top of the blender 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.
Tay table is the answer. 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?
The answer is no, expanded polystyrene (aka “styrofoam”) things are not made this way, however, many plastic items have small 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
Observed while walking down the road. The plastic bag was securely fixed above the door.
It seems to hold a few pennies and water.
What purpose can it be used for?
Homemade Fly/Mosquito Repellent.
It is designed to repel pesky bugs using light reflecting off water and pennies.
In a world of online communities like the “What’s this thing?” subreddit, the collective curiosity and detective skills of millions of people come together to solve mysteries surrounding everyday objects. Through detailed descriptions and images, individuals seek answers to mysterious items that confuse and fascinate them. From seemingly mundane artifacts to strange devices, each item sparks a flurry of investigation and hypothesis.
The variety of these items is astounding. From a tiny rubber-like object to iron cones serving as snuff outside the entrance to a building in Bath, England, and a golden pig container serving as a salt cellar, each artifact has its own story waiting to be unraveled.
Some discoveries reveal practical uses, such as blue reflective signs to prevent traffic accidents with wildlife or traffic light viewers that helped drivers in the past. Others, like the mysterious Yacouba Double Spoon, symbolize deeper cultural meanings.
Mysteries concern architectural oddities, such as linear crop circles near office buildings or growths in microwave ceramics. Even seemingly mundane objects like a door opening or a dent in foam hold secrets waiting to be decoded by curious minds.
The Internet’s vast pool of knowledge and diverse perspectives work together to shed light on these mysteries. Whether it’s identifying an ancient tool or explaining the purpose behind an obscure invention, the collective intelligence and problem-solving skills of online communities reveal the hidden stories behind these baffling artifacts.
Ultimately, these mysteries serve as a reminder of the endless curiosities that surround us. They show how the Internet, with its amalgamation of knowledge and diverse insights, is becoming a haven for digital detectives to unravel the mysteries of our everyday world.