If you ever—and we do mean ever—need a mystery solved, ask the internet for help. The amount of collective wisdom, combined with the Holmesian skills of amateur sleuths, is absolutely staggering. And you’re likely to feel your jaw drop at how quickly they find the answer to your question.

The r/whatisthisthing subreddit is a 2.2-million-member-strong online group that solves mysteries. And quite successfully, we might add! Internet users share a photo of an odd, bizarre, and often vintage item that puzzles them. Then, the community comes together to explain what it is, what it’s used for, and (if they happen to know it) share the broader context. It’s honestly one of the most interesting digital communities out there. You’ll find their latest successfully solved queries as you scroll down below.

Here at Bored Panda, we’re pretty big fans of what the r/whatisthisthing community has been doing for the past 12+ years. When you’ve finished upvoting the posts in this list that you think are very best examples of unraveled mysteries, consider taking a peek at our other recent articles about the sub here, here, and here.

More info: Reddit | Wiki | FAQ (Frequently Asked Things Archive) | Guide

#1

Found On The Dashboard Of An Old Gmc. A Lucite Like Material, With Ridges

Found On The Dashboard Of An Old Gmc. A Lucite Like Material, With Ridges

Answer: It's a traffic light viewer. Traffic lights back in the day were mounted on the same side you stopped on which sometimes made it difficult to see the light if you were first in line, this helped reflect the light from above so you could tell when the light changed.

harrekrsna Report

Add photo comments
POST
#2

Small Elephant Filled With Water Left At Flat After Party. Debating With Flatmates Over What It’s Purpose Could Be

Small Elephant Filled With Water Left At Flat After Party. Debating With Flatmates Over What It’s Purpose Could Be

Answer: It's a melted reusable ice cube

A1DANN Report

Add photo comments
POST
#3

What Are These Blue Reflecting Markers For? Mounted On A Pole, Facing The Field

What Are These Blue Reflecting Markers For? Mounted On A Pole, Facing The Field

Answer: They are reflecting the headlights of cars to the fields, so that deer avoids crossing the road. So it's for safety of cars and animals.

Z1337M Report

Add photo comments
POST
#4

Object Found While Hiking Off-Road In Bosnia. Notice The Spikes Near The End! Wondering What It Is

Object Found While Hiking Off-Road In Bosnia. Notice The Spikes Near The End! Wondering What It Is

Answer: DON'T GO HIKING IN BOSNIA IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE ARE YOU GOING. it is full of unmarked mine fields.

FreezeHuddle Report

#5

Came Across This While Hiking Behind An Old Mine In Southwestern Pennsylvania. Several Miles Off Of The Old Access Road. Appears 40 Feet Long, Nothing Written On It, Appears Nothing Is Inside Of It. 25 Feet Or So Off Of The Ground. No Sign Of Life Around It For Miles

Came Across This While Hiking Behind An Old Mine In Southwestern Pennsylvania. Several Miles Off Of The Old Access Road. Appears 40 Feet Long, Nothing Written On It, Appears Nothing Is Inside Of It. 25 Feet Or So Off Of The Ground. No Sign Of Life Around It For Miles

Answer: That, my friend, is the daddy of all deer stands.

Ok_Olive_6733 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#6

Random-Ish Straight But Not Paralel Lines Next To My Office Building… What’s Happening Here?

Random-Ish Straight But Not Paralel Lines Next To My Office Building… What’s Happening Here?

Answer: You probably live in the UK, where planning authorities often require developers to do "evaluation trial trenching" to make sure there are no important archaeological artifacts that might be destroyed by excavation. If the trial trenches turn up anything interesting, a more serious archaeological dig may be required before building can begin.

putonurseatbeltz Report

Add photo comments
POST
#7

4m High Funnel With 3 Outlets Near A Playground And A Beer Garden In Germany

4m High Funnel With 3 Outlets Near A Playground And A Beer Garden In Germany

Answer: It's a three-way basketball hoop (Balltrichter mit drei Ausgängen). You can score, but you don't know who gets the ball next. My kids school just got one. The kids love it.

PietOnTheRoad Report

Add photo comments
POST
#8

Brass Or Copper Like Thing In Bathroom Door Handle

Brass Or Copper Like Thing In Bathroom Door Handle

Answer: Copper kills bacteria and germs.

nukkumattii Report

Add photo comments
POST
#9

Blue Glass Thing Found At Goodwill. About 5 Inches High With A Hole In Top

Blue Glass Thing Found At Goodwill. About 5 Inches High With A Hole In Top

Answer: That is a whale oil lamp. Hand blown glass. Very odd blue color. Not cheap !

Red-Bell-Pepper Report

Add photo comments
POST
#10

This Is A Steel Wire Frame With Two Glass Marbles. It Was Found In An Old Garage Among Various Stuff. The Marbles Can Turn Inside The Frame

This Is A Steel Wire Frame With Two Glass Marbles. It Was Found In An Old Garage Among Various Stuff. The Marbles Can Turn Inside The Frame

Answer: It's a razor blade sharpener.

samburket2 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#11

What Is This Big Round Well-Type Thing In The Middle Of The Women’s Restroom? It’s In An Older Bathroom And It Doesn’t Seem To Have Any Water Running To Or From It… Just A Big Cylinder With A Drain In It

What Is This Big Round Well-Type Thing In The Middle Of The Women’s Restroom? It’s In An Older Bathroom And It Doesn’t Seem To Have Any Water Running To Or From It… Just A Big Cylinder With A Drain In It

Answer: It's a sink. For washing your hands. You step on the ring to start the water.

lilithrebbecca Report

Add photo comments
POST
#12

Piece Of Silver Found On Mustang Island Right Off Of The Gulf Of Mexico. It Was On The Beach

Piece Of Silver Found On Mustang Island Right Off Of The Gulf Of Mexico. It Was On The Beach

Answer: Definitely a coin. For a second there, I thought you hit the jackpot, too bad its just a replica.

Puzzleheaded_Sea_423 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#13

Black Stone Object Found Buried In A Garden In Somerset, UK. Ornate Carving On Front, Uneven Scratch Marks On Back

Black Stone Object Found Buried In A Garden In Somerset, UK. Ornate Carving On Front, Uneven Scratch Marks On Back

Answer: The material appears to be “Whitby Jet”, a material that occurs on the Yorkshire coastline. It was made extremely popular by Queen Victoria as mourning jewelery but it has been used and carved by people in the Bronze Age, Roman era, Viking era etc.. to me it looks like a Victorian amateur carved plaque in Whitby Jet but could be an earlier thing. You can tell if it’s jet by rubbing it-it will retain a static charge and attract dust or lint. Edit-just realized how small it is. Probably part of a bracelet or necklace from Victorian era.

The_Eret Report

Add photo comments
POST
#14

Iron Cone On Either Side Of A Gate Outside The Entry To A Building In Bath England

Iron Cone On Either Side Of A Gate Outside The Entry To A Building In Bath England

Answer: It's a snuffer. A visitor to your house would use it to put out their torch.

pepperjobe21 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#15

What Are These Medal Things On The Corner Of These Stairs And What Is Their Purpose?

What Are These Medal Things On The Corner Of These Stairs And What Is Their Purpose?

Answer: Corner dust guards. They make it easier to sweep dust out of the corners.

LocalSalesRep Report

Add photo comments
POST
#16

Old Ruler. I Don’t Know How It Is Used Or What Does It Measure

Old Ruler. I Don’t Know How It Is Used Or What Does It Measure

Answer: Slide rule, logarithmic calculating device. These put humans on the moon.

anewerab Report

Add photo comments
POST
#17

Sunset Pic I Took From Jfk Airport. Could These Shadows Be The Manhattan Skyline?

Sunset Pic I Took From Jfk Airport. Could These Shadows Be The Manhattan Skyline?

Answer: I live near Mt. Rainier and this happens too, only at dawn. The mountain casts its shadow on the underside of the clouds. This is just as impressive as that.

Jazzyfart Report

Add photo comments
POST
#18

What Is This Growth On My Mugs After I Microwave Them?

What Is This Growth On My Mugs After I Microwave Them?

Answer: Ceramicist here. So clay bodies are porous, depending on the material. Porcelain is dense, and earthware and stoneware is less. Either way liquids can move through fired clay. Glaze that goes on the outside can look solid, but can have hundreds of tiny cracks and holes. When you microwave liquids or just let them sit in a ceramic vessel they can seep through and crystallize in the cracks and holes. This usually only happens with hand made or cheap ceramics.

munizfire Report

Add photo comments
POST
#19

Found At A Used Book Store. All Parts Rotate And The Markings/Months Makes Me Think It Could Be For Mapping?

Found At A Used Book Store. All Parts Rotate And The Markings/Months Makes Me Think It Could Be For Mapping?

Answer: An astrolabe, the ancient times GPS. Used usually for navigation, also for time measure and other science uses. I got one similar as a keyring.

sterling97 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#20

What Is This Hatch I've Seen On The Outside Of Houses In The UK?

What Is This Hatch I've Seen On The Outside Of Houses In The UK?

Answer: It's a boot scraper, for getting the mud off your shoes before going in. They are pretty common.

Kattfiskmoo Report

Add photo comments
POST
#21

A Scissors Like Device I Bought Years Ago On Flee Market

A Scissors Like Device I Bought Years Ago On Flee Market

Answer: It’s a vintage umbilical clamp. That’s why it’s shaped like a stork! Eventually this style did evolve into several types of embroidery scissors that the midwives would use while awaiting labor.

OffpeakPL Report

Add photo comments
POST
#22

Sliding Tray With Holes On Both Sides Of This Sofa

Sliding Tray With Holes On Both Sides Of This Sofa

Answer: Tray table. It has another piece to it. It’s a tray with matching pegs. Tray goes on top and the pegs slide in. They fit together so the tray sits tightly. Then you take the tray back to the kitchen and put the sliding part back so it’s not in the way.

belokan Report

Add photo comments
POST
#23

This Little Hole Appeared In My Parents' Bedroom

This Little Hole Appeared In My Parents' Bedroom

Answer: Was a kid. Shot my parent’s window with a bb gun once and got grounded for a month. Hole was exactly this.

kiwisupremo Report

Add photo comments
POST
#24

Thumb Protector Possibly, But For What? Found At A Yard Sale

Thumb Protector Possibly, But For What? Found At A Yard Sale

Answer: Old timey fish monger/butcher thumb guard.

deceptiveshadow Report

Add photo comments
POST
#25

These Little Specs On My Bed? Every Time I Dust Them Off, They Reappear Within 2 Hours And I Have No Idea How. They Just Kind Of… Spawn? It’s Really Grossing Me Out

These Little Specs On My Bed? Every Time I Dust Them Off, They Reappear Within 2 Hours And I Have No Idea How. They Just Kind Of… Spawn? It’s Really Grossing Me Out

Answer: The shape (slightly oblong) looks like termite frass (poop). It's likely they are eating the wood beams in your ceiling and have made a hole through the non-wood material of your ceiling to have a place to dump their poop. You should get the place inspected ASAP.

Prncssbbykitten Report

Add photo comments
POST
#26

What Is This Thing Used For? A Book With Black Blank Pages Alternating With Thin Translucent Pages

What Is This Thing Used For? A Book With Black Blank Pages Alternating With Thin Translucent Pages

Answer: Photo-Album. You stick paper photos on the black pages. The transparent pages are for protection.

gahyeonology Report

Add photo comments
POST
See Also on Bored Panda
#27

What Are These Sets Of Seven Dimples On Styrofoam?

What Are These Sets Of Seven Dimples On Styrofoam?

Answer: While many plastic objects have little marks on them where the liquid plastic is injected into the mold, expanded polystyrene objects ("Styrofoam") aren't made this way. Instead, small granules of plastic are pre-treated with steam in a large hopper, which causes them to expand into little foam pellets. These foam pellets are poured into the mold, and then additional steam is injected in, causing the pellets to swell even more until they completely fill the mold. The little seven-dot marks are steam injection points.

spencerwnelson Report

Add photo comments
POST
#28

Found A Large Metallic Cylinder On The Beach Of Husavik, Iceland. What Is This?

Found A Large Metallic Cylinder On The Beach Of Husavik, Iceland. What Is This?

Answer: Solved! We asked around and it turns out that these are submarine detectors, nothing to worry about, no explosive inside!

TheRealWarrior0 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#29

Small Plastic Pouch With Red Gel And A Metal Disc Inside

Small Plastic Pouch With Red Gel And A Metal Disc Inside

Answer: Hand warmer. You can "click" the metal piece and it will start a chemical reaction and heat the pad.

nullbuilt_ Report

Add photo comments
POST
#30

What Is This Drain In Front Of The Door Of This House? Living In Snowborne Areas, I Never Saw A Drain Like That Anywhere. Anyone Know The Purpose?

What Is This Drain In Front Of The Door Of This House? Living In Snowborne Areas, I Never Saw A Drain Like That Anywhere. Anyone Know The Purpose?

Answer: To kick snow off your shoes.

bpwoods97 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#31

What Is This Thing? Several Surgical Instruments Were Found Nearby, But It Might Be Not Related To Them At All

What Is This Thing? Several Surgical Instruments Were Found Nearby, But It Might Be Not Related To Them At All

Answer: It looks like it was a primitive tool used in the past to assist in birth. Yeouch. A bit of further googling tells me they were used to reduce the size of a babies head if it was too big to deliver, by drainage of the cerebrospinal fluid. Known as destructive delivery. Generally (I hope) for cases where the fetus is already non-living. Frightful.

Bright-Antelope4029 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#32

What Is This Silver Metal Thing With Narrow Bridge And Spoon Like End?

What Is This Silver Metal Thing With Narrow Bridge And Spoon Like End?

Answer: Ear cleaners, use them to scoop wax more common in eastern countries. Might be confused for a drug utensil by American police as they imagine people snorting the tiniest cocaine hit ever.

Mist4h20 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#33

What Is Using This Little Wooden House In My Garden?

What Is Using This Little Wooden House In My Garden?

Answer: It's for any of the solitary bees, like mason bees.

bendog1616 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#34

This Piece Of Brass And Possibly Lead Is Embedded In A Piece Of Planed Wood. It Has Been Sitting On A Shelf For Years And I Have No Idea What It May Have Been

This Piece Of Brass And Possibly Lead Is Embedded In A Piece Of Planed Wood. It Has Been Sitting On A Shelf For Years And I Have No Idea What It May Have Been

Answer: That's a bullet. Someone shot it into a tree and cut it in half. The rough part of the wood is the bullet path.

junkcollector1979 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#35

What Is This Large Vessel I Found In The Basement Of An Old Psychiatric Hospital?

What Is This Large Vessel I Found In The Basement Of An Old Psychiatric Hospital?

Answer: Looks like a great big autoclave.

BonelessHotdogs Report

Add photo comments
POST
#36

Bunk Beds (?) In A Crawlspace Of A Home From 1959

Bunk Beds (?) In A Crawlspace Of A Home From 1959

Answer: Yep, bomb/fallout shelter. For 1959, effectively the same thing.

AFThrowaway777 Report

Add photo comments
POST
See Also on Bored Panda
#37

Older House 1960. Chimney But Opening Is On The Outside Not Inside ?

Older House 1960. Chimney But Opening Is On The Outside Not Inside ?

Answer: Looks like a chimney cleanout door.

Joshyyboyy Report

Add photo comments
POST
#38

Signs On The Truck Say ‘Radioactive’. Metallic Dumbbell-Shaped Container

Signs On The Truck Say ‘Radioactive’. Metallic Dumbbell-Shaped Container

Answer: It's a radioactive waste transport cask.

smellerr Report

Add photo comments
POST
#39

Seen While Walking Down The Street. A Ziplock Bag Tacked Above A Door. Seems To Contain Water And A Few Pennies. What Could This Be For?

Seen While Walking Down The Street. A Ziplock Bag Tacked Above A Door. Seems To Contain Water And A Few Pennies. What Could This Be For?

Answer: Homemade mosquito/fly deterrent. The light reflecting off the water and pennies is supposed to scare off pesky bugs.

Charker21 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#40

These Bakery Window Decorations From Kiki's Delivery Service

These Bakery Window Decorations From Kiki's Delivery Service

Answer: Knäckebröd. The movie's aesthetics is heavily inspired by a trip Miyazaki took to Sweden. Yes just to clarify its a Swedish/Scandinavian hard bread.

Dr_Sodium_Chloride Report

Add photo comments
POST
#41

I Found This Odd Set Of Disposable Cutlery (?) In A New Flat I Just Moved Into

I Found This Odd Set Of Disposable Cutlery (?) In A New Flat I Just Moved Into

Answer: Yes, definitely cake or clay modeling.

Riverendell Report

Add photo comments
POST
#42

What Is This House In The Middle Of Ocean? This Was About A Mile Off The Coast Of Mobile Al When I Went On A Cruise

What Is This House In The Middle Of Ocean? This Was About A Mile Off The Coast Of Mobile Al When I Went On A Cruise

Answer: It's the Middle Bay Light.

Jacknut187 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#43

Witt I Found A Bunch Of These Small Red Cylinders Under My Couch. They're Filled With Cement Like Material Wrapped In Paper Similar To The Paper Crayons Are Wrapped In

Witt I Found A Bunch Of These Small Red Cylinders Under My Couch. They're Filled With Cement Like Material Wrapped In Paper Similar To The Paper Crayons Are Wrapped In

Answer: That is a firecracker my dude! Watch your fingers!!

OnlyDansPhilosophy Report

Add photo comments
POST
#44

Witt I Found At A Thrift Store? Compass, Clock (?) And Springloaded Slots

Witt I Found At A Thrift Store? Compass, Clock (?) And Springloaded Slots

Answer: 80s car insert. Compass for use with maps Slots for holding coins for tolls. Ford or mazda is my guess.

Toadkalle Report

Add photo comments
POST
#45

Small Black Balls That Came Out Of My Cat’s Fur When Brushing

Small Black Balls That Came Out Of My Cat’s Fur When Brushing

Answer: OK, hear me out, does the furminator brush yhat you have have a black handle with bumps and are some of those bumps missing? Because it looks like the grippy bumps on the handle of mine broken off...

Lewca43 Report

Add photo comments
POST
#46

Thin Decorated Metal Plate, 7 Inches Long

Thin Decorated Metal Plate, 7 Inches Long

Answer: From the catch tray for a Kuerig coffee maker.

yeti_button Report

Add photo comments
POST
See Also on Bored Panda
#47

Weird Symbols In Saskatchewan Taken From 21,000ft

Weird Symbols In Saskatchewan Taken From 21,000ft

Answer: Here’s your answer: Ducks Unlimited waterfowl habitat.

Ace_Laminar Report

Add photo comments
POST
#48

Hotel Room Bed Leg Has Red Flashing Light Coming From Rubber Piece…

Hotel Room Bed Leg Has Red Flashing Light Coming From Rubber Piece…

Answer: There's a YouTube video that says it's a mesh bed bug detector. Video calls it Wirepas.

kikogeruk Report

Add photo comments
POST
#49

Paper-Wrapped Substance Inside Plastic Box Inside 60s Czech Military Bag

Paper-Wrapped Substance Inside Plastic Box Inside 60s Czech Military Bag

Answer: This looks like the soap that was used to prevent a gas mask from fogging up.

Skaramuche Report

Add photo comments
POST
#50

I Was Watching A Remastered Clip Of Netherlands In 1919. What Are These Reflectors On Their Caps?

I Was Watching A Remastered Clip Of Netherlands In 1919. What Are These Reflectors On Their Caps?

Answer: They're called 'oorijzers'. Started out as hat pins, became their own bit of pointless fashion.

Tod_Lapraik Report

Add photo comments
POST
Add New Image This post is a community curated image gallery Plus add imageAdd Image
Add New Image

Add Your Photo To This List

Please use high-res photos without watermarks

Upload from computerUpload Photo

Not your original work? Add source

Publish