50 Times People Had No Clue What They Were Looking At, But The Internet Had Their Back (New Pics)

The world is far too complex for us to have all the answers. On any given day, people are coming up with new projects and ideas that prove change is the only stable thing in life. Since we can’t keep up with their sometimes weird, sometimes brilliant inventions, we’re bound to believe that all of these novel items have a purpose.

But have you ever stumbled across something so random and mysterious that you just had to ask, "What Is This Thing?" Well, if you have, chances are you reached out to the online group on Reddit with the same name. "We may not know the 'why' but we can help with the 'what'," the moderators write in the description, and boy, do they deliver!

More than 2.1 million amateur detectives consistently scroll through the photographs and solve one case after another by deciphering the perplexities people upload online. We gathered some of the most bizarre objects people posted on the group, along with the wisdom from the subreddit about what they are. Continue scrolling, upvote the most interesting ones, and tell us what you think about them in the comments! And if you're in the mood for even more strange objects and the explanations behind them, check out our previous posts about them here, here, and here.

This post may include affiliate links.

My Girlfriend's House Has This Panel Next To The Basement Door That Lights Up Whenever The Basement Light Is On. Why?

My Girlfriend's House Has This Panel Next To The Basement Door That Lights Up Whenever The Basement Light Is On. Why? Answer: It’s to tell you that the basement light is on.

pippiethehippie Report

Final score:

443points

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Satan Laughs 2 years ago

The answer is priceless.

329points

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What Is This Ice Phenomenon I Found On The Forest Floor Today?

What Is This Ice Phenomenon I Found On The Forest Floor Today? Answer: The term for it is frost flower and has to do with moisture freezing as it escapes plant tissue.

ConclusionWorking Report

Final score:

373points

POST

Wang Zhuang 2 years ago

Wow, I've never heard of this. Chilly con carnation :P

167points

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For most people, feeling unsure about the things right in front of them is at least a little bit frustrating and a whole lot confusing. This uneasy feeling of uncertainty can lead to worry and distress because, more often than not, we humans tend to assume the worst. So the not-knowing and living in anxious anticipation is hard for people, and we are almost programmed to hate it. In fact, one study has revealed that our stress levels max out when uncertainty is highest. The volunteers in the experiment were asked to play a game where they had to overturn rocks. If a snake appeared under one of them, they would get a painful electric shock. The results showed that people would rather definitely get an electric shock now than know there's a possibility to get shocked later. Or in other words, uncertainty is more stressful than predictable negative outcomes.

In part, that’s one reason why people are so eager to find out the meaning and purpose behind bizarre objects they encounter. To learn more about uncertainty and how it affects our day-to-day lives, we reached out to Frank T. McAndrew, Ph.D., the Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology at Knox College. "Novelty in our environment (i.e., new or mysterious things) automatically grab our attention for good evolutionary reasons," he told Bored Panda.

What Is This Thing? Small Gold Pig Container With Removable Tiny Spoon For A Tail

What Is This Thing? Small Gold Pig Container With Removable Tiny Spoon For A Tail Answer: Salt cellar aka salt pig

merlee13 Report

Final score:

325points

POST

Jayne Kyra 2 years ago

A collection of rainbow-coloured salt pigs to use for all spices... yes please!

120points

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Toilet With A U-Shaped Divot In The Front

Toilet With A U-Shaped Divot In The Front Answer: It's a type of handicap toilet, more common in Europe than the US. It's supposed to have an open-front seat, too. That allows a person to slide straight onto and off of the seat (such as from a wheelchair), without their genitals ever touching the seat or the bowl. This is more comfortable and decreases spread of disease.

foundboots Report

Final score:

299points

POST

Aahzmandus Pervect 2 years ago

I wanted to say that I never saw something like this nowhere in Europe, but then I realized that I don't actually use handicapped toilets and have never properly seen one. 🙃

151points

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Found In My Math Teacher's Room. 100 Squares With Varying Patterns And Colors. No Patterns Seem To Be Same

Found In My Math Teacher's Room. 100 Squares With Varying Patterns And Colors. No Patterns Seem To Be Same They are times. For example, 4 is 2 blue, blue is 2. So 4 is 2x2. 8 has three blue 2x2x2. 96 has 4 blue 2x2x2x2 (32) x red which is 3. 32x3 is 96

MacerSpaceflight Report

Final score:

295points

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SamanthaStillNotBoredPanda. 2 years ago

That gave me brain damage

41points

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Interestingly, we are hardwired by evolution to focus on the unusual things in our surroundings and try to associate them with threat or safety. "Something new in our environment may potentially be very good (something else to eat or an object that might prove useful to us in other ways) or very bad (a dangerous thing that we should avoid)," McAndrew added. "In either case, people who paid attention to new things did a lot better over time than people who ignored them, and we are the descendants of the people who were curious."

According to the professor, when we can’t figure something out and cannot determine if it’s good, bad, or neutral, we become uncomfortable. "Our inability to categorize it will eat at us because we do not know how to deal with it, and this can be paralyzing if it is something that we cannot easily avoid," he explained. That’s why people go out of their way to escape feeling psychological discomfort and hope to be in control again.

Staying At An Airbnb And We Have This Little Metal Tray Embedded In The Counter Top. It's About An Inch Deep (Banana For Scale), Cannot Be Removed, And Has A Drawer Underneath

Staying At An Airbnb And We Have This Little Metal Tray Embedded In The Counter Top. It's About An Inch Deep (Banana For Scale), Cannot Be Removed, And Has A Drawer Underneath Answer: It's where a scale used to be.

GBinAZ Report

Final score:

291points

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Cherie Rearigh 2 years ago

Upvote for using a banana for scale!

327points

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Why Do These Window Grills Have A Bulge. Seen In Spain

Why Do These Window Grills Have A Bulge. Seen In Spain Answer: They're called "belly bars" in a lot of places. They're designed for flower boxes.

Edit: forgot to mention that the primary purpose is security. The rounded part is for flower boxes.

lw1999 Report

Final score:

258points

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Vorknkx 2 years ago

I've seen similar bars in my hometown as well.

40points

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Burying Our Dog In The Backyard Who Passed Today At 16 And Came Across This Underground Wall

Burying Our Dog In The Backyard Who Passed Today At 16 And Came Across This Underground Wall Answer: It’s got holes in it, that’s a drywell. That thing fills up when it rains so the yard doesn’t flood.

Key_Guidance9806 Report

Final score:

258points

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Julia Cargile 2 years ago

My sympathies for your precious dog.

255points

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When asked if it’s possible to cope with these anxious feelings and even tame them, McAndrew told us it’s unlikely that we want to overcome them in the first place. "Being uncomfortable with uncertainty is a very adaptive thing, and it helps us remain vigilant in situations where we need to do so," the professor said.

"People differ from each other in how comfortable they are with uncertainty, and someone who is not at all tolerant of uncertainty will be more stressed out than they should be over even moderate levels of uncertainty. I am not sure that there is too much that can be done about this, as it is a personality thing and personalities are very hard to change," McAndrew noted.

Art Nouveau Style Hook Made Of Silver

Art Nouveau Style Hook Made Of Silver Answer: a boot button hook. Used to hook all those tiny buttons on ladies boots

_erik_reddit_ Report

Final score:

246points

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Jayne Kyra 2 years ago

Were this older, it could be used as the brain pulling thing in ancient Egypt.

148points

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#10

Heavy And Small. Found In Southern Germany

Heavy And Small. Found In Southern Germany Answer: Medieval pilgrim’s badge

VivaZane Report

Final score:

245points

POST

Wang Zhuang 2 years ago

Awesome find!

95points

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#11

Strange Graves In A Village Graveyard In Northwest Iran. So I Have Seen These Graves Since I Was A Kid But Never Understood What The Marking Meant. They Don’t Look Like Christian Or Muslim Graves And No One In The Village Knows Their Origin. If Someone Knows Anything, I Would Appreciate The Help

Strange Graves In A Village Graveyard In Northwest Iran. So I Have Seen These Graves Since I Was A Kid But Never Understood What The Marking Meant. They Don’t Look Like Christian Or Muslim Graves And No One In The Village Knows Their Origin. If Someone Knows Anything, I Would Appreciate The Help Answer: gravestones in NW Iran sometimes have figural/narrative carvings that indicate the occupation of the person.

ap2094 Report

Final score:

242points

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Bianca Saville 2 years ago

Could be tools for spinning. A comb and a spindle.

90points

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At least we can feel a dash of comfort knowing that once we encounter a random object, we can turn to the 'What Is This Thing' online group on Reddit and hope they will quickly release us from relentless questioning. Ever since it was created in 2010, it has been steadily growing and helping thousands of people solve their puzzles. With the tagline “For the identification of mysterious objects”, the moderators state that "if you have an object and you don't know what it is, this is the place for you to search for an answer."

#12

What Is This 6-Floor Tiny Tower In The Middle Of A Parking Lot, Adjacent A Baseball Field In East Austin, Tx?

What Is This 6-Floor Tiny Tower In The Middle Of A Parking Lot, Adjacent A Baseball Field In East Austin, Tx? Answer: it's a fire fighter practice building. hey use that whole area for training of all sorts including high speed chase training for cops as well as a firing range.

lil_bb_boi Report

Final score:

239points

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Lillian Swaim 2 years ago

Neat! I'd want to play in that if I were a kid

70points

Don't even 2 years ago

Want to play in it and am very much not a kid anymore lol

12points

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Zero 2 years ago

Fun fact, if you ever need to burn down a building (legally) like an old barn, call the local fire department. Chance are they'll jump at the chance to use it as a training exercise but they also will want to hang out to ensure it doesn't get out of hand.

12points

William J Dougherty 2 years ago

‘Acquired burn buildings’ are great for training, but can be very dangerous. Without skilled Fire Service Instructors & Safety Officers, it's difficult to prepare for live fire training

1point

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Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago

We had one of those in my area! I asked my mum what it was and got the same answer (in fact, it was right near a fire station). There were also some old wrecked cars, so they could practise breaking them open to rescue people.

11points

Brian Abbott 2 years ago (edited)

I climbed those stairs not long ago for firefighter fitness training. That's crazy that this showed up on here. I live about 30 minutes from this place.

8points

Rabbit-Of-ill-Portent️ she/her 2 years ago

Yep they gotta go up and down those stairs with all that gear on! Thank a fire fighter today!

5points

Stephanie Goadsby 2 years ago

And here I was thinking it was lodging for the away team. 😉

1point

jack sprat 2 years ago

We had one exactly like it on the Philadelphia Naval Base when I was there for my A school. I'll tell you what, those things are fun to be in when it's 90 degrees out, with the inside on fire, while you're in a fire fighting suit and an OBA mask.

1point

Brobro McDuderson 2 years ago

Yep! Sometimes they’re near schools and the marching band “drum majors” will conduct from the 2nd or 3rd floor balcony.

1point

️ 2 years ago

Cool

1point

Courtney Christelle 2 years ago

That'd be great for paintballing.

0points

Loraine D.G. MacGinness 2 years ago

With Fireman's pole ???? More !

0points

dido74 2 years ago

I’ve actually seen that and didn’t know what it was😵‍💫

0points

Sawdust 2 years ago

The developer overestimated the market for luxury boxes overlooking the baseball field.

0points

Analyn Lahr 2 years ago

I probably would have guessed that eventually. They've got a fire practice tower at the local community college. They're building an on/off ramp right next to it so I'm not sure how that's going to work now.

0points

Two_rolling_black_eyes 2 years ago (edited)

These towers are relatively common in many western US communities as you can use the same plot of land for multiple government purposes. In my hometown the tower is in the parking lot between the town's school ball fields. The police and volunteer fire department use it for training, High school gym classes and sports teams climb the stairs for conditioning . We place the PA system and video cameras on the top floor for actual games, concerts, graduations, etc so there's one press box for all the fields. Our town has a joke that the AV club is more fit than the baseball team because they have to haul all the electronics up and down the stairs so many times a week before and after each game. Its well drained but the fire department does use water so you can't leave anything in it.

0points

rhubarb 2 years ago (edited)

I have one of those in my town! I see it on my way to visit family. It's close to a hardware store. It's more burnt-looking than this one, though.

0points

Mikey Kliss 2 years ago

I would make a Kennedy joke here but I wont

0points

Beck 2 years ago

I thought it was for the basketball announcers.

0points

Frosty 🇺🇦 2 years ago

Same. I thought it was like a peanut gallery

0points

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hungwy panda 2 years ago

Mythbusters used this (I'm a Mythbusters fan)

0points

Bart S 2 years ago

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#13

Witt - Two Card Parked On A Street, Both Seem To Have T-Shirts (Or Some Sort Of Material) Over Their Wing Mirrors, But Just On The Side Facing The Road

Witt - Two Card Parked On A Street, Both Seem To Have T-Shirts (Or Some Sort Of Material) Over Their Wing Mirrors, But Just On The Side Facing The Road Answer: Its to keep birds from attacking the mirrors

J_Thompson82 Report

Final score:

236points

POST

Vorknkx 2 years ago

Makes me wonder how common these bird attacks are.

130points

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#14

What Is The Intended Purpose Of This Very Thin, Glass Covered Drawer?

What Is The Intended Purpose Of This Very Thin, Glass Covered Drawer? Answer: It’s a bedside cabinet and it’s to put cups of coffee/ breakfast on so it doesn’t leave coffee rings/stains on the top

Smokinsumsweet Report

Final score:

235points

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Karl Leaning 2 years ago

to provide a nice clean surface to cut your coke.

215points

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We previously managed to get in touch with one of the moderators who looks after the group. They told us there are several reasons people become amateur detectives and set out on a mission to discover the meaning behind obscure pictures posted online. The first one is when people encounter interesting and novel items, they can’t help but feel curious and want to get a chance at cracking the case. Another reason would be the "thrill of the chase" — folks simply want to show off their great research skills.

"Many [people] have unique and obscure knowledge and they like to use it. Get enough of them together and they cover most things," they told Bored Panda.

#15

What Is This Oddly Burned Log I Found At A Campsite?

What Is This Oddly Burned Log I Found At A Campsite? Answer: Swedish log burning....burns longer than firing a log onto a fire.

LavastormSW Report

Final score:

229points

POST

Raumpfleger 2 years ago

In German it's called a "finnish torch". You saw two cross shaped cuts into the log and stuff them with twigs then light them up. Works kind of like a giant candle.

147points

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#16

Kids Pack On Air Flight Contained These With No Explanation Or Instructions. What Are They?

Kids Pack On Air Flight Contained These With No Explanation Or Instructions. What Are They? Answer: Ahh...the inventor didn't realize that some parents even adults need instructions. Surely you can see that these look like airplane wings!

"Kids flying Air France can play with their food thanks to Catalan designer Eugeni Quitllet, who created a spoon, fork and knife that can be transformed into a small model aircraft. "

The spoon, fork and knife for the kids meal pack have slots in their handles, you slot these into the handles to make model airplanes. Notice that you get 3 of them, and "mon avion" is French for "my airplane".

Buggslondon Report

Final score:

220points

POST

Roborowski 2 years ago

With this you can let your knives fly accurately in the plane.

110points

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#17

What Is Up Against This Person's Mouth?

What Is Up Against This Person's Mouth? Answer: Court stenographer mask so they can dictate

aintnufincleverhere Report

Final score:

217points

POST

N G 2 years ago

i don't know why, but i imagine her speaking into it saying "Luke, i am your father"

222points

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Luckily for us, the moderator also revealed that only under 10 percent of 'cases' remain unsolved, so it’s very rare that members of the community wouldn't know anything about the unidentified things posted on the page. "A majority of things are solved within 15 minutes of posting," they added. So if you have an unusual object archived in your photo gallery that you still ponder about to this day, be sure to share your findings with the online group, and we are willing to bet that they’ll know the answer right away.

#18

What Is This Red Leather Devil Figure, Found In A Wooden Box In An Attic?

What Is This Red Leather Devil Figure, Found In A Wooden Box In An Attic? "Turns out one of the weirder ways skates and rays have been used by people is as curiosities. These cartilaginous fish, related to sharks, were flipped over and “shaped” into gruesome likenesses of imagined sea devils or maybe evil-looking mermaids. After being dried out and shellacked they were sold in port cities and seaside towns as far back as the 16th century. The origins of the name are obscure, but some articles reference jeune fille d’Anvers which translates as girl from Antwerp.

Intentionally fishing and drying out sea creatures as tourist trinkets, whether sea stars, sea horses or Jenny Hanivers, has fortunately fallen out of fashion. But beach combing is still a great way to come upon all sorts of interesting bits and pieces brought in on the tide and tossed ashore by a wave to dry in the sun."

Jaol17 Report

Final score:

209points

POST

ThatBoredDolphin 2 years ago

That’s … interesting… *nervous laugh*

116points

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#19

What Are These Tiny Brown And Tan Beads I Found In My Carpet And On My Windowsill?

What Are These Tiny Brown And Tan Beads I Found In My Carpet And On My Windowsill? Answer: Looks like termite frass, aka termite poop.

SomeGuySurviving Report

Final score:

207points

POST

Jayne Kyra 2 years ago

Well, time to burn the house down.

275points

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#20

Witt? Slightly Rusty Metal Plate With "Stop" In Cutout Lettering

Witt? Slightly Rusty Metal Plate With "Stop" In Cutout Lettering Answer: Rear Light Stop Face Plate A-13442-AR it’s from a vintage ford.

crabnox Report

Final score:

205points

POST

Khavrinen 2 years ago

Some vintage car enthusiast would probably be willing to buy that.

80points

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#21

This Metal Decorative Floral Piece, Removable Petals, 10” Long, On A Table Top

This Metal Decorative Floral Piece, Removable Petals, 10” Long, On A Table Top Answer: Ashtray

Pooch76 Report

Final score:

205points

POST

MellonCollie 2 years ago

That's cool!

85points

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#22

What Is This Instrument/Tool This Woman Is Displaying?

What Is This Instrument/Tool This Woman Is Displaying? Answer: Its a bed warmer

professor_doom Report

Final score:

203points

POST

Mark Howell 2 years ago

Or a way for a woman to make her views heard by her husband

146points

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#23

Wooden Machine Hanging On The Wall Of A Historical Building. It Features Dials That All Seem To Be In Sync. Knob Below When Pushed Makes The Dials Jump, But Turning Does Nothing. The Dials Are Numbered But A Few Are Labeled Parlor, Ladies Entrance And Bathroom

Wooden Machine Hanging On The Wall Of A Historical Building. It Features Dials That All Seem To Be In Sync. Knob Below When Pushed Makes The Dials Jump, But Turning Does Nothing. The Dials Are Numbered But A Few Are Labeled Parlor, Ladies Entrance And Bathroom Answer: Servants summoning panel. Buttons or pulls all over the house ring a bell there

sneaking-suspicion Report

Final score:

202points

POST

Mama Panda 2 years ago

it's a Hotel Annunciator aka Butlers Call Bell. It appears that this hotel had 33 rooms

90points

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#24

What Is This Type Of Clamp Used? Only Says China On It

What Is This Type Of Clamp Used? Only Says China On It Answer: That’s a gang lock for lockout/tagout. You place this on a breaker when multiple people are working on equipment to keep people from turning the equipment on.

11varine Report

Final score:

194points

POST

Kim Kermes 2 years ago

I gather each worker puts their own padlock on so it can't be powered until everyone is done?

165points

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#25

I've Seen This Cane Shaped (Usually) Brass Post At Numerous Bars And Pubs, And Wondered What It Is And What It Is Used For. L Have Been Unable To Google The Correct Sequence Of Words To Get A Result

I've Seen This Cane Shaped (Usually) Brass Post At Numerous Bars And Pubs, And Wondered What It Is And What It Is Used For. L Have Been Unable To Google The Correct Sequence Of Words To Get A Result Answer: "divider" or "service divider". It serves to keep standing customers to one side, away from the part of the bar where servers pick up drinks. Also notice the opening under the bar, the bartender (in some designs) can lift the top and gets in and out. You don't want customers standing there blocking access

FrickenHanzoMain Report

Final score:

179points

POST

Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago

So it's not just for drunks to steady themselves on after all. :p

79points

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#26

Ukraine National Police Posted An Image Of This Strangely Textured Object, They Call It "Dangerous To Health And Even Life"... But What Is It?

Ukraine National Police Posted An Image Of This Strangely Textured Object, They Call It "Dangerous To Health And Even Life"... But What Is It? Answer: Butterfly mines

oriolopocholo Report

Final score:

176points

POST

Boris Long-Johnson 2 years ago (edited)

Russian “gift” to Ukrainian civilisation. How generous. /s

122points

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#27

Park Bench With Weird Cutouts. Don't Think It's For Bikes, You'd Need A Really Long Chain To Wrap All The Way Around

Park Bench With Weird Cutouts. Don't Think It's For Bikes, You'd Need A Really Long Chain To Wrap All The Way Around Answer: It’s for bikes. When u want to sit you park your bike behind you. It’s not meant to lock your bike and leave

ouqw3 Report

Final score:

175points

POST

Torbjorn 2 years ago

Is it just me that thinks it looks kinda like a piano

88points

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#28

Witt: Small Metal Trinket Found Buried On Rural Missouri Farm. Appears To Have An Eagle, Flor De Lis, And Rope Pattern On From And A Metal Band On The Back. Quarter For Scale

Witt: Small Metal Trinket Found Buried On Rural Missouri Farm. Appears To Have An Eagle, Flor De Lis, And Rope Pattern On From And A Metal Band On The Back. Quarter For Scale Answer: It's a boy scout neckerchief slide.

Al_Caprone1 Report

Final score:

174points

POST

Falcon on Dizzy 2 years ago

I remember losing mine and using a lego tire instead XD

14points

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#29

Enclosed, Copper Gazebo Type Thing On A Residential Property. House Built In 1929

Enclosed, Copper Gazebo Type Thing On A Residential Property. House Built In 1929 Answer: It's a cupola. At least it was. When old buildings are torn down, people buy these and repurpose them.

pbratt Report

Final score:

166points

POST

Karl Leaning 2 years ago

tardis wannabe

87points

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See Also on Bored Panda

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#30

What Is This Thing? Circular Thing On A Post In An Antique Place

What Is This Thing? Circular Thing On A Post In An Antique Place Answer: This is an Engine Order Telegraph used in older marine vessels. Allowed the Captain remote communication with the ships engine room.

LPineapplePizzaLover Report

Final score:

166points

POST

Mark Erwin 2 years ago

I remember seeing this in Titanic

130points

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#31

Found Buried In The Closet Of A Commercial Kitchen. What've I Got? About 6 Inches In Diameter

Found Buried In The Closet Of A Commercial Kitchen. What've I Got? About 6 Inches In Diameter Answer: It's a hamburger press

Normal_Skill3212 Report

Final score:

165points

POST

Man in the ceiling 2 years ago

Odd how many things on this list are both obvious and not obvious at the same time.

125points

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#32

Found This Deep In My Church's Storage. Looks Like There's A Place For A Battery, Multiple Lights, And Even A Knob That Only Clicks When You Twist It. It Seems To Be From The 70s And Made Primarily Out Of Aluminum. All I Can Think Of Is It Was Some Sort Of Tithe Device, But It Doesn't Seem To Open

Found This Deep In My Church's Storage. Looks Like There's A Place For A Battery, Multiple Lights, And Even A Knob That Only Clicks When You Twist It. It Seems To Be From The 70s And Made Primarily Out Of Aluminum. All I Can Think Of Is It Was Some Sort Of Tithe Device, But It Doesn't Seem To Open Answer: A device found in a church that says “PLEASE” on it only has one meaning, MONEY. It some sort of offering collector.

EndureFins Report

Final score:

161points

POST

jade s 2 years ago

It looks like an electric candle. The on off switch would turn in the "flame" at the top and the clock work dial would wind up some sort of music.

72points

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#33

Cinderblock Stove Structure On The Edge Of 1920 Farmhouse Property. Located Down The Hill From The House

Cinderblock Stove Structure On The Edge Of 1920 Farmhouse Property. Located Down The Hill From The House Answer: That’s what it is. Cook houses were often away from the main house to reduce fire risk and to just deal with the heat in the summer

old_mansion Report

Final score:

160points

POST

Puppeteer Saint 2 years ago

If you can't stand the heat.. get the kitchen out of the house?

125points

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#34

Found On The Beach Near Myrtle Beach, Sc. We Just Had A Big Storm. It's Very Firm And Breaks Apart Smoothly. Seems Organic

Found On The Beach Near Myrtle Beach, Sc. We Just Had A Big Storm. It's Very Firm And Breaks Apart Smoothly. Seems Organic Answer: We used to get stuff like this on our beach in colder weather. It turns out it was fats in the “treated” water from the Boston sewer plant that was pipelined out into Cape Cod Bay. They would clump together into big fatty lumps like that one.
Industrial lubricants (synthetic waxes) also regularly get dumped from ships and wash up on shores. Wax or fat seem most likely.

freeeicecream Report

Final score:

154points

POST

Vorknkx 2 years ago

Sewer fat - a rare alchemical ingredient in advanced potion making.

133points

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See Also on Bored Panda

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

#35

Strange “Bench” With Tubing Near The Parking Lot Of An Old Elementary School

Strange “Bench” With Tubing Near The Parking Lot Of An Old Elementary School Answer: This is playground equipment from the 70s-80s. You lay on your back and slide through by pulling on the bars

lDrawnOnwarD Report

Final score:

151points

POST

Mama Panda 2 years ago

I was a kid during that time and I don't remember anything like this in the playgrounds I went to including the one at school.

106points

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#36

Witt: This Metal "Ring" Was In Every Toilet In A Hospital. No Search I Have Done Was Able To Locate A Match Or Answer

Witt: This Metal "Ring" Was In Every Toilet In A Hospital. No Search I Have Done Was Able To Locate A Match Or Answer Answer: Stops flushable wipes from being flushed. Traptex Plumbing Protection System

sassyclassychassy Report

Final score:

148points

POST

Rebecca Moore 2 years ago

I feel like it would stop a big poo from flushing too :P

97points

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#37

Came In A Box Of Candy Making Supplies That I Got Off Craigslist. Measures 4 1/2 Inches Wide And Has About 60 Twisty Screws Embedded Into It. It Came With Lots Of Different Semi-Professional Sugar/Candy Tools And This One Has Me Stumped

Came In A Box Of Candy Making Supplies That I Got Off Craigslist. Measures 4 1/2 Inches Wide And Has About 60 Twisty Screws Embedded Into It. It Came With Lots Of Different Semi-Professional Sugar/Candy Tools And This One Has Me Stumped Answer: It's for making spun sugar

maybetwobabka Report

Final score:

140points

POST

Spleens the cat fan 2 years ago

LEGO jail

93points

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#38

Found This While Cleaning Out The Attic. It's Wood, Looks Handmade, Measures 20cm, But I Have No Idea What It Is Or Does!

Found This While Cleaning Out The Attic. It's Wood, Looks Handmade, Measures 20cm, But I Have No Idea What It Is Or Does! Answer: Perhaps it's a Yacouba Double Spoon - a symbol of hospitality in traditional African art. It represents two very distinct universes that are opposite.

daeris_cos Report

Final score:

139points

POST

Mama Panda 2 years ago

My 12 year old brain says it's something else lol

230points

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#39

"Light Fixture" I Noticed At A Restaurant In Nl, Canada. Appears To Be Some Sort Of Old Machinery

"Light Fixture" I Noticed At A Restaurant In Nl, Canada. Appears To Be Some Sort Of Old Machinery Answer: It’s the lift mechanism from a dumbwaiter.

NerdMachine Report

Final score:

139points

POST

Joep van den Oord 2 years ago

Wouldn't it have been cheaper to just hire an intelligent waiter

103points

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#40

To Piggy Back Off The Other Clothing "Loop" Post: What Is This Loop Towards The End Of Both The Sleeves On My Jacket? Who Would Hang Their Jacket Up By The Sleeves? What Are These For?

To Piggy Back Off The Other Clothing "Loop" Post: What Is This Loop Towards The End Of Both The Sleeves On My Jacket? Who Would Hang Their Jacket Up By The Sleeves? What Are These For? Answer: The fleece can go inside an outer shell jacket. The loops connect inside the sleeves of the jacket so that the sleeves of the fleece don't come out of the jacket when you take it off

XEcksDeeD Report

Final score:

138points

POST

Katie Lutesinger 2 years ago

I would have guessed they were for attaching your gloves to so you can take them off without losing them!

73points

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#41

Brass Or Bronze Ball With Dividing Lines

Brass Or Bronze Ball With Dividing Lines Answer: Petanque ball

fiveironfrenzy21 Report

Final score:

136points

POST

Kristal 2 years ago

For those like me that didn't know what a Petanque ball is (from google): Pétanque is a French (Provençal to be precise) outdoor game played by two opposing teams trying to throw boules (metallic spheres the size of an orange) as close as possible to a but (little wooden sphere the size of a plastic bottle cork, also called a cochonnet, meaning piglet)

175points

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#42

Found This Behind A Commercial Freezer While Doing Renovations. Plastic Casing, Plastic Looking Balls, Metal Shroud, About 1.5 Inches In Length. Wall Anchor? Cyanide Capsule?

Found This Behind A Commercial Freezer While Doing Renovations. Plastic Casing, Plastic Looking Balls, Metal Shroud, About 1.5 Inches In Length. Wall Anchor? Cyanide Capsule? Answer: this is a scent/pheromone capsule for a moth glue trap

Cold-Principle-7233 Report

Final score:

134points

POST

Vorknkx 2 years ago

BTW, cyanide can often be recognized by its smell - bitter almonds. If some food/drink smells this way but is clearly not supposed to, it could be poisoned with cyanide.

49points

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#43

Large Chunk Of (Metal?) Weighs Quite A Bit In Your Hand And Hasn't Changed In Color In Decades

Large Chunk Of (Metal?) Weighs Quite A Bit In Your Hand And Hasn't Changed In Color In Decades Answer: The circled m logo is the logo of the réunion des musées nationaux, the French public museums. Probably a copy of a cuneiform tablet available as a souvenir at the Louvre, among other museums.

jalanubnub Report

Final score:

132points

POST

Aahzmandus Pervect 2 years ago

I don't see the M logo?!

67points

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#44

Large Plastic Hood With Gloves Attached. Found In Chicago Residential Alleyway

Large Plastic Hood With Gloves Attached. Found In Chicago Residential Alleyway Answer: glove box. Laboratory glove box. Used to isolate samples. I'm sure you may have seen them once or twice in movies with science labs etc.

so_verysorry Report

Final score:

130points

POST

EEF🤓 2 years ago

Homer Simpson holding the nuclear rods

90points

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#45

Bronze And Lead Object, With Some Kind Of Scale In It, No Moving Parts, Found While Digging

Bronze And Lead Object, With Some Kind Of Scale In It, No Moving Parts, Found While Digging Answer: Appears to be a German artillery fuse

Administrative_Film3 Report

Final score:

123points

POST

Alexandru Bucur 2 years ago

Haubitze Zünder 05, or "Howitzer Fuze, model 1905", designed for 10cm light field howitzers and used by Germany during WW1. The weird bit is it was found in Argentina, but OP's grandfather was of Italian descent and these have been used on the Italian front during WW1, so I'm guessing it's a war souvenir.

64points

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#46

Found Tiny Vial Of Thick Liquid With A Bead Inside. There Were Also 4 Rubber Things For Your Fingers And It Was All In A Sealed Black Foil Packet. Any Idea What It Is?

Found Tiny Vial Of Thick Liquid With A Bead Inside. There Were Also 4 Rubber Things For Your Fingers And It Was All In A Sealed Black Foil Packet. Any Idea What It Is? Answer: It’s a lotion that comes with temporary tattoo kits. The little rubber finger covers are for applications

Complex_Bat8249 Report

Final score:

122points

POST

the boredest panda 2 years ago

😏

39points

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#47

My Neighbor Just Installed This Outside Of Their Window. I Assume It Measures Something But I Have Never Seen Such A Pole

My Neighbor Just Installed This Outside Of Their Window. I Assume It Measures Something But I Have Never Seen Such A Pole Answer: It’s an antenna

tzt1324 Report

Final score:

119points

POST

Fitz_N_Fartz 2 years ago

Yup, a wifi antenna.

31points

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#48

Witt? A Small Wooden Box With A Sort Of Dial On The Front Which Can Turn But Cannot Turn Anymore At Certain Points. There Is One More In Another Pew

Witt? A Small Wooden Box With A Sort Of Dial On The Front Which Can Turn But Cannot Turn Anymore At Certain Points. There Is One More In Another Pew Answer: The dial is a potentiometer which suggests maybe those are headphone sockets with a volume control

loverofmosthings Report

Final score:

105points

POST

Zero 2 years ago

Looks like a hearing aid plug-in. I used to see those in churches, theaters, still see them at ATMs, where people with hearing assist devices could plug into the mic system.

50points

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#49

Found This Plastic Device Buried In The Garage. About 13 Inches Long, And When You Pull Back The Trigger Where Your Hand Goes It Lifts The Little Knob On The End Upwards. The Bottom Side Of The Knob Has Velcro On It

Found This Plastic Device Buried In The Garage. About 13 Inches Long, And When You Pull Back The Trigger Where Your Hand Goes It Lifts The Little Knob On The End Upwards. The Bottom Side Of The Knob Has Velcro On It Answer: Looks like those TSA wands that test for explosives. They put a little cloth piece in there, rub it all over your s**t and then put the little cloth pad in a detector.

starsubway Report

Final score:

99points

POST

Vorknkx 2 years ago

Ummm, they rub it where?

74points

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#50

What Are These Lights That Appear To Be Behind The Mirror In The Hotel I’m Staying At?

What Are These Lights That Appear To Be Behind The Mirror In The Hotel I’m Staying At? Answer: It’s likely supposed to be an “infinity mirror” you lay a one way mirror over a standard one and put the LED’s between the layer giving it a tunnel appearance. The missing side could be a bad strip of LED’s

rizcriz Report

Final score:

92points

POST

Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago

Almost looks like surveillance that’s not very well hidden.

59points

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Note: this post originally had 115 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.

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What do you think ?

This one was a lot of fun!

23points

lapis lazuli 2 years ago

i like playing try to guess it before you get the answer!

20points

Janet Miller 2 years ago

I only knew one!

6points

tuzdayschild 2 years ago

I knew only one, the bed warmer. From an episode of Bewitched when they went back in time to Puritan Salem.

Vic Parry 2 years ago

I love these ones!!

3points

Caleb Smith 2 years ago

How do people know these things? And what does witt mean? I probably should've read the article lol

2points

Aeon Flux 2 years ago

This is one of my favorite recurring posts on BP (as long as the items aren’t repeated).

LSR 2 years ago

Damn, esentially people are stupid and lack the research capabilities of even a 7 year old.

Kim Bush 2 years ago

I'm beginning to get a little leery about this site. For the past several days I've gotten the alert that the connection is not fully secure, and this is the only site that is giving me that warning ⚠️

Steffi Rose 2 years ago

More!!!!

Let’s All Just Try And Be Decent 2 years ago

Where are the pictures?!

50 Times People Had No Clue What They Were Looking At, But The Internet Had Their Back (New Pics)

My Girlfriend's House Has This Panel Next To The Basement Door That Lights Up Whenever The Basement Light Is On. Why?

What Is This Ice Phenomenon I Found On The Forest Floor Today?

What Is This Thing? Small Gold Pig Container With Removable Tiny Spoon For A Tail

Toilet With A U-Shaped Divot In The Front

Found In My Math Teacher's Room. 100 Squares With Varying Patterns And Colors. No Patterns Seem To Be Same

Staying At An Airbnb And We Have This Little Metal Tray Embedded In The Counter Top. It's About An Inch Deep (Banana For Scale), Cannot Be Removed, And Has A Drawer Underneath

Why Do These Window Grills Have A Bulge. Seen In Spain

Burying Our Dog In The Backyard Who Passed Today At 16 And Came Across This Underground Wall

Art Nouveau Style Hook Made Of Silver

Heavy And Small. Found In Southern Germany

Strange Graves In A Village Graveyard In Northwest Iran. So I Have Seen These Graves Since I Was A Kid But Never Understood What The Marking Meant. They Don’t Look Like Christian Or Muslim Graves And No One In The Village Knows Their Origin. If Someone Knows Anything, I Would Appreciate The Help

What Is This 6-Floor Tiny Tower In The Middle Of A Parking Lot, Adjacent A Baseball Field In East Austin, Tx?

Witt - Two Card Parked On A Street, Both Seem To Have T-Shirts (Or Some Sort Of Material) Over Their Wing Mirrors, But Just On The Side Facing The Road

What Is The Intended Purpose Of This Very Thin, Glass Covered Drawer?

What Is This Oddly Burned Log I Found At A Campsite?

Kids Pack On Air Flight Contained These With No Explanation Or Instructions. What Are They?

What Is Up Against This Person's Mouth?

What Is This Red Leather Devil Figure, Found In A Wooden Box In An Attic?

What Are These Tiny Brown And Tan Beads I Found In My Carpet And On My Windowsill?

Witt? Slightly Rusty Metal Plate With "Stop" In Cutout Lettering

This Metal Decorative Floral Piece, Removable Petals, 10” Long, On A Table Top

What Is This Instrument/Tool This Woman Is Displaying?

Wooden Machine Hanging On The Wall Of A Historical Building. It Features Dials That All Seem To Be In Sync. Knob Below When Pushed Makes The Dials Jump, But Turning Does Nothing. The Dials Are Numbered But A Few Are Labeled Parlor, Ladies Entrance And Bathroom

What Is This Type Of Clamp Used? Only Says China On It

I've Seen This Cane Shaped (Usually) Brass Post At Numerous Bars And Pubs, And Wondered What It Is And What It Is Used For. L Have Been Unable To Google The Correct Sequence Of Words To Get A Result

Ukraine National Police Posted An Image Of This Strangely Textured Object, They Call It "Dangerous To Health And Even Life"... But What Is It?

Park Bench With Weird Cutouts. Don't Think It's For Bikes, You'd Need A Really Long Chain To Wrap All The Way Around

Witt: Small Metal Trinket Found Buried On Rural Missouri Farm. Appears To Have An Eagle, Flor De Lis, And Rope Pattern On From And A Metal Band On The Back. Quarter For Scale

Enclosed, Copper Gazebo Type Thing On A Residential Property. House Built In 1929

What Is This Thing? Circular Thing On A Post In An Antique Place

Found Buried In The Closet Of A Commercial Kitchen. What've I Got? About 6 Inches In Diameter

Found This Deep In My Church's Storage. Looks Like There's A Place For A Battery, Multiple Lights, And Even A Knob That Only Clicks When You Twist It. It Seems To Be From The 70s And Made Primarily Out Of Aluminum. All I Can Think Of Is It Was Some Sort Of Tithe Device, But It Doesn't Seem To Open

Cinderblock Stove Structure On The Edge Of 1920 Farmhouse Property. Located Down The Hill From The House

Found On The Beach Near Myrtle Beach, Sc. We Just Had A Big Storm. It's Very Firm And Breaks Apart Smoothly. Seems Organic

Strange “Bench” With Tubing Near The Parking Lot Of An Old Elementary School

Witt: This Metal "Ring" Was In Every Toilet In A Hospital. No Search I Have Done Was Able To Locate A Match Or Answer

Came In A Box Of Candy Making Supplies That I Got Off Craigslist. Measures 4 1/2 Inches Wide And Has About 60 Twisty Screws Embedded Into It. It Came With Lots Of Different Semi-Professional Sugar/Candy Tools And This One Has Me Stumped

Found This While Cleaning Out The Attic. It's Wood, Looks Handmade, Measures 20cm, But I Have No Idea What It Is Or Does!

"Light Fixture" I Noticed At A Restaurant In Nl, Canada. Appears To Be Some Sort Of Old Machinery

To Piggy Back Off The Other Clothing "Loop" Post: What Is This Loop Towards The End Of Both The Sleeves On My Jacket? Who Would Hang Their Jacket Up By The Sleeves? What Are These For?

Brass Or Bronze Ball With Dividing Lines

Found This Behind A Commercial Freezer While Doing Renovations. Plastic Casing, Plastic Looking Balls, Metal Shroud, About 1.5 Inches In Length. Wall Anchor? Cyanide Capsule?

Large Chunk Of (Metal?) Weighs Quite A Bit In Your Hand And Hasn't Changed In Color In Decades

Large Plastic Hood With Gloves Attached. Found In Chicago Residential Alleyway

Bronze And Lead Object, With Some Kind Of Scale In It, No Moving Parts, Found While Digging

Found Tiny Vial Of Thick Liquid With A Bead Inside. There Were Also 4 Rubber Things For Your Fingers And It Was All In A Sealed Black Foil Packet. Any Idea What It Is?

My Neighbor Just Installed This Outside Of Their Window. I Assume It Measures Something But I Have Never Seen Such A Pole

Witt? A Small Wooden Box With A Sort Of Dial On The Front Which Can Turn But Cannot Turn Anymore At Certain Points. There Is One More In Another Pew

Found This Plastic Device Buried In The Garage. About 13 Inches Long, And When You Pull Back The Trigger Where Your Hand Goes It Lifts The Little Knob On The End Upwards. The Bottom Side Of The Knob Has Velcro On It

What Are These Lights That Appear To Be Behind The Mirror In The Hotel I’m Staying At?

Games

Ieva Gailiūtė

Ieva Gailiūtė

Indrė Lukošiūtė

Indrė Lukošiūtė