“What Is This Thing?” — 30 Times People Found Mysterious Objects And The Internet Knew Exactly What They Were

1. “Large white rectangular machine (?), possibly electronic. In a $2.5 million dollar home’s basement. What is it?”

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Solved by u/BrewCrewBall:

It’s a soundproof sleeping chamber.

2. “Orange pen size object with USB on one end and radioactive sticker.”

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Solved by u/ShotgunSenorita:

This looks a lot like the Elitech temperature and humidity sensors.

u/cpt_morgan_ Added:

This is correct. We have to destroy all labels and packaging if it is contrary to what is there, particularly if there is no radioactivity apart from background counts. I am a Nuclear Energy Worker and I have to ship radioactive materials from time to time.

3. “Found while digging, around the size and shape of a 9v battery.”

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Solved by u/TheFormOfTheFlame:

Brother, I think that’s a 9v battery. You can see the 6 1.5v cells that sum to 9v total

u/Larry_Safari Added :

Yeah, “PP3” type 9 V battery.

4. “What are these small brass caps I found neatly tucked into a case while cleaning out an old persons flat?”

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Solved by u/WesternKindly8948:

Laser pointer caps, shoots different shapes.

u/jackrats Added:

The missing object is the laser pointer with clip.

5. “Saw this odd-shaped case at the airport. What is it used for?”

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Solved by u/greezzli:

Hard-shell cowboy hat case

6. “Small cloth bag with wood stand in a laundry room”

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More context:

I’m housesitting for a French friend of mine and they have this odd object in their laundry room. I thought it might be a refillable dryer ball/scent ball type thing but the wire at the top doesn’t move. It doesn’t seem to close, but maybe I’m not trying hard enough because I don’t want to break it. They have two and they’re both sat on the counter like this. Any ideas?

Solved by u/Bytowneboy2 :

Costa Rican pour-over coffee rig.

u/Alchisme Added:

This is 100% correct. I might add that these have clearly never been used and are on the small side, so probably picked up as gifts or something. My wife is Tica and we use these all the time, but they are taller to accommodate a little pitcher/carafe type vessel

7. “Metal object found in bathroom, circumstance is about the size of a tennis ball (maybe racquetball)”

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More Context:

I saw this object sitting on the edge of the sink in a community bathroom. I didn’t dare pick it up or touch it.

Seems to have an eye shaped hole on the end and a large ring on the bottom/back.

Solved by u/reijasunshine:

It appears to be a male chastity device. I hope you didn’t touch it, he’ll probably be back for it.

u/Dear-Union-44 Added:

This is it.. oh god why do I know this…

8. “What is the purpose of this giant dumpster looking bin with stairs?”

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Solved by u/jackrats:

Hunting rig.

u/Rough_Help added:

Its for when you want to k*ll nature while touching as little of it as possible

9. “Round metal ball with pole sticking out of it marked ‘BR'”

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Solved by u/Portuguese-Pirate:

I know what it is, I used to use them as part of my job. It’s a screw coupling pin found on locomotives to tighten up the connection between a locomotive and another rail vehicle. This is an early version ! No 6 in the diagram.

u/steampunktomato Added:

I think it’s called a “tommy bar” colloquially. Not sure who “Tommy” was…

10. “What is this double sharp-ended, thick, metal object (~3in) found wedged in both my passenger tires?”

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Solved by u/W0ndn4:

This looks like a two piece caltrop

u/Mule_Mule Added:

This is one halve of a caltrop. Someone wants to see you in a hospital

11. “What is this thing in my yard? Those rollers on the side spin.”

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Solved by u/Queasy_Question_2512:

That’s a Ford Model T driveshaft with the roller bearing and pinion still attached.

What it’s doing in your yard, I have no idea, but that’s definitely a Model T driveshaft.

u/realsalmineo Added:

It started life as an old Model T axle shaft. You can see it second from the top of this page from a Model T parts book..

What it was coöpted for is anyone’s guess. Since it is in the center of your piece of property, I suspect that someone read and then followed directions in an old Popular Mechanics article on how to make a rotating clothesline using a Model T axle.

12. “What is this battery pack and wiring attached to the headboard of my dorm bed?”

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u/the-beach-in-my-soul Asked:

Do the grey bed post nipples move? The light may activate if the nipples are pulled upward. I know it sounds like a joke, but I’m being serious. Since it looks likes wire are leading to both posts.

OP u/No-Company7636 Replied:

When I turned on the battery box, it would sometimes glow randomly for just a second and then turn off. I don’t know why it’s here or how it works… It’s probably broken. Thanks very much!

u/the-beach-in-my-soul Replied:

Light sensor? turn on the box and try making it dark in your room

OP u/No-Company7636 Replied:

You’re right! I tested it, and it turns on when it gets dark. Thank you so much! (Nevertheless, I don’t want to use this feature…)

13. “Seen on a biker: leather looking wrap with studs; not sure if attached to helmet, jacket, or head”

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Solved by u/Alortania:

Looks like he’s protecting his rat tail XD

It’s a “Pony Tail Hair Glove”

u/Leta19 Added:

It’s a hair protector. My mom had long hair and had to wear hard hats and didn’t want to ruin her hair or it be in her way while working (industrial electrician) and started wearing these. Although it was cuter than this specific one.

14. “Small foam square with razor blade. Found under couch.”

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u/KennieDD Replied:

No idea, but putting the razor blade into the foam could be in an attempt to dispose of it in a secure way.

Another theory by u/badmartialarts:

I wonder if it was a tool from when the couch was being made, some ingenious person used some scrap foam to make a soft handle for their cutting tool they were using. I’ve seen similar innovations in the factory I work at with tooling handles, and it reminded me of it.

Solved by u/ca95f:

I have a round cutter for cutting paper or photos so that you can make pins (badges) with. It came with a pin press that I bought. The cutter came with an extra blade, stored exactly like this. It’s for both your safety and the blade’s.

15. “Rust colored metal carts on wheels containing large weights near baggage carousel at airport. Carts are padlocked.”

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Solved by u/brock_lee:

These are weights for testing elevators.

16. “What is this blue thing attached to the front of this truck?”

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Solved by u/D1a1s1:

Looks like a homemade cold air intake.

u/Flyinghound656 Added:

Technically I think since it’s coming from the outside air slipstream, it’s a Ram Ain intake? Although I really hope he’s filtering that air lol.

u/gittenlucky Added:

Looks like there is a mesh clamped to the intake. Should keep out birds, but not much else.

17. “What are these slots cut in the back of the pews in a Catholic cathedral”

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Solved by u/phoeniks:

I imagine it would be to hold a walking stick.

And u/tbutz27:

Umbrellas guys

And u/trinatr:

My Presbyterian church growing up had these slots. The youth group was responsible for putting the hand fans in them before every service. The fans were slightly smaller than a paper plate, usually a rounded rectangle, and in a flat stick about the width and thickness of a paint stirring stick, maybe 2/3s the length. The fans were necessary since there was no air conditioning, or when the room was stuffy in the winter.

Occasionally, people would have custom fans made In Memoriam for a funeral, but mostly there were 4 designs based on the season.

18. “What’s this weirdly shaped compartment in my apartment’s bathroom?”

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More Context:

Small compartment in the bathroom of my apartment, on bottom-ish side of the wall by sink, not really reachable from the toilet. Could fit a bar of soap on the inside with some wiggle room. What is it?

Solved by u/GitEmSteveDave:

It held a small box of tissues.

u/ZweitenMal Added:

Toilet paper originally came as folded sheets, like tissues do today. You’d unwrap the folded stack of sheets and tuck them into this holder.

19. “What is this piece of wood nailed to the underside of an old pine table for?”

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More Context:

This is the underside of an old pine dining table. The thin piece of wood is rounded on one side, and pushed into a circular hole.

Solved by u/Ayrx440:

If I had to guess I would say a support. Likely to hold the legs for transport when disassembled.

u/Known_Measurement799 Replied:

This is such a clever answer. I bet this is it. The legs were there during transport.

OP u/MacInsideOut Added:

Yeah, I like this idea, but the legs are pretty hefty compared to this weak thing.

u/Dovetrail Replied:

Looks like the legs unscrew (judging by the difference in grain between the turned portion and the square portion). Pop ‘em off and see if they fit in there.

OP u/MacInsideOut Added:

Like a glove

20. “Big, red, funnel-looking thing on a tower on top of the local high school—what is it?”

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Solved by u/Snellyman:

This is a low power FM broadcast antenna in a protective radome. Like a shively 6812B:

u/ThatBluesy Added:

That school building has a low power FM band of 107.9 FM registered broadcast WELV.

They teach students about radio broadcasts and do live interviews with the locals, mayor, and board members.

They also have a tv channel in the village CH20 for lofats to give info on the school, play live broadcasts of board meetings/events such as sporting events. (Local of the area)

21. “Found in my AirBnB’s living room. ~5cm long, white part is plastic. ‘Needle’ part appears to be hollow. 1€ coin for scale. Medical, maybe? Should I be worried if small kids are around?”

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Solved by u/AfraidClothes6540:

Looks like graphite from a twist type mechanical pencil.

u/Intellectual_Worlock Added:

Specifically, a PaperMate SharpWriter. One of my absolute favorite shop marking tools.

22. “Found this on a house I want to put an offer on. The current owner and real estate agent both say it’s a BBQ…”

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More Context:

This is on the side yard at a house that I would like to put an offer on. It is in the Los Angeles suburbs.

The current owner claims the large stone circle is a BBQ but that doesn’t seem possible. There’s no soot marks and the ring is made of plastic.

The pump is clearly plumbed into the ground but according to her it’s “decorative”.

Solved by u/10SE:

Looks like it could be a capped well. Which might also explain why the pump isn’t operational.

u/AnxiousSage Added:

Looks to me like a capped cistern and the (now defunct) pitcher pump that formerly emptied from the cistern.

23. “I’m in a hotel and this is all over the ceiling in one room only, what is it?”

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Solved by u/-Disgruntled-Goat-:

Judging by the cracks in the ceiling it looks like the old plaster and lathe.

When it gets old it becomes more brittle and the plasters breaks away from the lathe. You cant just drive a drywall screw through it to hold it on to the lathe because it will just crumble.

This is probably a creative solution to use the wood disks as big washers to hold the plaster up without breaking it.

I used to have a house like this. In some spots the plaster was only held on with the many coats of paint.

And u/thesixgun:

It’s holding the old a*s ceiling from falling down on your head because they are too cheap to fix it

24. “Found in my bathroom. Small Q-tip-like stick. Individually packaged. No words except ‘open’. Nail polish included for size.”

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Solved by u/shockzone:

Those are cleaning swabs for IQOS devices. It’s like a vape, but instead of liquid, it heats little tobacco sticks called HEETS.

These swabs are pre-soaked in alcohol and used to clean out the gunk that builds up inside, especially around the heating blade.

25. “This wall recess with poles inside a handicapped hotel room- what are they for?”

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More Context:

My mother has stayed at the same Hyatt hotel for years and never had anything like this in the rooms…this past week they randomly gave her an ADA/accessibility room and this was in it.

It’s never been in the other rooms. We asked the hotel staff but they said they didn’t know either. I thought the poles were for hanging ties or something… but curious why this is only in a handicapped one?

Thanks 🙂

Solved by u/eleiele:

An accessible closet.

All closets used to be this way (shallow) because people had fewer clothes and less space.

u/TootsNYC Added:

You put hangers on them going parallel to the wall like this picture, or use them as peg s like a coat rack

26. “This playground bridge with a pole at the end. What is the pole for?”

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Solved by u/NetworkCanuck:

Skateboarder deterrent?

u/DearFix6226 Added:

This is the answer. That, skates and bikes.

27. “What are these metal discs under many seats at a concert hall?”

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Solved by u/FocusMaster:

Back in the days before air conditioning, they would put blocks of ice and big fans in the basement of the theater.

The air would be cooled and then forced out through these vents to cool the theater.

28. “What us this red squeeze thing? Small, about the size of a lighter”

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More Context:

Found while unpacking storage unit into new place, found this little guy. It says oxo on the side and looks like they sell kitchen stuff on the website but I can’t find it. Thanks

Solved by u/jackrats:

For closing bread bags.

Oxo calls it a “Bag cinch”.

FWIW, it’s just a large “cord lock” like you see on a cord in clothing, backpacks, etc.

29. “Plastic-like, ribbed objects, no smell, A4 paper for size.”

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More Info:

Found in a craft cupboard, thought they were wax but they don’t melt, they just burn., Don’t want to bin them if I can use them for something.

Solved by u/Careful_Coffee5313:

To me it looks like those dog dental sticks. Would be weird to find them with craft stuff though.

u/AFTVGAMING Added:

This – my dog hides his dental treats in my fabric and yarn all the time. He thinks it’s the safest spot.

If they were second hand supplies maybe someone else’s dog thought the same?

30. “Found this weird seemingly digital object in my stepbrothers room while helping him move out—he doesn’t know what it is. It’s a little bigger than a credit card. It doesn’t seem to turn on. I’m incredibly curious on what it might be so thought I’d ask here.”

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Solved by u/Scorpioben24:

ASI Hand Pilot Data Bank Calendar Currency Converter World Time Modes Palm Pilot

u/kiwi_murray: Added

We used to call those PDA’s (Personal Digital Assistants). Palm Pilot was a very popular type of PDA, but there were many more.

This looks like a cheap version called a Hand-Pilot, no doubt trying to associate itself with the much more expensive Palm Pilots by including “Pilot” in its name.

This model only has a handful of features, whereas real Palm Pilots were proper little computers with a full operating system that let you load apps on them, much like today’s mobile phones, and there were hundreds of different apps available.

They even had a handwriting recognition system called Graffiti.