Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
“What Is This Thing?”: 50 Times People Stumbled Upon Mysterious Objects (New Pics)
Interview With Expert
Is it a bird? Is it a plane?! Unfortunately, it most likely won’t be Superman. And, chances are, it’s not the Twister either. But it is something peculiar. It’s an unknown object (not from space, though!) that needs some help from the Internet to identify it.
Luckily, there is a subreddit for that. The What Is This Thing community is fortunately still going strong with more than 2.7 million members! It’s a place where you can post a picture of an item that you can’t for the life of you figure out what it is or where it came from. The Internet will most likely come to your aid, and the subreddit’s detectives will tell you what your strange object is.
This time, we’ve compiled a new selection of the best entries from the community for you to enjoy. So scroll away and let us know your favorites by upvoting them!
Bored Panda reached out to Celia Quillian, an AI expert who previously lent her expertise to TIME magazine and the Today Show. We wanted to know whether the current AI technology could make the subreddit's job easier. She told us more about how AI models recognize objects in pictures, what challenges we might run into, and what the future of AI image recognition technology is. Read our interview with her below!
More info: What Is This Thing? | Celia Quillian on Instagram | Celia Quillian on TikTok
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
What Is This Object I Found On A Beach In Yorkshire That Has Holes In And Feels Like A Mix Between Stone And Plastic
A Victorian toothbrush. The handle is made of animal bone and the holes are where the bristles (normally pig or horse hair) would go. Bristle toothbrushes like this were invented in China in the 1400s, but contrary to all that seems good and sane in this world, most Europeans weren't all that into toothbrushes until the late 1700s/early 1800s. Source: am archaeologist.
tee-lena 1 year ago
Upvote for mention of fairies. No particular reason other than love. I even have e a tat of a fairy on my forearm!
Load More Replies...
Ryan Mercer 1 year ago
It's hard to appreciate how soft the bristles are on our toothbrushes today. You can still get stiff bristle brushes in asia. They will strip the gum from your teeth. I don't know how anyone uses them.
The r/WhatIsThisThing subreddit is a pretty old community. It has been alive for about 15 years now. Bored Panda spoke to one of the community's moderators back in 2020, and they told us what the reasons behind the subreddit's success might be. It's that people like playing amateur detectives and helping others find out what their mystery object is.
Redditors love to share their knowledge, and it's especially rewarding when knowing something niche helps someone else. "Many [people] have unique and obscure knowledge and they like to use it. Get enough of them together and they cover most things," the moderator told us a few years back. It's hard not to get involved when some interesting items show up – that's another reason for the subreddit's popularity.
RELATED:
#2
A Silver Spoon With "Top" Part?
Vintage Christofle Orfevre a Paris Silver Plated Medicine/Invalid Feeder Spoon.
HTakeover 1 year ago
It is perfect for that, or straining olives/cherries from the jar, etc. But alas it's used to feed those with tremors so as to not spill the contents. Whether that be soup or medicine, etc.
Load More Replies...
Geordie Girl 1 year ago
I was thinking along the lines of a full spoonful, as opposed to a level spoonful!
#3
Patches Of Sand Floating On Top Of Water Near Shoreline, Each Patch Around 4-10cm In Diameter
It's dry sand floating on the water tension, been picked up by the raising tide. Only happens when it's hot enough to dry the sand and absolutely flat calm.
Zaach 1 year ago
Deserts can walk - if the wind blows consistently in one direction, it picks up the sand and drops it after a certain distance. If the size of the sand dunes matches the distance the wind blows the sand before the sand drops, you get a marching sand dune only stopped by natural barriers
unfilteredCigarette73 1 year ago
I grew up in a lake house(glorified cabin) these would appear near shore sometimes but never the amount in the pic above
Back then, the moderator also told Bored Panda that almost all mystery cases get solved. "A majority of things are solved within 15 minutes of posting," the mod said. The Redditor assessed that about 10% of the posters never get final answers. With a community of 2.7 million people, it's no wonder how quick it can be – its strength is in its numbers.
On a more serious note, there's also an affiliated subreddit called Trace an Object. Internet sleuths can put their skills to good use by searching for items posted by Europol and Australia's "Trace an Object" websites or the FBI's "Endangered Child Alert Program." "We've had some luck in identifying some things, but there's more yet unsolved and more to come as Europol does release some new information every few months," the community's moderator told us in 2020.
#4
This Is About 3ft Talk Made Of Solid Wood. It Doesn't Weigh Much Though, Maybe 5 Or 10 Lbs. The Arm Hanging Down Swings And The Top Is Just A Handle. It Does Not Move
A boot puller, otherwise known as a boot jack. Heel in the u shaped groove, other foot on the back of that to stabilise it all, swingy bit on the top of the foot, hold the hand grips and lever the boot off the heel by lifting your booted leg up and out.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
For those of us who ride horses we have a unique way of helping someone take their boots off if a jack isn't available. The person wearing boots sits down on a chair or something of similar height and the helper stands facing away from them with their boot/leg clamped in between their own legs. Then the boot wearer puts their other foot on the helper's butt and pushes. :) Repeat for the other leg. As you can imagine this is often hysterical depending on how hard you kick the helper in the butt!
David 1 year ago
Seems needlessly complicated for a boot jack. Most are just the "V" board with a riser brace to hold it up at a angle. You put one heel in the V and use the other foot to hold down the jack. Though I suppose the handle could help for an older person / someone with balance issues.
Kim Lorton 1 year ago
I love old furniture and things people had a need and found a solution! But. A k then, no one thought of tKing a patent on something like this!
Heather Talma 1 year ago
I think it would be much easier to make boots that are easier to take off.
Jinx (she/her) 1 year ago
i mean, its not stupidity or anything, just a lack of need, or encounter/experience with it, leading to ignorance on the subject
Load More Replies... #5
Cubby Inside Kitchen Of 1950’s Home
Telephone nook/niche.
Kzincat 1 year ago
There was one of these in my great grandparents’ house. Phone book goes in the lower slot.
Ginger Grumpybunny 1 year ago
I remember when I was very young, we didn't have a home phone yet but sometimes my mother would take me and my sister to the public phone box and lift me up so I could use the phone book shelf as a seat while I talked to my grandma.
Load More Replies...
Rocky Horror Panda 1 year ago
I almost bought a house that had one of these. I was SO excited. The woodwork in that place was gorgeous, but the house itself needed more work than was feasible for me.
Douglas Tucker 1 year ago
Yup. Back in the day, the only telephone in the home had it's own throne with the "Yellow Page" directory below it. Usually a pencil and paper as well as a chair would be near by for those phone calls to the local grocery store or just listening in on the party line conversations.
Catlady6000 1 year ago
My gran had one of the last party lines. In the 1960s. I remember her shushing us and TAKING NOTES
Load More Replies...
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
Some homes had this in the hallway, the most central point in the house for the single telephone. We had a standalone version. vintage-ph...1172b8.jpg 
Heather Atwood 1 year ago
My daughter's new house has one of these and I am giving her my great-grandmother's phone from the 1940's to go there.
3 Trash Pandas (She/They) 1 year ago
We’ve got one of these in our house! (Built 1927), it’s got a chair built into the wall underneath it that pulls out so you can sit while you talk in the phone. Of course, we get no use of it now but it’s still pretty nifty
#6
Bought A House With This Glass Structure In The Backyard, No Idea What It's Supposed To Be
It’s to grow mushrooms. Called a fruiting house. It looks like there is even substrate there that you use in growing mushrooms.
Cristian A. 1 year ago
Now it makes sense why he dressed with the underwear over the pants (the mushrooms) :D
Load More Replies...
unfilteredCigarette73 1 year ago
Depending on the mushrooms you may do just that...
Load More Replies...
Carla Phillips 1 year ago (edited)
Growing mushrooms is hard. It seems like it would be easy since they occur naturally in cow patties, but home grown must be completely sterile.
With all this talk about identifying strange objects from pictures, one has to think about whether we could use AI to do the job. If Dog Scanner can tell me how much shih tzu my little rescue pooch has in him, why can't I use it to identify an unknown object? We consulted Celia Quillian, a digital creator who shares her knowledge about artificial intelligence on TikTok and Instagram.
Celia tells us that current AI models are capable of helping us identify an unknown object in a picture. "While at this point in time there are no AI models that can identify absolutely everything, there are many AI tools that have image recognition features," Quillian explains. The best-known tools for that include ChatGPTPlus, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot. "I've used these myself to help identify photos of plants or animals on nature walks," Celia adds.
#7
Promo Item I Received For Free At A Christmas Fair. It Is The Size Of My Hand, The White Top Screws On And Off And The Red Bag Part Expands And Is Pretty Thick
A mini refillable hot/cold pack for headaches or injuries.
Blue Mar 1 year ago
Nope, first time I have seen it. I would not have a clue.
Load More Replies...
PeepPeep the duck 1 year ago
This one’s weird cos we all see them on movies, cartoons or old re runs at some point, but you never really see them in real life
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
Look in my mom's kitchen drawer, and you'll find a light blue one. They do help with headaches and joint pain.
Load More Replies...
Upstaged75 1 year ago
I remember this from when I was a kid. Ours was blue. I'm surprised they still make these - the modern ones are much better.
David 1 year ago
Have we really reached the point where folks don't recognize and ice bag? (I feel old) lol
Mason Kronol 1 year ago
I have about 5 of these. Bought them on Amazon. A necessity if you work out and have knee and ankle issues. Also 3 foot/ankle surgeries. I've fallen asleep with these on.
Load More Replies...
Aboredpanda 1 year ago (edited)
I use these a lot. Even though I'm fairly young. Migraines. Isolates the ice and keeps me from getting frost damage on my skin. Needs must, as it's reusable and cab be reused immediately by emptying and refilling. Sometimes icing down the pain is more effective than the medecine...
#8
Solid Feeling Balls That Chyme/Jingle At A Low Tone When You Shake Them
Baoding balls. They’re for stress and concentration. You're supposed to put them both in the palm of your hand and rotate them around each other in a circle.
Mrs.C 1 year ago
Does anyone else remember these being a big thing in the early 90's? Like Fidget Spinners for adults?
glowworm2 1 year ago
Yes, the Oriental Trading company catalogs had many versions of them for sale. They came in fancy boxes.
Load More Replies...
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
Wow! Thanks! Now I know what I have. They used to belong to my dad, but he never told me what they are. Just this past weekend I took my set with me when I went to visit my grandchildren. They were fascinated by them, even though we didn't know their purpose. Now I can tell them. 😀 Baoding-ba...fcdc27.jpg 
David 1 year ago
I have a couple of sets of these I bought in Hong Kong years ago. I got the stainless steel ones. They have a small 'bell' inside them so they make soft chiming sound as you rotate them. The myriad of alleged health benefits in the instructions is ridiculous /amusing but I enjoy them as a sort of novel item.
Thorleifdottir 1 year ago
I feel I know exactly how old this person isn’t. These were EVERYWHERE in the 90s
#9
Small Ceramic Bowl With Three Small Cones Like Things In The Middle
It is an Ikebana Vase. It is for Japanese style flower arrangements. The flowers go in the tubes and the rest is also filled with water, usually smooth stones, or maybe a small turtle or frog sculpture.
Na Schi 1 year ago
Wow, my guess would have been so off. I'd say it was an ashtray. The three tubes to stubbing out the cigarettes and the surrounding to put the butts there. An Ikebana vase is so much nicer!
sweetrottenpeaches 1 year ago
I love this so much! ❤️ I imagine it is beautiful when filled with all those nice exotic flowers and water and cute statues and water.
What would the step-by-step look like? "Simply snap a photo of the thing in question and upload [it] to your AI tool with a prompt like 'I came across this <thing/animal/plant> today in <extra context if helpful.> Can you help me identify what it might be?'" According to Quillian, the AI tool might need some help for better identification, like the already mentioned context.
#10
Yellowish Powder (?) On The Inside Of Swimming Suit
The elastic in the fabric disintegrating.
Ginger Grumpybunny 1 year ago
This is also what can happen if you accidentally tumble dry a bra on high heat.
#11
Large Metal Tube With Narrowed Front End, Transported With Police Escort, On An Extended Flatbed Trailer
A spindle that Boeing weaves the carbon fiber fuselage for the Dreamliner on.
Brian Droste 1 year ago
That doesn't even look like any part of the starship Enterprise.
Load More Replies...
Surenu 1 year ago
Don't worry, the loaders all said "That's not going anywhere" perfectly by regulation
Load More Replies...
Mason Kronol 1 year ago
I live near a boeing facility and a highway they transport on. lots of wings.
#12
What Is This Cubby Above The Built In Stove. There Is No Access To Open It From Any Angle
Sheet pan rack
H.L.Lewis 1 year ago
If you can't open it, you can't clean it. You will need to wash your sheet pans before each use. Any manner of creatures could get in there.
Load More Replies... Bookworm 1 year ago
Agree. How else would you dust in there? It would get too disgusting to put any pans in.
Load More Replies... 
"A more detailed description of the thing if the image is lower quality or taken from far away can be helpful in identifying [it]," Celia explains. "Generally, the tool will tell you outright what the thing is, or, if it is less clear, it will tell you that it may have trouble with the identification but could propose some suggestions of what it might be."
#13
What Is This Gold Rotating Thing? It’s About 5-7cm In Length And Has What Seems Like Drawings On Each Side?
A letter seal.
HTakeover 1 year ago
That kind of letter seal was often worn on men's watches, or women's necklaces or chatelaines. It's from turn of the century for at least one of the seals (has a date) though possibly older since as an heirloom each family member would get their own seal on one of the faces. This one has 3 faces used.
Anne-Marie Burgon 1 year ago
Also known as a seal fob. A gentleman of the 18th or 19th century who carried a pocket watch would have had a small pocket sewn into his clothing for the watch's safe keeping. The watches were attached to a length of silk or leather or a metal chain that then secured the watch and chain to their waistcoat, lapel, or belt loop. The opposite end of the chains were decorated with their watch winding key plus a seal, a pendant or even a cigar cutter. Like a tie pin or pinkie ring, fobs were another way to declare one's personal style. This one likely isn't worth much since it looks to be made of brass (not silver or gold), the parts were roughly cast and the engraving is not of a fine caliber. The most valuable fobs are like pieces of fine jewellery that feature a carved intaglios (reverse carved hard stones like carnelian, quartz or amethyst) that would be pressed into warm wax to seal a letter or document.
#14
Slices Of Rubber Held Together By Metal Brackets, About 10 Pounds. It Hit My Windshield Going 80mph Down The Interstate. Luckily The Windshield Did Its Job And No One Was Injured!
A wheel chock.
Geoffrey Scott 1 year ago
I thought a trailer dock bumper. Hooks to the back frame of the trailer
Nancy Robbins 1 year ago
That's exactly what it is. A wheel chock needs to be solid.
Load More Replies... Nancy Robbins 1 year ago
Actually, it is a bumper on a big rig trailer that prevents damage to the trailer when backing into the dock.
David Paterson 1 year ago
If that was rectangular then I'd say it was a vibration damper support for a road bridge. The rubber layers absorb energy to stop the bridge from shaking apart during an earthquake. But I've never seen a triangular one, so I'll go with wheel chock.
Foffy Skrimshaw 1 year ago
I've been around airplanes all my life and never seen a chock like this one, they are usually solid wood or solid rubber.
#15
Found In My Backyard. It Is Chalky And Will Rub Off If You Run Your Finger On It. Because Of My Dogs, Really Just Want To Make Sure It’s Not Some Kind Of Poison. Thanks!
The clay plug from the bottom of a fireworks tube.
Erik de Bruin 1 year ago
Looks like a 18th century cuppela to me. Got several of these, found at axcavations of old coin-making plants. These were throw-away chalk cups, used for validating the weight and purity of gold an silver. Normally, these are found by the hundreds in dumps.
Naturally, AI still isn't perfect and you might run into some challenges. Celia Quillian says that it all comes down to the quality and quantity of training data the AI model has on visuals of this particular type of object.
"Say you made a unique object at home out of a variety of things around the house and posted it to the Internet saying 'This invention is called a Riesmatch!' If you were to then upload a photo of the 'Reismatch' into an AI tool and ask it to identify it, it would not be able to come up with the 'correct' name but rather suggest a description of all of the recognized objects it is made of."
#16
Found At Tide Pools - Green Nylon Pouch With Ziploc Bag Of Mystery Stuff
Congratulations you've found a bean bag!
HTakeover 1 year ago
This is from a kids version of corn hole or something. Police kind use a heavy woven cloth or kevlar and filled with lead.
Bryn 1 year ago
Nope. This is a kids' toy. The polices ones are made with different cloth
Load More Replies... #17
What Are These Smaller Doors Inside Our Hotel Bathroom Door?
While many are saying “Dutch” door this is actually called “wicket”. A Dutch door has a separate top and bottom half that open together or independently. A wicket is a door (or two in this case) inside of a door. They are used mainly in psych wards as a way to get into a room that may be barricaded.
pep Ito 1 year ago
Wickets are typically small, narrow doors either alongside or within a larger castle or city gate. The latter were often double gates, large and heavy, designed to allow the passage of wagons, coaches and horsemen. The purpose of wickets was to avoid the risk of having to open the main gates to the castle or city for just one or two individuals on foot. Because the wicket was only one person wide, it only allowed entry one at a time and enabled the guards to better control access. In the Middle Ages the narrow doors in the city walls also enabled late arrivals to gain entry after the main gates had been closed.
Sergio Bicerra 1 year ago
Easy: the top one is when you're bored and want to talk to someone in the living room. The bottom one to let your pets in so they can stare your soul while you finish business.
Patsy Robins 1 year ago
Also seen in doors to disabled bathrooms these days, at least in hospitals - allows caregivers access in an emergency.
#18
What Is This Strange Pocket Watch With A Lever And Odd Face?
It's a pocket roulette wheel, modeled to look like a pocket watch for easy concealment but with a rotating dial instead of an indicator hand. It has 12 parts instead of the typical number to look like a broken pocket watch upon inspection. Most likely this one was crafted out of a pocket watch as some of the original frame is visible around the dial/wheel/face.
detective miller's hat 1 year ago
My friend has one of these that says "don't play with the devil" on one side.
If the image is low quality, blurry, or taken from far away, it might be difficult for the AI tool to identify it. "The quality and abundance of the training data goes the other way as well when it comes to AI image generation," Quillian explains. It's a simple way of saying that AI can have bias too, based on the data it received during its training.
#19
What Is This Tube That This Coast Guard Guy Sticks His Gun Into While Loading It?
In the army we called it a "clearing station". If you were to have an unintentional discharge while clearing the weapon, that chamber would stop the bullet
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
Way back at my first job I worked for a place that sold and repaired guns. We had a large version of this for test firing. It was a large drum (maybe 20 gallon or so) on it's side on a rack.the interior was stuffed with rubber wadding and there was a hole about the same size as the one in the picture where you'd put the barrel in to test fire it.
Missy VanWinkle 1 year ago
I saw something similar in a crime lab about 20 years ago. It was attached to a big vessel of water. The investigating agent would load the gun in it, fire it, and retrieve the bullet that had been dramatically slowed down by the water before it hit anything, so the bullet and rifling marks could be compared to a bullet from a crime scene.
Nolgoth 1 year ago
When i was in the navy, one of the dudes on my sub "accidentally" shot a round into one of those. Guy was immediately disqualified the topside watch, had to also requalify weapons handling. Could only be requalified with the signature of the torpedoman chief and weapons officer. Accidentally is in quotes cuz a lot had to go wrong for that to happen, including switching the safety off and fellow watchstanders (person relieving/being relieved, plus duty chief) not paying attention. Boat had a week of firearms safety briefings everyone had to attend too
SquishedShiba 1 year ago
Yeah so down under a couple of states still haven't legalised tasers still let alone handguna
#20
Pellets With A Powdery Substance Coating Them, Found On The Floor Of A Garage That Had Not Been Opened For A Few Months, Each Pellet A Bit Larger Than A Tater Tot
Wood stove pellets that got wet.
Geordie Girl 1 year ago
How big are tater tots? And what, exactly, are they? I thought tater tots was an American word for people who can't say potato/potatoes.
#21
What Is This Pot With Tubes And A Suction System? Left In My Friends New Apartment From Old Tenants
A milking machine for goats and/or cows.
Tobie Lynn 1 year ago
I came to upvote this, but saw the number was at 69. I almost didn't want to change it~ It was just too fitting.
Load More Replies...
Papa 1 year ago
Probably not cows, since there are only two tubes. For cattle you'd need four.
Bill Swallow 1 year ago
I can confirm; I grew up on a dairy farm. The general architecture matches our milking machines, but the smaller size and only two cups indicate that it's for a smaller animal such as goats. Possibly sheep, but goats are probably more likely in this setting. The box produces a mild vacuum, which is alternately applied to the hose going into the bottom of the cup for a second or two, then switched to the tube going into the side of the sub. This 'pulsator' action provides suction in the 'inflation' (the liner in the cup), then relaxes it a little. End result is action mimicking someone milking the animal by hand. Milk is collected in the 'paint can'. Critical to disassemble the whole thing, clean it, and SANITIZE it after each use.
Load More Replies...
Celia explains with an example: "If the great majority of images with the label 'Professional' that the AI was trained upon were pictures of white men, giving it the prompt 'Make me an image of a professional' is very likely to result in a picture of a white man, unless there is extra additional detail in the prompt to request a different gender or race, or extra training in the model to specifically avoid such bias."
#22
What Are These Small Bowls With Holes In The Bottom? I Have No Idea What To Do With Them
Pots for succulents.
quentariel 1 year ago
That's what I thought too. I have one that's shaped like a leaf with a similar hole to the stick.
Load More Replies... FaceTime Audio 1 year ago
I thought they looked like those disappointing rubber toys you get as a kid that spring up when you’re not expecting it.
#23
Round Brown Things With Holes In Them Lining A Small Waterway In St. Pete, Fl
They are artificial reef balls.
They are there to create a "living shoreline" to prevent erosion.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
I recently saw someone making these on a TV show. They were bigger though and they were sinking them in deep water. Very cool!
Melli Peep 1 year ago
Google Eternal Reef. One can be cremated. Their ashes are put in wet concrete and poured into large ½ wiffle balls and deployed into the ocean to create an artificial reef.
Load More Replies...
Chris Landrum 1 year ago
I think they also help lessen the impact of the water against the wall
#24
Small Fragrant Cubiod From Morocco, Bought Thinking It Was Soap
Moroccan solid resin perfume bar. It’s made of resin and wax.
Šimon Špaček 1 year ago
Solid perfume is easy to use, either scrub it where you want fragrance (like armpit or neck) or use your finger to get a bit and then put it where you want it.
Load More Replies...
Miriam Barber 1 year ago
Im living in Morocco, its for your ckothes, you put it in your wardrobe or such and it gives a nice smell to your clothes. Also can run on inside of clothes you wear to be a sort of perfume
So maybe it's still too early to expect AI to recognize an old-timey letter seal. Good thing the r/WhatIsThisThing subreddit exists, then! But still, is AI image recognition technology headed that way? Our AI expert says that the most exciting use of it is in medical images. "AI image recognition will allow doctors to detect and diagnose diseases and medical images even faster and earlier."
And some companies are already doing that! Like the Lithuanian startup Oxipit, which creates AI tools for global medical imaging. Companies that use this technology might help in addressing the global radiologist shortage and improve diagnostic quality.
#25
Set Of 9 Wooden Balls. 4 Black, 4 Brown, And One Smaller Brown Ball. More Details In Comment
Bocce balls
Sue User 1 year ago (edited)
Story time. Travelling to Nice from Amsterdam shortly after 9/11. Security had a fit because they could not decide if we could take them in cabin or had to pack them in checked luggage. Yes, i am going to take over a plane eith pétanque balls. Ludicrous.
Load More Replies... 
MrsFettesVette 1 year ago
It's a bocce set- my family loves to play this so much we've been talking about putting in a permanent court somewhere on our property
María Hermida 1 year ago
In Spain, only elderly men with absolutely nothing else to do play this. It's like a joke. The thing is, they meet with friends in a park, have fun and socialise, so, what's wrong? It's much better then sitting indoors watching stupid shows on TV.
Load More Replies...
Living Example 1 year ago
Makes me think about sitting back with a beer watching people play Bocce at the Italian Festival.
#26
These Chains At Animal Kingdom Disney World, They Are Located On The Safari Tour
Its to prevent animals from moving from zone to zone. The chains are difficult/ uncomfortable for herd animals to walk across so the dont. Similar chanis/bars are used for other cattle and livestock on farms.
Source: been on the safari tour way too many times and had guides tell us that.
Papa 1 year ago
When used for livestock they're called "cattle guards" and are made of pipes. They're typically placed in roads at fences so drivers can keep going without having to open gates.
Bryn 1 year ago
My uncle had a cow as a child that figured out how to cross them by rolling over it like a dog :)
Load More Replies...
Xenia Harley 1 year ago
In some more rural states out west in the USA, when you go to a campground, you are fenced in, and then they have cattle guards so animals are deterred from entering the campground.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
Specifically hooved animals. They're not for lions or anything dangerous. ;)
Suzie 1 year ago
Cattle grids in UK used a lot in the countryside to stop sheep and cows deer etc leaving the safe areas and popping into town for a pint
#27
Witt? Some Sort Of A Combination Of Tongs And A Strainer?
Handheld colander for fried foods.
PeepPeep the duck 1 year ago
A staple in Asian households along with the cleaver and steam basket
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 year ago
My boyfriend is Chinese, can confirm his parents (both immigrants) have all three of these items at home XD My boyfriend cooks and he has often bemoaned the fact that HE doesn't have a nice Chinese cleaver like his parents do! XD
Load More Replies... 
MirohLoome (he/she/they) 1 year ago
i always squish my seseme balls when i try to use it tho :(
Load More Replies...
sweetrottenpeaches 1 year ago
I have one of these! Actually I use it to remove the scum on top of soups and clean meat broth. It works well for that purpore too.
However, with the rapid development of AI image recognition technology there also are some ethical considerations to take into account. "From an ethical standpoint, there are also use cases from the security front that involve AI image recognition to monitor for suspicious activities or detecting threats," Celia Quillian tells Bored Panda.
#28
I Dug This Up While On Holiday In Devon, UK. Only The Protruding Cylindrical Part Was Visible And It Was Found ~7m Up A Sand Dune. It Is Solid Metal (Most Likely Iron) And Roughly A Metre In Length. It Didn’t Seem Hollow And Was Unbelievably Heavy. Any Ideas?
With a trunnion on each side, it looks like a small cannon.
Sian E 1 year ago
"Yes, let's dig an unknown metal cylinder out of the sand. What could possibly g..." BOOM!
Elizabeth Elliot 1 year ago
You shouldn't be digging in sand dunes - there're a fragile wildlife habitat!
Regina Holt 1 year ago
I would not have tried to excavate it. I call in an actual professional. For all we know, it could be a great archeological find.
BPisaddictive 🇮🇹 🤌 1 year ago
Why on Earth should someone dig such a big hole while on holiday? Looks a very tiring activity
#29
Old Wooden Bat-Like Object With Floral Carvings
OP it’s called a tire thumper, 18 wheelers use them to “check their tires”. Really it’s kept under their seat for self defense. *floral carvings would be a bit out of place tho.
Anikulapo 1 year ago (edited)
It’s the good “going out” one for special occasions.
Load More Replies...
Sunflower Moon 1 year ago
Bored Panda posted the wrong answer for this. It isn't a tire thumper it's a piñata bat. I'd never heard of such a thing but it's real. Here's the link: https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/s/hpJ8F7hcEM
TruestBlack 1 year ago
My brother had one of these growing up. We bought it in Mexico, it was marketed to him as a mini souvenir baseball bat.
Krd 1 year ago
I've heard these small bats are also used to knock out/kill fish when fishing (rather than having them just suffocate to death).
#30
Small Waxy Minty Sticks - Looks Like Hot Glue Sticks
Wax for braces/dental work
Upstaged75 1 year ago
I use them on a sharp tooth that I have. It cuts up my tongue. The dentist files it down but it likes to get sharp again on its own.
Load More Replies...
Madam Puddyfoot 1 year ago
oooh this is brining back (bad) memories. Often when you get your braces adjusted, the wires in the back poke out and cut your gums. Also if the brackets on the teeth are causing irritation. you take a little piece of wax and cover up the part that is hurting your mouth.
Red PANda (she/they) 1 year ago
I have a scar on my cheek of where the wire would repeatedly poke my braces lmao
Load More Replies...
"While this can be beneficial in many ways, there are also ethical considerations – will [there be] privacy or data collection without a person's knowing consent? Could models for detecting suspicious activity similarly be trained on a biased set of data, leading the AI to more frequently raise false alarms for certain populations of people?"
"I think one of the larger risks, which can be mitigated, is the inherent bias the training data set could have for all use cases, without the proper bounds in place," Quillian adds.
#31
Grid Of Large Metal Cubes On A Pole, Located In The Las Vegas Airport. Not Making Any Noise And No Lights, Maybe An Air Filter Or Something? Located About 8ft Off The Ground And Maybe 20ft Long
A decommissioned arrival/departure display.
#32
The University I Used To Attend Had One Of These In Every Classroom -- A Small Black Box With What Appears To Be A Grid Of Leds, Placed Towards The Front Of The Room / Where Students Will Face When Seated
Infrared audio transmitter for the hearing impaired.
Pursuing Peonies 1 year ago
Im assuming that means it connects/broadcasts to things like hearing aids and cochlears?
#33
What Is This Thing On My Neighbors Balcony? About 1.5 Feet X 8 Inches. Some Type Of Electronic. Small White (Sometimes Red) Light Shining Occasionally. Looks Like It’s Suctioned To The Door
5G Home WiFi, it connects to 5G cell towers and streetlights and gets the best reception when attached to a plane of glass because 5G attenuates through walls.
Sian E 1 year ago
So, a device for keeping the 5G vaccine conspiracy nutters from bothering you!
JB 1 year ago
I imagine if they could read and figure it out, they'd just harass you more.
Load More Replies...
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 year ago
Actually, "plane" still works. Noun: "a flat surface on which a straight line joining any two points on it would wholly lie." Adjective: "completely level or flat."
Load More Replies... #34
I Saw This Building At Work The Other Day, Its Detached From Any Other Buildings Its About 15 Ft Tall Windows On All Sides But Only On The Top And A Door In Front
Old deer blind turned into kids' fort
#35
Two Small Metal Items With Cloth Inside The Hole On The Side
They are vintage kazoos, they probably need new baffles in the hole to be able to work properly.
quentariel 1 year ago
Once in a scout camp we each got one of these (cheap plastic versions though). Whoever came with that idea might have deeply regretted it as soon as they realised what several hundred kazoos sounds at the same time.
Debbie 1 year ago
My english isn't good enough to understand a lot of the explanations. "what is this?" Answer: It's a thinagmajig for a bulbulator. And everyone (except me) goes: oooh now I understand.
Auntriarch 1 year ago
They are a musical instrument that you blow. However I am going to steal the word bulbulator
Load More Replies... 
Kevin Humble 1 year ago
You say - new baffles to work properly - but I have heard kazoos - nothing about them can be said to work properly (sorry kazoo lovers - you do you).
#36
Wierd Hammer-Shaped Thing With Flat Edges
This is an axe for peppermint bark. It comes in the package. Market solved. I’m so excited I’ve never solved one of these.
arthbach 1 year ago
Toffee hammer is term I know. Often the handle would have the name of the toffee manufacturer's name on it, or just 'toffee'.
Load More Replies...
#37
I Received This Item As A Wedding Gift From An Egyptian Wedding Guest. It Is Nearly 5” Tall And Has A Removable Top With 4small Holes Like A Salt Shaker (Item Is Not Hollow)
It's a narghile/hookah. Looks like it's purely decorative, not really usable.
pineapple87 1 year ago
You could also ask the person who gave it to you to tell you more about it...?
#38
Cinder Block Walled Hole Under A Concrete Step. What Is The Purpose?
It's part of the foundation. Keeping consistent depth keeps things moving together instead of separately so your steps stay on place and don't heave or drop in time.
JayWantsACat 1 year ago
I understand the words in the explanation but do not understand what it means, as we a whole. lol
#39
What Is This Strap On My Backpack? It Attaches With Velcro, But I Don't Know What It Would Be Used For
That can slide over the handles of suitcases with wheels so if you travel, you can pull it along with your suitcase and it won’t fall off.
#40
These Are Found On Street Corners In Daytona Beach. They Appear To Just Pump Water Up Only For It To Go Immediately To The Storm Drain. I Have Seen A Few Different Designs
They’re timed valves to keep the water in the distribution lines from getting too old. When the water is in the pipe too long the chlorine level drops too much and the water is unsafe.
IamMe 1 year ago
I've seen these in Florida. The water that comes out, smells like rotten eggs and swamp.
jimmy pop 1 year ago
I guess there's a source of sulphur underneath. German city of Aachen sometimes smells of rotten eggs because of that.
Load More Replies... #41
Easily Malleable Metal, With Diamonds In The Center. I Have Four Of Them, And They Were All Rolled Up Like The First Picture
I think they're accessories for hair braids, try googling 'hair braid cuffs'.
Carla Phillips 1 year ago
When I played volleyball in middle school, there was a rule of no metal on the players. My teammate had just had her hair done with the metal like this at the ends of her braids. She had to remove them all or not play. I'm not sure how those little clips could have affected game play, but she took them out
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 year ago
If she bumped into anyone else, those metal clips could have scratched/cut them - or her! One could have flown off and hit someone in the eye, or landed on the court and someone else could step/trip on it. I can imagine so many ways that your teammate could have injured herself or someone else with those metal clips XD
Load More Replies...
#42
Sword-Looking Thing That Plugs Into Mains Voltage
An electric tie iron.
Geordie Girl 1 year ago
Oh! I assume you slip your ties over it and it irons them without leaving press marks!
#43
Small Plastic Spoons With Brown Substance, Individually Packaged And Found In A Public Park Exposed To The Elements
Tamarind spoon. You have Hispanics in the neighborhood. Hit up a liquor store and get a fresh pack and try them out!
KillerKiwi 1 year ago
Yup. They sell these homemade at a Mexican food store near my neighborhood
Jen Hart 1 year ago
A fruit, "Its flavour has been compared to tangy lemon or lime balanced by sweet caramel notes, or a cross between lemon, apricot and dates."
Load More Replies...
Kim Lorton 1 year ago
Tamarind is a spice. Sweet and tart, strong favor. Is an Asian spice and Latin spice. Think the flavor of Pad Thai sauce. That is made with tamarind spice paste.
#44
A Pole With A Ring Around It And A Heavy Base
An umbrella holder.
llama • she/her 1 year ago
for addition context: OP said the metal ring near the base can move up and down, so when it's pushed to the top it can be used an an umbrella/cane holder
HTakeover 1 year ago
Additional info: The base is weighted and the ring slides up & down. In the comments someone else said it might be a trombone stand accounts for the sliding ring and the clearly intentional gap.
Loverboy 1 year ago
Huh, interesting. Never really thought something like this would exist for umbrellas
Auntriarch 1 year ago
We have an umbrella holder, but it's got a basin at the base, to catch drips. I don't think this one would work, there's nothing to hold the point of the umbrella or stick. If it really is an umbrella holder, then it's not a very good one
Load More Replies...
#45
I See These Weird Metal Boxes In UK Pubs Down By The Bar And Other Than Impromptu Chewing Gum Bins, What The Heck Are They?
An old ash tray.
Becky Samuel 1 year ago
Chewing tobacco was never really a big thing in the UK. Smoking pipes, snuff and cigarettes were always the preferred way to use tobacco.
Load More Replies... 
#46
Clear Hard Thing. Playing Card For Scale
Magnifier for reading a book.
Caroline Nagel 1 year ago
Click on the name at the left under the picture, it will send you to Reddit. On the second photo you'll find the playing card.
Load More Replies...
TheGoodBoi 1 year ago
Someone inform them playing cards are not units of measurements. Bananas are the proper way.
Rocky Horror Panda 1 year ago (edited)
I have a similar one with a sleeve that belonged to my grandmother (b. 1900). It's a Bausch & Lomb.
#47
A White Plastic Stick, That Gets Narrower In The Middle, With Small Hands On Both Ends Given As A Wedding Favour/Gift For Guests
A Muddler Stick / Cocktail Swizzle Stick.
Ms.GB 1 year ago
First you scratch your butt with it and then you mix yourself a drink...wash it first.
Load More Replies...
#48
Front Eyelet On Winter Boot. Unsure Of Purpose
Hook for attaching "gaiters"
example that uses the laces themselves but the hook is a far better option because it's independent of your laces which can affect how the boot wears
JayWantsACat 1 year ago
"Gaiters are a type of protective clothing that covers the gap between your trousers and your boots. They are worn when walking, hiking, or running outdoors, especially in dense underbrush or in snow. Gaiters are designed to easily wrap around the ankle and hook under the heel of your boot with a thin strap."
Aboredpanda 1 year ago
Yeah keeps the snow from getting in your boot crannies and then melting and making you miserable, for example.
Load More Replies...
marianne eliza 1 year ago
Helps keep the stickers, foxtails, and star thistle from your laces, socks, pants hems. Standard equipment for Search and Rescue.
#49
Small Leather Piece With Straps And Adjustable Buckles
Wife had something similar that was decoration on boots. You could take them off and change them. Its an ornament for a boot. Search for Boot Bracelet. Fits sorta like spurs.
Auntriarch 1 year ago
Reading "wife had something similar" didn't help either...
Load More Replies...
Mason Kronol 1 year ago
Just an old fashioned G-String playing on the radio...
Load More Replies... 
Griffy 1 year ago
They said it was about 6 inches by 7 inches. Kinda tiny for an adult amusement. :D
Load More Replies... Geordie Girl 1 year ago
Like Caro Caro, this was not my first guess, nor any after that. I'm still trying to fathom out how it fits on the boot, all I keep going back to is it must be something kinky! 😅
ThisisEngland 1 year ago
A really uncomfortable thong? More uncomfortable than a normally uncomfortable thong.
#50
Strange Object Inside A Wooden Box. We Can See Some Numbers At The Base. It Has Some Wires. There's Also A Strange Large Wook. It May Have Some Missing Parts
It's a simple/plane alidade. It's made out of iron and wood. It measures 52cmx22cm. The hook measures 31 cm. The number at the base go from 0 to 1100.
HTakeover 1 year ago
Not just marine, it was used for a LOT of things that required distance measuring; stars, round objects, straight land, marine of course. Think of it as part of a surveyor. It can do measuring in 3 dimensions and the center could be added to or swapped out for whatever was appropriate for what you were measuring. They still use them, albeit modern versions, in places like fire towers spotting forest fires or lightning strike locations... and the Navy of course.
Load More Replies... TheGoodBoi 1 year ago
I love some of these answers lol. "Why, it's an integrated thermal management module you silly goose!"
#51
Two Small Fabric Tags Connected By A Continuous Loop Of String. Embroidery Likely Related To Roman Catholic Church. Found Wrapped Around Cash
It’s a scapular, a devotional scapular to be specific.
Hey! 1 year ago
Let me get this right. The scapular goes under the clothing and there was money with it. Are the priest do dirty dancing for money now? s/
Binny Tutera 1 year ago
Not just for priests- Catholics used to wear them under their clothes- kind of a talisman for "protection. Was probably wrapped around money to simply contain it. The scapular and the money are unrelated.
Load More Replies...
Michael Largey 1 year ago
They were common in my Catholic childhood, but I never saw one in so bright a color.
Lorraine R 1 year ago (edited)
This appears to invoke the Infant of Prague. Must be relatively new. Oh, and plenty of Catholics still wear them, but you can't tell, because it's under the clothes.
Load More Replies... #52
Black Box With Wires Attached, Found In My 1905 Home’s Crawl Space. 5in Long
Model train transformer
Clayton Cromley 1 year ago
Transformer yes, but not for model trains. It's to add voltage to 1950s-era telephone circuits to power a lighted phone like a Princess. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_telephone
#53
What Is This Small Metal(Seemingly Brass) Rod With A Wavy Arm That Opens?
A spring money clip.
HTakeover 1 year ago
I used to have one. It slips into the center fold of a bi-fold wallet without money pocket, allowing it to hold bills.
TheGoodBoi 1 year ago
I never have a use for these as I never have money :,)
Load More Replies... #54
Heavy Shelf? In Durable Plastic With Compartments
I remember these from my kids going to McDonald's back about 20 years ago. The kids' shoes are small, and if they didn't fit toe-first, they shoved them in vertically. It's was all a hope that the shoes would stay together and another kid wouldn't take the wrong shoes. That's why I held their shoes in my bag.
Happy Homemaker 1 year ago
I have this. When I lived in NY, The McDonald’s that was in Walmart was closing. They were throwing out a lot of stuff so I asked if I could keep this shelf like unit. I gave them my number and they said they would call me if they got permission to give it to me. Sure enough I got a phone call to come pick it up. It even still had a few McDonald’s toys in it that were unopened. I have it in storage right now.
#55
What Is This Tape? The Black Part Is Rubber And The Green Is A Plastic. Sticks To Nothing
It’s self fusing silicone tape, without a doubt. Often used in military applications. It does in fact expire, and will cure into a state where it no longer sticks to itself
JayWantsACat 1 year ago
Is it so it has the capabilities of a velcro but without the sound?
Load More Replies... #56
Headphone Jack Plug? Any Ideas What This Could Be Used For?
I had a friend who had a keychain/key holder like that. Had a mini guitar amp on the wall. The keys attached to what you have. Then plugged into the wall for holding.
les 1 year ago
isn't it just a test light to make sure the amp is properly powered before you plug in the expensive electric guitar?
BewilderedBanana 1 year ago (edited)
i don't think such a thing exists (although i stand to be corrected). but in any case, that is a stereo jack plug and guitar cables/amps use mono plugs. i think the original explanation is correct
Load More Replies...
arthbach 1 year ago
Many people have a hook where they hang their keys when they get home. This person has a different take on it. On the key chain there's a plug for an amplifier. Instead of hanging the keys on a hook, there's a socket to receive the amplifier plug. It's just a different way of hanging up your keys and keeping them safe.
Load More Replies... Upstaged75 1 year ago
LOL, I gave that to my brother for Xmas last year. He's a guitar player. It's very cute.
#57
What Are These Eight Massive Silver-Ish Metal Spheres Or Containers Floating Near The Shore At A Ship Breaking Yard In Bangladesh?
LNG (liquid natural gas) containers.
STress (I/me) 1 year ago
And yet, they didn't show the worst parts. Just google "Chittagong" to see a living hell on Earth.
Load More Replies... #58
What Is This Long Metal Device That Appears To Be 2 Feet Long That Is Touching The Lady’s Nose And Hovering Over The Dog? It Is A Pic From The 1950s And Was Found On Ebay. No Information Given On The Site
The osmoscope. It measures the intensity of odors using an exponential scale in powers of two. The process works by dilution of the odor by air. This tool was created around 1938, and works by diluting the odor in the air. The device is then inserted into a test tube, and holes in the side of the tube allow air to enter. A sliding jacket is then drawn up the osmoscope to progressively cover the tube and holes in order to create a more intense odor.
Carla Phillips 1 year ago
It makes me so happy when I see someone has commented what I was going to say. It tells me my people are out there with the same sense of humor!!
Load More Replies... 
M O'Connell 1 year ago
But with this you can scientifically quantify exactly how smelly she is.
Load More Replies... Becky Samuel 1 year ago
It's amazing how much you csn tell about your pet's health by smell. For example, I know how my dog's breath, ears, skin and feet normally smell. If any of those smells changes, then there is a problem. Skin infections normally change the 'doggy' smell of the skin to something more musty and fungal. Ear infections can be caught early because they have a very distinctive scent. Mouth problems are generally easy to treat if they're caught early - one of my dogs had a stick trapped across the top palate of her mouth and we caught it within hours because the smell of her breath changed. Dog's feet should smell kinda like crumbly cookies, maybe with a hint of grass.
#59
Swiveling Metal Domes On A Hotel Bed
Those are decorative, but some beds have those to cover the bolts that hold the frame together.
Tabitha 1 year ago (edited)
After my father died (my mother died about 10 years before him), I inherited several pieces of the furniture my parents bought when my father got out of the Army after WWII ended, and my brothers and I grew up with (they got other pieces). The bedroom set—-which is blonde oak, made by Lane, and bought at Strawbridge & Clothiers in Philadelphia in 1946—has these on the legs of the headboard and footboard. They’re a lot more intricately decorated than these. I remember playing with them as a child, idly spinning them around if I was in my parents’ room talking to them or something.
Load More Replies...
Ben Churchill 1 year ago
Seems like an excessive overcorrect. It would look nicer if they just inserted a wooden plug over the bolt or something. This...thing just calls attention to it...and then you see the screw holding that on, so what's the point? LOL.
Tim Douglass 1 year ago
You have to be able to access the bolt to disassemble the bed frame. The bolt head isn't particularly attractive so you have a nice little brass cover for it.
Load More Replies...
Hard as pumpuli 1 year ago
Wild things happened in that bed then. It has been going round and round.
#60
Weirdly Shaped Holding Thingys In A Men’s Bathroom At A German Sports Club Restaurant
Ashtray for cigarettes. Better than people throwing their butts in the urinal like so many others have done.
Kira Okah 1 year ago (edited)
Probably be better if bp had added one of the other two pictures here too to make it obvious what it refers to.
Load More Replies... Apatheist Account2 1 year ago
If you're putting your butts in the urinal, you should probably be in the ladies'.
#61
Roommate Got A Wok And We’re Trying To Figure Out What This Ring Is
It’s for holding the wok level on the stove…
JayWantsACat 1 year ago
Most actual woks have rounded bottoms so don't have a way to sit on home stoves. This is to allow the wok to have something to rest on when placed over the burner. It's not really to lift it off the fire but to a allow the wok to sit over the fire.
Load More Replies...
#62
This Chain Inside My Door? It Connects The Door To The Frame And Can Easily Just Be Pulled Out Of The Door (Pic 2)
It's a concealed door closer (and it's broken)
les 1 year ago
it closes the door if the fire alarm is going off. if this is in an office or workplace being broken is a health and sefety violation
Becky Samuel 1 year ago
Door closers like this used to be a requirement in housing according to UK building regulations. It was supposedly a fire safety feature. This was removed some time ago as it was realised that people were far more likely to prop open a door with automatic closers on it, and paradoxically cause a greater fire hazard.
#63
Half Inch Wide, Pushable Button That Is Built Into The Bathroom Vanity. There Are Wires Coming Out The Back Of It, But Nothing Happens When It Is Pushed
Turning on a hot water recirculating system. They’re used for faucets that are far from the hot water tank or tankless heater. They circulate hot water through a manifold and back through the cold water line so hot water is immediately available when the faucet is opened. It reduces water wasted while waiting for hot water to get to the faucet.
Sue User 1 year ago
Waot, where can i get this? Would a plumber know about this? I have a sink that takes ages to warm up. I actually save off the water to use elsewhere but would be nice to have hot water faster
Erik Biesemeier 1 year ago
You can also get little electric tank less water heaters that heat the water until hot water from the main water heater reaches them.
Load More Replies... #64
What Is This Little Porcelain Thing? Was Found In A Deceased Relatives Wallet
Lid of a dolls house teapot!
Midoribird Aoi 1 year ago
Might be in memory of a daughter or granddaughter
Load More Replies...
Carla Phillips 1 year ago
I thought I had a lot of useless info in my brain. What a specific item to have knowledge of.
#65
Copper Coils In Every Closet In A 1920s House In Seattle. All Coils Are Wired Together Into A Central Line In The Attic
It's a kind of fire alarm, I believe. Doing a reverse image search, I found a Gumsung Fire & Security catalog (from gfs.co.kr; Link to the catalog PDF ), and right on the first few pages, an almost identical device: Image Link
A quick translation indicates "Heat detector by air action"The one you shared a picture of looks in very good condition (better than the example they used for the catalog; might want to take it an antique dealer and see if it's worth anything.
To spare you having to try to translate it, here's the text from the page with your item (as well as a telegraph like the old hardwired ones I've seen used in Boston fire alarms), an 'Electric Fire Sensor'
#66
Previous Owners Left In My Shed. Pretty Heavy 4 Pieces That Fit Together With Little Metal Handles For Lifting Too
Weights for a patio umbrella.
Mia Black 1 year ago
This is... Somehow weird anyone doesn't know it... But then I think I have to be happy that by grandparents had a garden with space and an umbrella stand....
M O'Connell 1 year ago
All the ones I have ever seen were one-piece., with a tube in the middle for the umbrella. I might have been stumped too.
Load More Replies...
#67
I Bought This At A Thrift Store For 20$ As A Funny Present For A Friend’s Birthday. It Weighs About 30 Pounds, Has Hydraulic Hoses (I Think) And Has A Plug I Have Never Seen
It’s a HUCK pneumatic/electric rivet gun.
#68
Found This While Vacuuming, It's About 2 Cm Long Has Inscription On It "8-20w 1.5". Had Very Small Thread To The Right Had Side, With What Looks Like A Hole Right Through It. Made Of Steel, Sealed In Packaging Shown. Any Ideas What It Might Be?
It's a vape or e-cigarette coil cartridge. More specifically for the eLeaf GS air.
Violet Radar 1 year ago
Oh brother. E-cigarette. It's not always the kid. I used to work with a lady (60+ years old) who kept her extracurricular activities from her husband for decades. Vaping made it so much easier for her to hide because no smoke.
Load More Replies...
#69
My Wife Found This Tool In Her Car After Getting The Brake Master Cylinder And Booster Replaced. Although It Could Have Been There Before That. It’s About 18” Long And Has Some Kind Of Small Prong At The End
It's part of a windshield removal/installation kit.
#70
This Tupperware Has Triangles That Poke Up Into The Inside. Bottom Side Looks Like An Ice Cube Tray. I Use It For Items That Fat Will Drop Off Of. What Is This For?
It’s the base of a Tupperware container used to hold burger meat. It keeps leftover hamburger patties and such from touching the bottom of the pan.
#71
Rubbery Roller With Stick Next To It On A Street In Germany
It's for holding to the stick and walking on the roller. For children or who ever wants to. We have several of these here. They are not used very often. People just don't recognize the purpose.
Mahiera Etsuhae 1 year ago
I would totally use this. Maybe only for a minute or two; but i would. :)
#72
A Metal Rod That Is Oddly Shaped. What Is This?
A stand from a Chinese style paper lampshade. The stay keeps the shade in a globe shape rather than collapsing.
AJanissary 1 year ago
I thought the paper lampshades just came like that. I guess they're not magical after all. :(
#73
Found In The Charity Shop, Ceramic With Two Small Holes And An Eggcup Sized Well. Never Seen Anything Like It
It is a porcelain brush holder
Me Oh My 1 year ago
What kind of brush? I'm assuming toothbrushes, but it could be hairbrushes, those little brushes for cleaning mud off of boots, anything!
#74
What Is This Thing - Thin Metal Wire With Two Twisted Circles At Both Ends. Came With A Set Of Bookmarks. Approx 4-5 Inches In Length
Cheese slicer wire
Regina Holt 1 year ago
wire will give you a cleaner, straighter cut, especially thin cut
Load More Replies...
#75
Weird Cloth Stuffed Object I Got For White Elephant. Woman Who Gave It To Me Doesn't Know What It Is, Her Best Guess Is A Travel Pillow But It Has One Too Many Appendages For That (She Wrote The Airplane Trip Tag). I Apologize For The Bad Lighting, All Help Is Appreciated
It is indeed a travel pillow. The curved part goes under your chin...
#76
Mysterious White Under Kitchen Cabinet Bracket In My 1980's Era Home
Under-cabinet radios used to be pretty popular. It could be the bracket for one of those.
#77
What Are These White Inset Tiles At The Deep End Of My Pool?
A ledge to hold onto.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
That makes sense based on the way the pool is built. There's no edge on that side of it. Never seen one like that before.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 year ago (edited)
When I was a kid, our pool's deep end was like that - VERY high-walled, so you couldn't just reach up and grab the edge if you were in the pool. It was because that's where the diving board and slide were installed - the concrete was raised so that the board and slide had more "height" to them without having to be individually raised/taller. Fortunately the deep end had a ladder leading out of the pool and two "seat" ledges IN the pool at the back corners that you could stand on and climb out of the pool from if you needed to (or you could just sit on them for fun.) My mom has had the pool redone several times since then, and it's all one depth of 3 feet - no more deep end XD The slide and diving board were replaced by a waterfall at one point (which was super rad) and then redone AGAIN into a flat area where my mom put some patio chairs that no one uses XD
Load More Replies... #78
Two Wooden Blocks Inset With Circular Inserts. In One Block, The Circumferences Of The Pieces Are The Same But Their Heights Vary. In The Other, The Circumferences Vary But The Heights Are Identical. 17” X 3” X 3” / 45cm X 7cm X 7cm
Knobbed cylinders. Used in montessori schools.
Lyone Fein 1 year ago
The idea of the system is to teach children about proportions, measurements, fractions, etc. by giving them sensory experience with objects that illustrate these mathematical concepts. In the Montessori approach, kids are given the chance to play with these sets starting at a very early age...years before being taught the concepts in the classroom. The thinking is that this will give children a more natural way to acquire mathematical skills.
Keith Handly (Ike) 1 year ago
I looked this up and remain clueless. "The Knobbed Cylinders are a Montessori Sensorial material, designed to assist children in making distinctions in their immediate environment'
arthbach 1 year ago
There is a stage in children's development when they have not figured out how to judge volume. Imagine two glasses of orange juice, both 300ml. The first glass is tall and thin, and the second is short and dumpy. Most children would go for the tall glass as it's bigger, and therefore has more juice, but of course it doesn't. It has the same volume as the other glass. The wooden cylinders shown all children to experiment whilst learning about volume, and how it relates to both height, and cross sectional area.
Load More Replies...
Lesbiancats 1 year ago
They need to be colorful. No kid is going to be interested in this. (Source: We have this, just colorful, at my daycare)
#79
White Plastic Gear Found In Kitchen After A Children’s Birthday Party
It’s part of the freezer drawer on a french door refrigerator.
#80
Plastic Bottles On Poles Arranged As An X, In Australia
It's an obstruction to keep people off the grass. The pipes were used in a "use what you have" kind of sense, and the bottles are on top to keep the rain from getting into the tubes.
arthbach 1 year ago
Bottles and bottle caps are used by gardeners to top off garden canes. It is to prevent people inadvertently poking their eye if they bend over.
Deborah B 1 year ago
If you are draping netting over stakes, eg, to keep birds out, the plastic bottles stop the stakes going straight through the holes. Plant pots are also used for this.
Load More Replies... Jinx (she/her) 1 year ago
lol it took me a moment to see the dog wasn't squatting, as I originally thought
Load More Replies... #81
My 10-Year-Old Was Gifted This Star Shaped Container With Some Good Smelling Goo/Ointment Inside (See Pic 2). Is That Something Obvious?
Lip balm. Similar to this: https://www.hottopic.com/product/star-strawberry-lip-balm/20817878.html
Edit: I think it’s from this set: https://www.ebay.com/itm/143980149629
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 year ago
I agree! I just turned 42 and I'd totally wear this stuff! XD Much better than grownup lipstick, ha.
Load More Replies... #82
A Glass Container With A Circular Metal Thing With An N On It
Fancy ashtray.
#83
I Found This Recently On The Basement And I Have No Clue What It Is ,it’s Not That Heavy Like Half A Pound Has A Plug And Has Like Coils Inside And It’s Made Of Metal So I’m Curious To See If Anyone Knows What It Is Exactly
It's a knee pedal for a White sewing machine
Glen Ellyn 1 year ago
Brings back memories of my mom's White sewing machine. It had the knee pedal - the "box" was attached to the inside of sewing machine cabinet. Hers had a flat metal bar attached to the box, and you press your knee against the bar to operate the machine. I felt I had better control using the knee pedal vs the foot pedal.
#84
Two Nuts On A Stick. You Can Squeeze Something Small Between... But What For?
A handle for a scrapper.
llama • she/her 1 year ago
it's a typo, seems to be some sort of scraping device https://www.takealot.com/triangular-scraper/PLID73059017
Load More Replies...
#85
What Is This Light Box Thing On The Oregon Coast?
A flood light.
Eric Williams 1 year ago
It's in a box to side shade it from the neighbors and, to some extent, keep it out of the weather.
Jaynie-bear 1 year ago
I know this house! When ever I go to the coast we drive past this house. I 💕 Oregon coast!
#86
What Are These White Lines/Hash Marks That Appeared On A Short Stretch Of Suburban Road Near My House? They're In Both Lanes, But At Different Intervals In Each Lane. Https://Youtu.be/H0z_f56t_oa?si=bpdgv2j1kyoauqsc
They remind me of those lines that get closer together as you progress up them, to trick your mind into thinking you are going faster than you are. Usually used when approaching some minor hazard and where other traffic control methods would be inappropriate.
STress (I/me) 1 year ago
While driving, you get visual effect of the road going narrower, so you slow down.
JayWantsACat 1 year ago
In California (and I'm sure other states) we have something similar on freeways that are typically, though not exclusively, in middle of nowhere. They're spaced out much farther apart and are used by highway patrol aircraft to gauge car speeds to find people speeding. Knowing the distance between two markers, they calculate the time it takes a vehicle to get from one to the other. It's more cost efficient to have the "threat" of being spotted to curb speeding than having actual cops patrolling low density traffic and/or across large flat areas. download-3...ab2451.jpg 
#87
Solid State White Rectangle With Blue Center Fixed To The Wall Above A Urinal In A Multi Sports Complex. No Scent, No Electronics. What Is This Thing?
An accessibility feature for people who are visually impaired to indicate the center of the urinal.
LakotaWolf (she/her) 1 year ago
"No scent" - bruh, you leaned up to the wall above a urinal in a bathroom at a sports complex and sniffed? XD
Rocky Horror Panda 1 year ago
Because visually impaired is not the same thing as being totally blind.
Load More Replies... #88
What Is This Metal Rod 20cm In Length, Spiked Both Ends With One End A Right Angle. Inherited From Airplane Mechanic (Deceased). What Is It Used For?
It's Double End Engineer's Scriber. Commonly known as just a scriber, an engineers scriber tool is used to mark materials, like wood metals and plastics before they undergo machining. They can also be used with various hand tools and are used to mark out the areas to be measured or cut etc.
#89
Corroded Metal “Wheel” About 34” Across Found At The Beach
part of an oil rig
pocwaddler 1 year ago
What part of an,oil rig? I worked on them and don’t remember seeing anything like that.
#90
Small Piece Of 1” Conical Plastic Reappears Throughout The House
Wrap from the stem end of a bunch of bananas
ToastedFroggy 1 year ago
I have never seen or heard of one of these but perhaps it is used as a ripening deterrent. For example, if you wrap the stems of your bananas with foil or plastic wrap (I use foil because I can unwrap and reuse it) it slows down the ripening because it reduces the release of the ethylene gas that hastens browning.
#91
Took Away The Fusebox Cover In My Car. Found This Number Keyboard Glued To The Cover With A Wire Going To The Main Wiring Harness, So I Couldn't Trace It
The sigma alarm/immobiliser.
HTakeover 1 year ago
Like a security keypad for your car. If someone tries to hotwire or otherwise start the car without the encrypted keyfob, it won't work without entering the combo.
Load More Replies...
#92
Pen With Metal Balls, With Numbers Next To Where The Balls Drop In. Some Balls Are Grey. Found In Attic
A Lotto Pen. If you point the writing end up, all the balls move to an open area. Shake, put the ball point down and the lottery picks show up in the window. Taken for the Macro Mondays group theme of ‘numbers’.
#93
Approximately 2.5m Tank Like Object. Appears To Be A Lid On Top. Cracked To The Bottom. Small Barnicles Growing To Exterior
India’s PSLV third stage. The cable raceway mounts and the top attachment ring line up exactly, as does the wound composite material.
#94
4-5mm Wide, 3mm High. Tubular In Shape, Visibly Hollow On One Side, With Pokey White/ Yellow/Brown Protrusions Obscuring The Hollow End On The Opposite Side. Hard To The Touch. Gray-Ish/Taupe On The Outside. Found In Mouth During Pancake And Yop Yogurt Drink Meal
Crown came off maybe. Definitely seems dental related.
Edward Finger Hands 1 year ago
The original post goes into more detail where it’s actually thought to be part of the packaging machinery that broke off. You can clearly see in the 3rd image of the post that it’s not a crown.
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
One would assume it's not a crown, because the person eating the meal would definitely have noticed losing it. And if it was a crown, it's the nastiest looking one I've seen. Modern ones are basically white resin that looks just like your tooth. This looks more like the base off a small electrical component. Would need to see other angles to get a better idea.
Edward Finger Hands 1 year ago
You can see other angles in the original post
Load More Replies... #95
Metal Objects (Largest 10mm) Found In Friends Cat
High caliber pellet gun. The pellet hit something hard and shattered.
Kira Okah 1 year ago
.22 pellet rifle pellets, not really what I would call high calibre. Someone definitely tried to shoot the cat. Cat walked home bleeding, there is imaging, and pellets shown externally. Cat is alive and probably okay.
Jinx (she/her) 1 year ago
thank you for that info, I hate not knowing if the fur monster is OK or not
Load More Replies... Eric Williams 1 year ago (edited)
Find the mf'er that shot it and call the cops... or...find the shooter and deal with it yourself in an unkind way. Also, lead is very toxic and should be removed. The cat will suffer with it and have serious effects from the toxicity.
Hey! 1 year ago
One of my older brothers was given a pellet gun for his birthday. He was practicing in our yard. When he saw me putting clothing on our clothesline, he decided he wanted to know how far his gun could shoot. It hit me in my lower back; I was probably 75-100 feet away. I was just a teenager and he was probably early 20s.
Happy Homemaker 1 year ago
I’m sorry you were shot in the back by a pellet gun. I know that had to hurt. My brother in law was shot in the cheek at close range by someone that got mad for no reason. My ex tried to go after him with one of his swords. Thankfully the cops got the guy before my ex wound up in jail.
Load More Replies...
#96
What Are These Rectangular Glass Panels On Multiple Different Buildings? They Appear To Be Different Sizes As Well
Upon careful observation of the photograph, it is evident that their presence is associated with the enhancement of the building's design. The array of diverse colors illuminating the walls implies a deliberate effort to infuse the structure with a captivating and much-needed sense of flair.
LillieMean 1 year ago
Here is an apartment building with the same type of panels, two different colors. When the sun hits them at a certain time of the day, they color the whole house beautifully. Because it only lasts for a moment, it always feels a little magical.
#97
What Is This Empty Lot With No Entrance Or Exit Behind My Hotel Room For?
Detention pond. That "building" is a drainage port. Bottom hole allows limited outflow and top hole is wide open.
M O'Connell 1 year ago
When large buildings are constructed, they effectively "seal" the ground beneath them which would otherwise be permeable. Having a water retention structure ensures that excess runoff is retained on the property as to not stress drainage infrastructure.
Upstaged75 1 year ago
I thought it was called a retention pond? Detention sounds like it got held after school for bad behavior. :)
#98
What Is The Purpose Of This Plastic Cup/Cannister? Flat Plastic Sticks With A Curved End Are Attached To The Lid, In Colored Sets Of Two. It's Possible To Take The Sticks Out Of The Lid
They are for the sides (arms) of glasses to change the look. Google swap eyewear.
#99
What Is This Phone Charm Thing? Comes Apart And Looks Like A Macaroon When Together
it’s not just a holder, it is the screen cleaner itself, you use it the way you have it in the second pic.
Stannous Flouride 1 year ago
For cleaning phone screens, designed to resemble a macaron Third pic: Screen-Sho...29-png.jpg 
#100
What’s This Peeled Silver Sheet Thing Inside My Microwave?
A waveguide cover.
Crescent 3 1 year ago
That's an easy, inexpensive fix. Many people have thrown out perfectly good microwave ovens because they started sparking, when all that was wrong was the wave guide cover is damaged. You can buy a sheet of the stuff at any appliance repair shop or online. The sheet I last bought was about 12in x 12in and cost about $15. It is easily cut to size with scissors or a utility knife and slides right in the slots.
B Jones 1 year ago
What I need to know is that a heating element at the top in a microwave? I've never seen that.
Ace 1 year ago
You've never seen a combined microwave/grill? Been around for decades, very common. Often with convection oven features as well.
Load More Replies...
Persephone 1 year ago
I think this is how you end up with a questionable built in Hop-along on SouthPark...
#101
This Thing Is A Metal Ring About 5 Inches In Diameter With 8 Spokes, Containing A Smaller Ring Half Way In The Radius And A Tiny Ring In The Center
I get WWII anti-aircraft gun sight vibes for some reason.
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
Thought it might be a bofors gun sight, but it's not quite right. Might be a similar one?
Eric Williams 1 year ago
Did a bit of research and found different countries may use the same general sight with different center crosshairs. Typically found on twin or single naval 40mm bofor anti aircraft guns.
#102
Found These Perfectly Cylindrical Rocks In The James River In Virginia
Carbon rods from batteries
John Boy 1 year ago
In future, please use a Standard Banana for Scale, as that Dollar Bill is very disorienting.
Eric Williams 1 year ago
My brain felt woozy trying to compensate for the improper scaling object.
Load More Replies... 
Dumpster Fire 1 year ago
You found them in the James?? How did you find them in all the heroin needles?
M O'Connell 1 year ago
Not at all. Zinc/carbon batteries are pretty benign from a chemical point of view. The reason modern batteries all have "do not dispose of in fire" printed on them is because that was the standard and accepted method for disposing of spent zinc/carbon batteries.
Load More Replies... #103
What Is This Oddly Shaped Sink Used For?
Google tells me it's a bar sink or food prep sink.
edit: Some photos show a cutting board in the half-moon area between the counter's edge and the inside curve of the sink.
I can't imagine it would be good as the only sink in a kitchen, but might be fine as a secondary sink in the kitchen or as a sink in an entertainment area.
Cristina Milici 1 year ago
Same thing, being put to use: https://images.app.goo.gl/5Mug7BY6uRFKTFVA7
#104
Saw This Truck In Moab Utah With An Array Of What Appeared To Be Small Antennas... Maybe To Track Something?
Direction finding (DF), or radio direction finding (RDF), is the use of radio waves to determine the direction to a radio wave source. The source may be a cooperating radio transmitter or may be an inadvertant source, a naturally-occurring radio source, or an illicit or enemy system. Radio direction finding differs from radar in that only the direction is determined by any one receiver; a radar system usually also gives a distance to the object of interest, as well as direction.
Kira Okah 1 year ago
This is actually taken from the wiki page on direction finding (for ham radio) and is not actually in the OP at all. It's a direction finding rig for ham radio.
Load More Replies...
#105
Post-It Note Sized, 1.5’’ Tall Orange Transparent Plastic Thing With A Hinged Lid That Opens Up And A Ridged Cylinder That Spins Inside. Marked With ‘Settle-Carlisle Line’. Found In An Old Office Space
The Settle-Carlisle Line is a railway line in the UK. It is in current use and is also a historic route that (at least used to) run a fleet of historic steam locomotives and period carriages.
No idea why they would be handing this thing out though. Earplug storage?
llama • she/her 1 year ago
so the post here doesn't include the answer, apparently it's a paperclip dispenser
M O'Connell 1 year ago
My best guess was going to be a 'stamp licker' where you put a bit of water in the reservoir and then run an old gum-backed postage stamp across the roller to wet it instead of using your spit.
Load More Replies... Ken Beattie 1 year ago
Looks a bit like the top part of the old receipt printers.There'd normally be a paper spool that wraps around the spindle and feeds the paper out the top. Could be wrong though.
Mr Karate 1 year ago (edited)
it´s a magnetic paperclip roller dispenser, i have a blue one in my office. The top is a container, you lift the lid, fill it with paperclips and close. The cylinder is magnetized and when you rotate it, the paperclips stick to it come out.
Mr Karate 1 year ago (edited)
It's curious that no one knows what it is, because it is a very common product used as a cheap advertising promotional gift.
Load More Replies...
#106
Weird Computer Contraption, Found While Taking Photos Of A House
Ken Beattie 1 year ago
Crypto mining setup by the look of it. They'll be a rack full of video cards (or possibly dedicated crypto cards) used to mine bitcoin or similar.
llama • she/her 1 year ago
answer seems to have been missed off again, apparently this is used for crypto mining. and it generates loads of heat
Bouche and Audi and Shyla, Oh My! 1 year ago
*gets out a pick* Hi ho, Hi ho, it's off to mine I go.
John Boy 1 year ago
Crypto currency miner. We mounted ours in an aluminum frame to help with heat dissipation. Linux based computer, use it to "mine" any "coin" you want to pursue. Takes a LOT of electricity to use, so choose your "coin" wisely, as it may cost more to "mine" than the "coin" is worth.
#107
What Are These 9' High Wooden And Steel Structures?
This social infrastructure takes the form of a tensile fabric shading element suspended within a wooden frame. The frames are comprised of prefabricated modules and were assembled on this remote site. The structures were intended to provide shade and a moment of rest, but supported emergent activities acting as a platform, a playground, a marker, a memory, and more.
JB 1 year ago
Read it like you found it on a tourism website and it'll make more sense. Wooden frame, can be covered in a canvas skin, but kids like to play on it and we're too bothered to put the canvas up so it's a "memory" for you now.
Load More Replies...
David Paterson 1 year ago
It looks like something I've seen at work. A frame for holding some sort of scientific experiment, such as material samples to test exposure to the elements of the environment.
#108
What Is The Light Brown/Tan Pouch Dangling From The License Plate Frame?
A deer tail car decoration for Christmas.
Koala_Tralala 1 year ago (edited)
Well... have you ever seen a deer? It's a rubber fender, to not scratch your bumper when parking in your garage.
Kira Okah 1 year ago
It's a reindeer tail, from this set on amazon - https://a.co/d/2mZ5poV
Load More Replies...
#109
Heavy Bronze Football-Shaped Object With Two Rotating “Wings”
Shoutout to Marine Antiques in San Diego. Yessery Bob!!
Norm Gilmore 1 year ago
I wen't to the original query and it's thought to be a feathering prop for a sail boat. Lazy choice of the reply from those choosing the explanation off the Reddit site. The "shoutout" comment was from some random reply to someone else's comment...
B Jones 1 year ago
So did A.i. choose the responses to show on this thread based on up voted comments on Reddit?
Load More Replies...
Eric Williams 1 year ago
When the engine starts, centrifugal force rotates the blades into propeller configuration. When the engine stops, water flow rotates them back to streamline position.
M O'Connell 1 year ago
Sailboats will often still have an engine to allow easier maneuvering in a marina. This is the propeller from a sailboat engine. When the engine is not engaged, the prop blades can be rotated to not create drag.
Load More Replies...
Add New Image
What do you think ?
PattyK 1 year ago
I love these “mystery item” posts. Some things I’ve seen before, most I haven’t.
Prince Lee 1 year ago
also people on that reddit are @$$es, i needed help ID some mushroom, and they got upset i pulled it out, which i did cause my dog tried to eat it, and i wanted to make sure it wasn't bad if he did, it was long and white with like tabaco ash inside the "bulbhead" of the mushroom, and they called me stupid and other stuff, I'm like I just don't want it to hurt my dog
Prince Lee 1 year ago
I couldnt just google it cause i couldn't find it on google so that was my other idea, then they yelled at me for pulling it out, "making it" and for not finding it on google
Load More Replies...
PattyK 1 year ago
I love these “mystery item” posts. Some things I’ve seen before, most I haven’t.
Prince Lee 1 year ago
also people on that reddit are @$$es, i needed help ID some mushroom, and they got upset i pulled it out, which i did cause my dog tried to eat it, and i wanted to make sure it wasn't bad if he did, it was long and white with like tabaco ash inside the "bulbhead" of the mushroom, and they called me stupid and other stuff, I'm like I just don't want it to hurt my dog
Prince Lee 1 year ago
I couldnt just google it cause i couldn't find it on google so that was my other idea, then they yelled at me for pulling it out, "making it" and for not finding it on google
Load More Replies... You May Like Someone Asked, “You Just Won A Billion Dollars, What Are You Still Not Buying?”, Here Are 53 Of The Best Responses “Gave An OSHA Inspector A Stroke”: 50 Times People Fixed Their Problems In The Most “Genius” Ways (New Pics) People Were Asked To ‘Delete One Thing In The World’ In This Reddit Thread, And Here Are Their 98 Answers
Aivaras Kaziukonis
Justinas Keturka
Aivaras Kaziukonis
Related on Bored Panda
