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Say you find a coin. Say you have no idea if it's worth a million dollars or less than the leaf of grass you picked it up from. What should you do? Take a picture of it and post it on a subreddit called "What Is This Thing?" And it goes not just for coins. This community easily identifies missiles, slugs, nipple pumps; pretty much any thing they lay their eyes on. The subreddit is home to over 894,000 members and the number is constantly growing as well. Continue scrolling to broaden your horizons and upvote your favorite entries!

#1

What Is The Point Of Such A Device?

What Is The Point Of Such A Device?

Answer: USB charging condom. This way you can plug your phone into a random USB port and be sure that no data is exchanged. Only the power pins are passed through to the phone. Also called a sync stop.

SkorGaming Report

chi-wei shen
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please, clean your finger nails before taking photos.

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    #2

    I Found This Little Guy Under A Stair In A Parking Garage At The Mall. The Clothing Is Made Out Of Thread And His Hair Is Made By What Seems Like Glue Dipped Into Dirt. What Is This Thing?

    I Found This Little Guy Under A Stair In A Parking Garage At The Mall. The Clothing Is Made Out Of Thread And His Hair Is Made By What Seems Like Glue Dipped Into Dirt. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: It is a worry doll. You tell your worries to it, and put it under your pillow at night. It's supposed to take away your worries while you're sleeping.

    Zbunny666 Report

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    #3

    Found This In House I’m Tearing Apart In A Book Like Someone Wanted To Keep Them Don’t Think It’s Real Money

    Found This In House I’m Tearing Apart In A Book Like Someone Wanted To Keep Them Don’t Think It’s Real Money

    Answer: Its money from the Philippines when it was occupied by Japan in 1941.

    zangoku Report

    #4

    Found A Rock On The Porch Of My New Home, Flipped It Over And Saw This. Is That A Fossil?

    Found A Rock On The Porch Of My New Home, Flipped It Over And Saw This. Is That A Fossil?

    Answer: Yup, that's a fossil. Tree trunk impression.

    livefast_dieawesome Report

    #5

    Found This White Fuzzy Thing In My Basement, Mother Freaked Out. What Is This Thing?

    Found This White Fuzzy Thing In My Basement, Mother Freaked Out. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: Spiders infected with fungus look like this.

    iDrinkOxygen Report

    Withnail
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    As if a regular spider isn't creepy enough.

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    #6

    Anyone Know What Those Round Impressions Are Called, And What Are They For ?

    Anyone Know What Those Round Impressions Are Called, And What Are They For ?

    Answer: Old windows were made of glass spun out into flatness. That's the center of the spin.
    New windows are made of glass floated on a pool of molten tin, which makes very flat panes without any annoying bullseyes.
    EDIT: this is also the source of the myth that glass is a liquid and flows over time. See the center pane of your picture? Someone took the time to get a "good" pane for the center of the window, without any bullseye - put your best pane in that spot, obviously. But the glass is still of uneven thickness, getting thicker closer to the bullseye. So people look at panes like that, with thicker glass in one part, and decide that "hey, the glass must have started off perfectly flat and flowed over time". But no. The glass flowed when it was molten (1500 degrees C!) and does not flow at room temperature.

    csaduck Report

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    #7

    Grandmother Received This From Her Friend After His Death. Nobody At The Senior's Center She Lives At Knows What It Is. What Is This Thing?

    Grandmother Received This From Her Friend After His Death. Nobody At The Senior's Center She Lives At Knows What It Is. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: Opium pipe

    wetbutter Report

    diane a
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    strange thing to be left in a will.

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    #8

    This Sticker On The Inside Cover Of A Second-Hand Bible. Pretty Sure It Depicts A Partridge And A Fig Tree, Both Of Which Have Biblical Connections But No Idea What It Means

    This Sticker On The Inside Cover Of A Second-Hand Bible. Pretty Sure It Depicts A Partridge And A Fig Tree, Both Of Which Have Biblical Connections But No Idea What It Means

    Answer: No Bush/Quail. 1992 election sticker.

    alongyourfuselage Report

    #9

    This Belonged To My Great Grandfather. What Is This Thing?

    This Belonged To My Great Grandfather. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: If it's legit, that's a really old Gibson, from between 1903 and 1933. It's going to be worth more than you think, so be really careful with it. Seriously.

    Reverend_Mikey Report

    Alex Kobelt
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A Banjolin, Body of a banjo with the neck of mandolin.

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    #10

    Went Exploring In White Sands, New Mexico And Found An... Object. What Is This Thing?

    Went Exploring In White Sands, New Mexico And Found An... Object. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: Looks like it could be titanium - titanium spheres of similar size are a relatively commonly found space debris

    xopethx Report

    Hans
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Lies! "They" are already here.

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    #11

    What Are These Things And What Are They Doing?

    What Are These Things And What Are They Doing?

    Answer: They're European red slugs. And they're doing it.

    Achilles_Of_Reddit Report

    Rosie Hamilton
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Bit of knowledge I could have done without.

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    #12

    My Girlfriend Found These In Her Dinner? Are They Seeds?

    My Girlfriend Found These In Her Dinner? Are They Seeds?

    Answer: Pretty good picture of insect eggs.

    GrandpaSquarepants Report

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    #13

    Researching Plantation Houses In The 1700's. What Is The Thing Hanging From The Ceiling In This Dining Room?

    Researching Plantation Houses In The 1700's. What Is The Thing Hanging From The Ceiling In This Dining Room?

    Answer: Very early ceiling fan. The rope at the top would be pulled to create the back and forth motion to fan the air and keep flies away from the table during a meal.

    Bbbodypaint Report

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    #14

    Circular Object On Top Of Car. What Is This Thing?

    Circular Object On Top Of Car. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: Bubbl, It's like an uber targeted toward kids or those with extra concerns around who the drivers are.
    "Bubbl Investments, LLC was launched in August 2016 in the DFW area. It was founded by a group of Dallas-based individuals, including the former Dallas Deputy Chief of Police. Our rides are driven by off-duty or retired police officers who have been thoroughly vetted. All fleet and driver owned cars are regulated by the company. Bubbl accurately identified the need to provide a safe ride option especially for children, special need families, and seniors. "

    AllAmericanHero28 Report

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    #15

    Bathroom Coat Hangers That Can Move Up Or Down. Why Would You Want Them Downward?

    Bathroom Coat Hangers That Can Move Up Or Down. Why Would You Want Them Downward?

    Answer: We call them anti-ligature. If the rest of the items in the room aren't also anti-ligature (door knobs, door hinges, tp dispenser, etc) then it doesn't make much sense to have it there. If everything else IS, then you're in a room designed for individuals that are a suicide risk.

    Jason_Whorehees Report

    Mark
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just don't hang up a heavy coat ;)

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    #16

    These Were Free Roaming At A Zoo So Didn’t Have A Sign/Info On Them. Thought They Were Hares But Walkedon All Fours And Hand Quite Long Front A Back Legs. What Is This?

    These Were Free Roaming At A Zoo So Didn’t Have A Sign/Info On Them. Thought They Were Hares But Walkedon All Fours And Hand Quite Long Front A Back Legs. What Is This?

    Answer: Patagonian Cavy.

    Dan1378 Report

    Kaisu Rei
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've never seen this animal before, looks like a mixture between a hare and a capybara

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    #17

    I Found This Jammed In My Front Door Lock, It’s About 1.5” Long. What Is This Thing?

    I Found This Jammed In My Front Door Lock, It’s About 1.5” Long. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: It's a tension wrench from a lock pick set.

    TheNinjaJedi Report

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    #18

    My Sister Found This When Cleaning Out A Fish. This Was In The Mouth And There Was A Smaller One In The Stomach. Anyone Know What It Is ?

    My Sister Found This When Cleaning Out A Fish. This Was In The Mouth And There Was A Smaller One In The Stomach. Anyone Know What It Is ?

    Answer: Tongue eating parasite (cymothoa exigua). Truly harrowing.
    Eats the fish's tongue and then takes the place of the fish's tongue.

    oJHzgzUHu Report

    #19

    Car Part Found In Bicyclist Hit And Run Fatality Today

    Car Part Found In Bicyclist Hit And Run Fatality Today

    Answer: 1988 chevy Silverado headlamp bezel.
    People keep asking how I knew this....I've been a Maryland state inspector for a long time, and part of each car and truck inspection up until recently was a mandatory headlamp adjustment....If I had to guess, I'd say someone from the Hoppy brand headlamp aim checker company probably bribed some politicians a long, long time ago, which made it mandatory for each station to buy their equipment to perform inspections....Anyhow, I've done a shit-ton of headlamp adjustments, so right away I knew what that notch in the plastic was for....I first checked 1988 Ram 1500 trucks and by chance, there was a picture of a mid 80's Chevy truck.

    cordyceps-fungi Report

    Withnail
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This lead to an arrest: https://www.foxnews.com/tech/reddit-sleuth-helps-police-identify-car-part-leads-to-fatal-hit-and-run-arrest

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    #20

    Some Kind Of Explosive Lying On The Floor Of Server Room?

    Some Kind Of Explosive Lying On The Floor Of Server Room?

    Answer: It’s a Sagger Missile A Russian MCLOS ATGM. Good luck w that bud.

    WhySoSadCZ Report

    Withnail
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm sure there's a perfectly good reason why you have a missile on the floor of your server room...

    Night Owl
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Try turning it off and on again

    Alexandru Bucur
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ok, this has me really puzzled. There has to be a story on how a server room got to have a 9M14 Malyutka (NATO reporting name AT3 Sagger), a Soviet AT weapon from the 60s, on it's floor. Especially since it seems to be incomplete and it's missing half it's fins.

    SouthernFried
    Community Member
    6 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The whole thing was fake: https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/8kzx5p/some_kind_of_explosive_lying_on_the_floor_of/

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    Sushi Smack
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That will be fun explaining . " Uh, hey boss someone left a missile in the server room"

    Tony Moon
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oddly enough it wouldn't be the first time I've found an old Russian munition just laying around...

    Jilltdcatlady
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I need a lot more info on this whole situation! How did it get there? How did they get rid of it? Where is this?

    CrazyCatLady
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ohhh, that's where I left it ;)

    SouthernFried
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This was a confirmed hoax, the OP admitted it. https://www.reddit.com/r/whatisthisthing/comments/8kzx5p/some_kind_of_explosive_lying_on_the_floor_of/

    rai mei
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a self destruct mechanism in case the server room is breached 😂

    BusLady
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I bet they had to evacuate the building. Fun Fun

    Gonzalo Terán
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I´ll suspect the IT crew...Did you try to desable it off and on again?

    Slune
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A rough kind of hacking

    Janis Wise
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh yeah, I have three lying around somewhere, see that everyday.

    Michelle Dodson
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Found what looked like 2 live grenades cleaning out the ousted company president's office. They were really heavy, military looking webbing & still had the pins in them. Call 911 & the bomb squad showed up. Turns out, they'd been decommissioned & were just "souvenirs". As they were leaving, one of the hot young officer turns to me and says, "Mam? In the future, if you find something that appears to be an incendiary device - don't pick it up, okay?".

    Betsy Knox
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There was a missile in an army box in some sort of lab at a Zerox building I was inspecting. What in the world has that to do with Zerox?

    Leslie Holland
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sagger my left hind leg. Try an active signal repeater.

    Stephen Atwood
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Disgruntled ex-employee left it behind as a gift?

    Carson Lujan
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How the hell did it get in there?

    Ratu Hedy
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Need.. end of this story pls

    Suzieq
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Do you work in the Kremlin?

    Hugo Raible
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The whole thing was a bamboozle. Fake and made up. Sorry.

    Daniel
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There are wires running over it... did someone try to disguise it? lol

    Jodi Ellis
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How did something like that get there after the fact?? Suspicious!

    danielw
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Mozzie was visiting and dropped his missile.

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    #21

    Saw On My Flight To Cali. What Is This Thing?

    Saw On My Flight To Cali. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: Specifically, this looks like Concentrated Thermal Solar. It uses mirrors to reflect the light to a central tower which is barely visible in your picture due to the glare coming off of it. The light is then converted to heat where it drives a steam turbine, or some other heat engine.

    ddIuTTuIbb Report

    Withnail
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Riiiight, it totally has nothing to do with UFOs...

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    #22

    I Saw This “Cloud” On My Way To Work Yesterday Morning, May 22nd, At 5 Am Est. Other Than This, The Sky Was Completely Clear. What Is This Thing?

    I Saw This “Cloud” On My Way To Work Yesterday Morning, May 22nd, At 5 Am Est. Other Than This, The Sky Was Completely Clear. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: Rocket launch. I live near a launch complex. See this a lot.

    TheRealDuHass Report

    Withnail
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nah, someone's vaping a smoke ring.

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    #23

    Heathrow Airport. Looks Like It Hasn’t Moved In Ages. What Is This Thing?

    Heathrow Airport. Looks Like It Hasn’t Moved In Ages. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: For fire training, for the airport fire brigade.

    woodrowchillson Report

    Kaisu Rei
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ooh it's neat that they have their own practice plane

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    #24

    Saw This Natural Phenomenon Near My Home. What Is This Thing?

    Saw This Natural Phenomenon Near My Home. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: Lenticular cloud.

    varunpotter Report

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    #25

    I Found This Thing In My Food. It Was Just Stuck To A Piece Of Meat; It Wasn't Lodged Into It Or Anything. Anyone Know What It Is?

    I Found This Thing In My Food. It Was Just Stuck To A Piece Of Meat; It Wasn't Lodged Into It Or Anything. Anyone Know What It Is?

    Answer: Cattle/pig microchip for meat traceability.

    iamfase Report

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    #26

    It Is Approx. 3 Meters Long And Open At The End. Found With Some Similar Looking Ones Scattered Around On A Hillside While Hiking. What Is This Thing?

    It Is Approx. 3 Meters Long And Open At The End. Found With Some Similar Looking Ones Scattered Around On A Hillside While Hiking. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: This device is called Gazex and it's used to start avalanches, so they can control when and where they happen. This avalanche control system uses specially constructedand "exploder" sites and tubes built at key locations in avalanche territory to set off avalanches at controlled times. The exploders literally detonate a mixture of oxygen and propane from the tube structures. The explosive force expelled from the tubes triggers avalanches. The explosive bursts are fueled by gas canisters stored in tanks beneath the exploders on the mountain.

    Jakob_W_ , Sky-HiNews Report

    Withnail
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's the Teletubbies' meth lab. Over the hills and far away...

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    #27

    I Drive By This Every Day, What Is On Top Of This Car?

    I Drive By This Every Day, What Is On Top Of This Car?

    Answer: It’s a crane arm — for filming in movies... it’s how they filmed the Red Bull Kluge video.

    FrancisART Report

    Kevin Camp
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That is a camera rig car. For filming moving cars and such. The vehicle is painted flat black to keep light relfecting from it from interfering with the exposure while filming. Work vehicle.

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    #28

    What Is This Black Stuff Appearing On The Walls Of My Hostel’s Bathroom? It’s Almost In Every Corner As Well

    What Is This Black Stuff Appearing On The Walls Of My Hostel’s Bathroom? It’s Almost In Every Corner As Well

    Answer: Termite infestation.

    the_lonely-guy Report

    Kaisu Rei
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh no, better report that to the hostel

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    #29

    Dark Line On Earth Visible In The Spacex Falcon Heavy Stream. What Is This Thing?

    Dark Line On Earth Visible In The Spacex Falcon Heavy Stream. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: It's land. New Caledonia

    readonlyred Report

    Withnail
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's a sperm whale that has suddenly and against all probability been called into existence several miles above the surface of our planet. Digging the dash sticker, btw.

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    #30

    Found This Kayaking In The Mississippi River Yesterday, I Think It’s Some Kind Of Exact Fungus But I’ve Never Seen This In My Life. What Is This Thing?

    Found This Kayaking In The Mississippi River Yesterday, I Think It’s Some Kind Of Exact Fungus But I’ve Never Seen This In My Life. What Is This Thing?

    Answer: Bryozoa (also known as the Polyzoa, Ectoprocta or commonly as moss animals) colony.

    Gmill3r28 Report

    Hans
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Quite interesting creatures. I read that on the one had they are a nuissance, since they can damage structures, but on the other hand they have come to be of interest of medical research to build new cancer drugs.

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