That’s where communities like ‘What Is This?’ come in: a space where curious minds share their odd finds and a mix of experts, hobbyists, and everyday detectives work together to crack the case. Keep scrolling to discover some of the most fascinating (and surprisingly educational) mysteries the internet has helped solve!
#1 Sent To My Address With No Name On The Envelope. What Is This??
This is Sinhala. Source: I'm Sinhalese hahaha
You wouldn't be able to translate this with google. These handwritten documents vary a lot from the fonts used in typing.
It's written by someone called Chandra ( Common Sinhala name for a male. Means moon )to two people called Nimal (Common Sinhala name for a male)and Indra ( a common name for a female) possibly a couple living in the same country as OP.
This is to thank Nimal and Indra for something they sent to Sri Lanka for Chandra and his children to enjoy. This mentions about an energy drink that they seem to have quite enjoyed. The rest of the letter is bit religious and talks about Buddhism and nirvana.
Hope this helps. Cheers!
#2 What Are These Chimneys And Why Do They Exist In The Woods? (New England)
Houses used to be there, only the chimney survived.
#3 What Is This? Found Underneath A House We Are Remodeling? How Did They Get The Liquid Inside?
DO NOT BREAK IT! Those are filled with a toxic chemical to extinguish fires.
Glass Grenade Fire Extinguisher
Also, they closed them by melting the glass shut.
There are so many things in this world that we don’t fully understand. From how a car engine actually works to the science behind building a bridge, there’s always something new to learn. Luckily, the internet is often there to save the day, giving us answers to just about anything. These posts show that sometimes the most intriguing discoveries come from everyday life. And one such fascinating example, in our opinion, is the ever-evolving world of the beauty industry.
#4 People Were Praying To This Unidentifiable Box They Brought To A Mountain Top. Seen In Sapiranga, Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil. What Is This?
It LOOKS like what the Arc of the Covenant is supposed to resemble
#5 This Pattern Had Been Growing On My Mirror For A Month Now And It’s Tinting The Mirror Green. Any Idea What It Could Be?
That’s a heated mirror failing. When the auto dim or heated mirrors start to separate internally they look like that.
#6 What Was This Old Desk Used For ? My Wife And I Have Been Making Guesses But Have No Idea
Dr here. Definitely an obgyn table. Instruments and other medical supplies are stored in the drawers for easy access.
Yes, makeup! Whether you’re someone who loves experimenting with bold looks or a total newbie who only owns one lip balm, there’s a lot more to makeup than just powder, cream, and a couple of brushes. To help us break it down, we spoke with Sonali Gupta, a makeup artist with over a decade of experience, who shared her thoughts on some of the most interesting and often misunderstood tools of the trade.
#7 Sign On Sidewalk In Chinatown, Chicago, USA
It’s a sign to tell pet owners to pick up the animals poop due to rats eating the excrement.
I believe all of the additional wording has faded.
#8 In Closet. Likely Placed There By Cats. What Is It ?
It was a potato…
#9 What Is The Device This Woman Has Been Holding To Her Mouth (Murdaugh Trial)?
She speaks into it, it records the trial transcript. She's a court reporter, and the device keeps her words from being heard.
“It’s easy for people to think makeup is just foundation, eyeshadow, and lipstick,” Sonali explained. “But what really makes a difference are the tools you use. There are dozens of different kinds of brushes and applicators, each serving its own purpose. For example, the brush you use on your face isn’t the same as the ones designed for your eyes. And knowing the difference can completely change how your makeup looks.”
#10 I'd Like To Know The Back Story
The Grave of Seath Mor Sgorfhiaclach in Scotland. The cage over the grave is not to prevent grave robbing or for fear of zombies, but to keep the cursed stones that sit on the grave in place.
#11 Just Found This While Rummaging Through My Fathers Old Stuff
The Camera Lucida, or Chambre Claire in French
This is a device designed to assist in making enlarged or reduced drawings from originals or even straight from a real scene. The designer looks at the tip of the pencil on the paper and sees, simultaneously and in the same place, an image of what is in front of him. His job, then, is to draw the contours just by following this double image.
#12 Why Did Someone Put Salt In Front Of My Door? It Isn’t On Anyone Else’s Doorstep, Just Mine
Yup, trying to ward of demons.
I briefly dated a Wiccan girl and she was super happy when I was able to cross over the salt line she had at her door. I didn't even know it was there lol.
Take the spoolie brush, for instance. It looks a lot like a mascara wand, but its job is much broader. “You use a spoolie to comb, shape, and blend eyebrow hairs, and also to separate lashes after applying mascara,” Sonali said. “It’s one of those tools that seems simple but ends up being super versatile.”
#13 My Father Passed And We Were Clearing Out His Desk And Found This?
That’s Bowtruckle from the Fantastic Beasts movies!
#14 I Just Purchased A Dental Office And Found This In A Drawer. What Is This Thing?
Sage roll. Wards off evil spirits. And smells nice
#15 My Mother Had This As A Self Defense Weapon, I Think It’s A S*x Toy. Any Idea?
It's a weapon called a Boston leather sap - sometimes called a "blackjack".
Another tool she swears by is the stippling brush. Unlike a regular brush, it’s made with two types of bristles, soft and firm, that work together to give your makeup a natural, airbrushed finish. “It’s perfect for applying foundation if you don’t want it to look too heavy,” she shared. “You just lightly dab and blend, and it gives you sheer to medium coverage that looks super natural.”
#16 Found This Heavy Thing Burried In My Yard, I Tried To Unscrew The Lid But Didn't Come Off
They loaded it in their car and said they would destroy it in a safe place, a military base. Basically once in a while, once they have enough bombs they will blow them up at the same time. We already knew the answer but still asked if there was a way to get the disarmed shell back as a memory, and they told us it is against the law. Also, they told us that keeping such an ammunition, even if disarmed, represented a risk. They mentioned the scenario in which a fire would break out in the house, and if the firefighters, upon intervening, spotted a bomb like that, they would immediate leave and let the house to burn to avoid taking any risks.
As for the origin of the shell, it was really common at the end of WWI for the soldiers to bring back home a souvenir from the war. Someone probably got rid of it decades later, and thought it would be no arm to bury it or abandon it in a remote place. I found many articles in french newspapers relating the same kind of events, actually with the exact 75mm mortar.
Be safe !
#18 What Are These Women Holding In This Painting? They Look Like Purses, But There Looks To Be Rolled Up Paper Inside. This Is Also A French Painting If That Helps
Elegant ladies of that era wouldn't want to carry an unwrapped newspaper, because the ink would rub off on their hands or clothes, more so then than now, I.think, and more so if the paper was "hot off the press."
Another possibility would be ladies' magazines, which would have been popular and full of fashion illustrations.
And then there are tools many people don’t even realize belong in the makeup kit. Take the double-ended blemish extractor, for example. “Most people think you should use your fingers to pop pimples,” Sonali laughed. “But that’s the worst thing you can do for your skin. A blemish extractor is a small tool that safely helps remove blackheads and pimples without spreading bacteria all over your face.”
#19 This Popped Up In Less Than 24hrs In My Shower!? Aliens?
Wolf’s milk slime mold or something similar
#20 Anyone Know What Type Of Bird This Is? Spotted Whilst Running In Hostivice, Czech Republic
It is a turqouise parrot variety. Some have been bred from a mutation to have the breast fully red that normally occurs as just a patch or transitional area from the lower body up. They are known as red breasted turquoise parrots or full-red fronted yellow but of the same species. I suppose it could be a cross bred scarlet breasted with a turquoise but this is the exact color pattern that turqouise mutation variety has. It isnt a scarlet because they are green on the back and tail.
Edit: website about these