Bored Panda
50 Times Things Got "Opened" And People Saw Interesting Things Inside (New Pics)
CuriositiesMAY 10, 2023

50 Times Things Got "Opened" And People Saw Interesting Things Inside (New Pics)

391
27
Curiosity is a powerful force that drives humans to explore the world around us. It's the reason why we ask questions and venture into the unknown. And sometimes, it leads us to break or open things just to see what's inside, too.
In this list, Bored Panda gathered some of the most surprising and intriguing cross-sections that we could find. From the inside of a bowling ball to the inner workings of a cactus, these pictures are sure to stir up your interest. We've even "cut up" a mechanical calculator to show its complex mechanisms!
So sit back, relax, and continue scrolling to enjoy this fascinating journey through the unexpected contents of everyday objects.

#1 Picked Up An Old Clam Beside A Lake In South Australia And Found A Small Colony Of Plants Inside, Living Off Of The Nutrients

Picked Up An Old Clam Beside A Lake In South Australia And Found A Small Colony Of Plants Inside, Living Off Of The Nutrients
Report
659points

#2 My Dog Finally Finished Her Favorite Toy Tonight, Only To Find There Was A Smaller, Even More Squeaky Toy Inside

My Dog Finally Finished Her Favorite Toy Tonight, Only To Find There Was A Smaller, Even More Squeaky Toy Inside
643points

The process of taking something apart to understand how it works is called reverse engineering, and there are many reasons why someone (or a company) might do it.

You can reverse engineer consumer products, software, mechanical parts, pieces of technology, or even architectural structures.

When companies employ this practice, engineers usually do it without the original blueprints. While there are many ways to reverse engineer a product, a popular method is to take apart a smaller part of a product and analyze it until you get a thorough understanding of it.

#3 Cross-Section Of Several Different Cables

Cross-Section Of Several Different Cables
Report
642points

#4 My Firewood Had A Pine Cone Inside The Tree

My Firewood Had A Pine Cone Inside The Tree
Report
628points

#5 The Squeaker From Inside Her Dog Toy Has Declared Her The Winner

The Squeaker From Inside Her Dog Toy Has Declared Her The Winner
618points

You can deconstruct (and reconstruct) things in many different areas. Jazz musicians can take apart a song and put the ideas together in a new improvisation of the original. Writers might look at a well-known story and retell it in a new, fresh way.

The musical West Side Story, for example, was based on the storyline from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and James Joyce’s Ulysses is a modern-day retelling of The Odyssey by Homer.

#6 The Inside Of This Guitar Looks Like A Really Fancy Apartment

The Inside Of This Guitar Looks Like A Really Fancy Apartment
578points

#7 The Wine I Ordered Online Came With A Tiny Set Of Dice Packaged Inside A Hollow Cork

The Wine I Ordered Online Came With A Tiny Set Of Dice Packaged Inside A Hollow Cork
560points

#8 Had To Cut A Sunflower In Half Today At Work, Thought It Might Be Appreciated Here

Had To Cut A Sunflower In Half Today At Work, Thought It Might Be Appreciated Here
Report
521points

#9 The Inside Of A Cactus

The Inside Of A Cactus
Report
512points

In business, updating older products for current use is also one of the main reasons why people turn to reverse engineering. It could include rebuilding:

  • An old or outdated product;
  • An expensive product using cheaper or more readily available materials;
  • A product that uses mechanical parts that no longer exist;
  • Another company's product to learn about it;
  • Reverse engineering helps engineers understand the product's function, which they can use to create an effective updated version that still meets user requirements.

#10 A Cross-Section Of A Professional Painter's Palette (6 Months Deep)

A Cross-Section Of A Professional Painter's Palette (6 Months Deep)
Report
464points

#11 Inside Of A Mechanical Calculator

Inside Of A Mechanical Calculator
459points

#12 The Tigers On These Socks Look Like House Cats When Turned Inside Out

The Tigers On These Socks Look Like House Cats When Turned Inside Out
455points

#13 The Inside Of A Pine Cone

The Inside Of A Pine Cone
443points

Reverse engineering can also help repair products that are already on the market. This process can be especially helpful if nobody is sure what's causing the issue. Engineers may also take these products apart to see if there are any ways to fix them or improve functionality with new technology or smarter design. For example, a company may learn that newly available technology can help improve glitching issues within a software application. Through the reverse engineering process, they may also learn that there's a more efficient way to create the product.

#14 Cross-Section Of Our Painter’s 1-Year-Old Stir Stick

Cross-Section Of Our Painter’s 1-Year-Old Stir Stick
421points

#15 The Inside Of An HDMI Cable

The Inside Of An HDMI Cable
Report
415points

#16 My Sister Found This Tiny Egg Inside Her Hard-Boiled Egg

My Sister Found This Tiny Egg Inside Her Hard-Boiled Egg
Report
405points

#17 Bit Into A Wonderful Surprise Today And Learned About The Delicious Lucy Glo Apple. The Best Apple I Have Ever Had

Bit Into A Wonderful Surprise Today And Learned About The Delicious Lucy Glo Apple. The Best Apple I Have Ever Had
402points

As writer Eric Braun pointed out, deconstruction also plays a part in teaching something to someone else. In order to pass down the knowledge, you need to understand its components and how they fit together. This comes from focused learning on each aspect of the topic. If a student does not understand something and has a question, the teacher will not be able to convey the topic if they cannot answer it.

#18 The Inside Of My Red Onion Looks Like A Lotus Flower

The Inside Of My Red Onion Looks Like A Lotus Flower
393points

#19 This Is A Tree Burning From The Inside In Oregon, USA. Don’t Let The Rain Fool You

This Is A Tree Burning From The Inside In Oregon, USA. Don’t Let The Rain Fool You
Report
388points

#20 The Inside Of My Inflatable Air Mattress

The Inside Of My Inflatable Air Mattress
373points
391
27