From yard sales to the attics of our parent's homes, we have all probably come across weird objects that don’t seem to have any discernible purpose. Like anthropologists studying the site of an ancient city, we had to try and piece together contextual clues. But these days, through the magic of the internet, we can simply ask hundreds of thousands of people to help.
The “What is it?” online community is dedicated to helping people understand what obscure object they are looking at. So get comfortable, make your best guesses in the comments, and be sure to upvote your favorite posts.
There is a somewhat hidden benefit as well. Uncertainty does often leave us feeling stressed. Some psychologists believe it's even the root of much suffering, albeit often buried behind multiple other stressors. So being able to resolve these little mysteries, one at a time, might be doing us all some good.
#22 Hanging On The Wall At My Parents House
Answer: Definitely egg cups and egg timer
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136points
#23 Is This A Bullet Hole?
Answer: Looks like a high-speed impact punched through, so yeah it might be a bullet. If you can fit your INDEX finger in the hole, you are talking about a large caliber bullet. Look around in the trunk and see if you can find it or fragments of it
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127points
Indeed, some research suggests that the old cliche of preferring the “devil you know versus the devil you don’t” has some basis in reality. Resolving a stressful situation, even if the resolution is negative, has been found to reduce stress levels relative to the stress the situation would cause in the first place.
#25 My Mom Found This By Her Pool Gate
Answer: It’s a holder for a cigarette. Theres usually a ring at the bottom. I own one. The flower opens and the beads slide up to keep the cigarette in place
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122points
#27 This Was Put Up In The Laundry Room
Answer: It’s a trail camera. Takes pictures when it detects motion
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117points
#28 Saw This At A Yard Sale Yesterday. Daughter Wanted It For Some Reason. We Don’t Have A Clue What It Could Be
Answer: Looks like a saloon door spice rack
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112points
#29 What Are These Dots On My 2018 Atoyot For?
Answer: This is a marking by the manufacturer to indicate internal information about the window
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108points
#30 What Is This Out On Lake Michigan?
Answer: It is called a "crib". They collect water and then water flows via gravity below the lake to the city's water filtration plants
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107points
#31 I Inhereted This Decades Ago. What Is It?
Answer: Coal scuttle/portable heater
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106points
#32 My Home Was Built In 1986. This Is On The Side Of The Upper Kitchen Cabinet. The Lid Comes Off. What Is It?
Answer: a paper cup holder
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100points
#34 Found At A Garage Sale. No One Knows What It Is
Answer: Indian brass bud vase
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92points
#35 Found This In The Road Near My Car? Any Clue?
Answer: Bottle capper
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90points
#36 Found Outside A Restaurant Approximately 25 Years Ago. The Pieces Don't Move
Answer: Eyelet for a fishing pole
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87points
#37 Found On Hotel Room Floor, What The Heck Is It?
Answer: Looks like a blackhead removal tool
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87points
#38 Dog Found This In My Backyard. I'm In A Largely Residential Neighborhood. Its Hard Plastic Not Soft Like A Shotgun Shell. Bottom Only Has That Small Piece Of Metal Not The Whole End. About 2.5inch Long
Answer: Looks like percussion cap for a hole puncher tool
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77points
#39 Any Idea What This Is?
Answer: It's a dreidel. A 4-sided toy marked with Hebrew letters and spun like a top in a game of chance
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73points
#40 What Is This Thing In My New Apartment? Staff Have No Idea Either
Answer: Kinda looks like a doorbell chime
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69points