Most of us live pretty mundane lives, which means we aren’t encountering new things on a daily basis. So when you happen to spot something unfamiliar, your first impulse might be to reach out to the internet to get to the bottom of what the heck you’ve found. And thankfully, there are plenty of people out there willing to help!
Bored Panda has compiled a list of random items that people did not understand when they first spotted them. From vintage kitchen tools to objects that don’t appear to have any purpose, it turns out that all of these things actually can be useful! Enjoy scrolling through these photos, and be sure to upvote the ones that teach you something new.
#41 Our Local Dull Group Could Not Figure Out What This Implement / Tool Is - Rudimentary Speculum Was Offered Up - But I Figured The Broader Dull Hive Mind Might Know
Answer: Looks like a speculum, but I would guess it was for animal husbandry purposes.
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19points
#42 These Two Things Floated To The Ground Just After A Large Plane Passed Low Over My House. They're Gritty And Rubbery, Almost Like Dried Paint. They Also Have A Strong Overly Sweet Smell
Answer: Reminds me of the flame retardant powder they have big planes fly over fires and drop, maybe a congealed chunk of it.
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18points
#43 Found This Thing In My Basement, Has A Clip On The Bottom To Attach To A Counter... I Think. No Idea What This Is
Answer: Looks like the base of a yarn winder. It would have something on top for the yarn to wrap around.
18points
#44 Ideas On What This Is ? Found In A Bathroom In An Airbnb In New Orleans. House Is 150 Years Old But This Is Clearly Newer
Answer: It’s a CD holder. Why it’s in a bathroom, I have no idea. Tells me that whoever placed it there didn’t know what it was either.
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18points
#45 Found At Relatives House
Answer: You've got a CD47 Nixie tube - one of the largest (if not the largest) created.
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18points
#46 For A Friend, What Is This Thing?
Answer: It's a butter worker.
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18points
#47 My Girlfriend Moved In And Neither Of Us Know What This Is, But I Use It Constantly
Answer: Cheese cutting knives, planers come in various shapes based on the types of cheeses.
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17points
#48 Breastfeeding Thing?
Answer: It’s for a cart (not a car seat) so when your baby is old enough they can sit in the cart without having to touch the germy handles. I have that exact one.
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17points
#49 An Old Samsung PC Keyboard. What Is The Coffee Cup Key For?
Answer: It activates the screen saver.
17points
#50 Someone On My Flight Is Wearing These
Answer: Product Description translated from Korean
Note: it’s some strange pseudoscience
Bone science, a future-oriented medical field that explores the human bone system, previously unexplored by modern medicine, has revealed that iron oxide is the greatest threat to human health. This discovery led to the invention of Miracle Touch, a groundbreaking health device designed to remove this iron oxide.
Miracle Touch utilizes a lightning rod-like needle to remove iron oxide deposits within bones. It injects cosmic electricity, present in ozone, into the bones to break down the iron oxide.
This process cleanses the bones and blood vessels that produce blood, strengthening the body's immune system and protecting it from all kinds of diseases.
Note: it’s some strange pseudoscience
Bone science, a future-oriented medical field that explores the human bone system, previously unexplored by modern medicine, has revealed that iron oxide is the greatest threat to human health. This discovery led to the invention of Miracle Touch, a groundbreaking health device designed to remove this iron oxide.
Miracle Touch utilizes a lightning rod-like needle to remove iron oxide deposits within bones. It injects cosmic electricity, present in ozone, into the bones to break down the iron oxide.
This process cleanses the bones and blood vessels that produce blood, strengthening the body's immune system and protecting it from all kinds of diseases.
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16points
#51 What Is This Attachment On The Shower Wall In Our Apartment? Looks Too Wide To Hold Soap I Think
Answer: Soap dish/sponge holder.
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16points
#52 Handmade Ceramic Mug With Saucer But Mug Has Hole In Bottom And Saucer Has A Pour Spout?
Answer: It's for frying bacon in the microwave, you drop them over the edge and it drains the grease.
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15points
#53 Lived In This House For About 4 Years. This Has Been Here The Whole Time. No Idea What It Is Or Does
Answer: If it is indeed what many people here say it is, there is a much more efficient machine known as a heat recovery ventilator. HRV for short. They heat the fresh air coming in as the stale, humid air goes out.
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15points
#54 Thing On A KLM Flight. It’s Like A Mesh But It Doesn’t Look Like It Does Something. It Has A WiFi Sticker
Answer: That’s just the separation mesh between the regular economy seats and KLM’s Economy Comfort seats. If you look at the seats, you’ll notice they also have a different color behind the mesh.
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14points
#55 What Is This Thing. I Suspect It Is A Bike Rack,but I Don't See How To Use It
Answer: To stop a bike without stepping off it. Placed at least a foot too far away from the road, though.
14points
#56 What Is This Item On The Right? It Was Donated Today, To Our Sustainable Fabric Workshop
Answer: As a woman who replaces elastic in clothing, I would use it to thread elastic through a casing. As one who has been around many pipe smokers, one might see a man using this to tamp tobacco into a pipe.
14points
#57 What Is This Thing? Appears To Be Old. Best Guess I Just Came Up With Was Maybe A Splicing Tool For Lines On Boats. Tiny Banana To Skew Scale
Answer: It's rather the gold leaf burnisher, or some other art tool. They have short gem tip installed in brass/tin pipe.
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13points
#58 This Thing Has Been Hanging Out On My Wall Ever Since I Moved Into My New House Here. What It Is? It's Next To The Central Vac. What Is This Thing?
Answer: Holds an attachment for the hose. Hope that helps.
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13points
#59 What Is This Plastic, Wall Mounted, Device With The Word "Nosy", I Saw In My Local Public Library?
Answer: These are sensors for commercial buildings to help improve building efficiency.
From their website:
Nosy™ makes it easy by reducing the total cost of ownership by up to 80%, and making installation fast and tool-free. No upfront costs, no messy construction.
Once Nosy is installed, you'll get continuously updated baseline data for your building. And once you have good data, you can start reducing energy costs, improving indoor air quality and streamlining maintenance and servicing.
From their website:
Nosy™ makes it easy by reducing the total cost of ownership by up to 80%, and making installation fast and tool-free. No upfront costs, no messy construction.
Once Nosy is installed, you'll get continuously updated baseline data for your building. And once you have good data, you can start reducing energy costs, improving indoor air quality and streamlining maintenance and servicing.
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12points
#60 What On Earth Is This Device Found In The Attic. Google Says Field Telephone But I Can’t See How It Would Work, Never Mind Send A Text Message
Answer: Lookup violet wand, high voltage electro therapy. Was one of those things sold for every possible ailment. Usually considered quack but may actually be useful for some things.
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12points
