The internet is an incredible tool for solving everyday mysteries, and one of the best examples of that is the subreddit What Is This Thing?. This online community of over 2.3 million users has proven time and again that human knowledge—when combined with a little curiosity—can often outperform even the best search engines.
The premise is simple: Someone finds an object they can’t identify, they post a photo on the subreddit, and within hours (sometimes minutes), the collective wisdom of the internet provides an answer. It’s both an educational experience and a testament to the wide range of expertise that resides online. Here, we’ve compiled 35 instances where people on What Is This Thing? showcased their impressive detective skills and outshone Google at identifying mysterious items.
1 – Mysterious Metal Object Under Driver’s Seat
Answer: Your mechanic is going to want that back—it’s part of a lift used in garages.
This odd piece had someone scratching their head until a Reddit user chimed in, identifying it as a misplaced part of a car lift used to raise vehicles in auto repair shops.
2 – Upside-Down Magazine Rack in an Airbnb
Answer: It’s a magazine rack installed upside down because people decorating Airbnbs don’t know what they’re doing.
While this object baffled its finder, users quickly pointed out that the misplacement of the rack gave it an unusual look, but ultimately, it was just poorly installed.
3 – Low Faucets and Drain in a Public Restroom
Answer: This setup prevents Muslims from lifting their legs high when washing for prayer.
This unique setup is a thoughtful design in public restrooms to help Muslims wash their feet before prayer, preventing potential accidents or spills.
4 – Round Shelf Beneath a Table
Answer: It’s a place to rest your beer while you play cards.
An object that puzzled someone in an old pub turned out to be a beer holder—an ingenious design allowing card players to keep their drink nearby without cluttering the table.
5 – Beaded Wooden Plank
Answer: A Himalayan calendar, where each bead represents a unit of time.
This strange-looking plank turned out to be an ancient calendar system, with beads representing months, days, and years in a system unique to the Himalayan region.
6 – Strange Hard, Waxy Blob Found at Low Tide
Answer: It’s whale vomit (ambergris)—it could be worth thousands!
This unusual find turned out to be a highly valuable substance used in perfumes. Ambergris, or whale vomit, is one of the rarest and most expensive natural materials in the world.
7 – Barrel-Shaped Container
Answer: A vasculum, a container used by botanists to store plant specimens.
This seemingly odd object was identified as a tool used by botanists to transport plant samples without damaging them.
8 – Steel Hook Found in a House Foundation
Answer: It’s a horse hoof cleaning tool, and burying metal objects in a home’s foundation was once considered good luck.
An odd find in a house foundation turned out to have dual significance, both as a tool for horses and a good luck charm according to old traditions.
9 – Small Clay Disk Found with a Purchase
Answer: A terra cotta sugar saver, used to keep brown sugar from clumping.
This small, strange disk was quickly identified as a kitchen gadget used to prevent brown sugar from drying out.
10 – Antique Spoon with a Tong-Like Attachment
Answer: A fat-separating spoon, known in France as a “cuillère dégraisseuse”.
This peculiar spoon was designed to separate fat from sauces—a culinary tool with a very specific function in French kitchens.
11 – Green Liquid in a Metal Cylinder Found on the Beach
Answer: A diver rescue marker used to dye water for visibility during ocean rescues.
The odd cylinder with green liquid was identified as an emergency tool used by divers to mark their location in the water.
12 – Wall-Mounted Metal Object in a Fortress
Answer: Old radiators that were filled with hot embers or stones.
A strange wall-mounted object in an old fortress turned out to be a heating mechanism from centuries ago.
13 – Cast Aluminum Plaque Found as Scrap
Answer: Most likely part of horse lineage documentation, with the names of the sire and dam.
A mysterious metal plaque with no clear use was likely a horse registry marking for a valuable thoroughbred.
14 – Brass Object from a Junk Drawer
Answer: A telephone dialer from the early 20th century.
This tiny brass object was an old-fashioned telephone dialer, used before modern touch-tone phones became widespread.
15 – Oval Metal Object Next to a Sink
Answer: A steel “soap” bar, used to remove strong odors from hands.
This odd item was quickly identified as a stainless steel bar used to neutralize strong smells like garlic and onions from hands after cooking.
16 – Modified Mercury Dime Turned Pendant
Answer: A spoon pendant for consuming illegal substances.
This seemingly innocent spoon pendant had a more scandalous past, with users identifying it as a vintage tool for drug use.
17 – Strange Plastic Device from a Christmas Gift
Answer: A page spreader for reading, allowing you to hold a book with one hand.
A confusing plastic object turned out to be a simple tool for avid readers, making it easier to keep a book open with one hand.
18 – Heavy Metal Objects Found in a Thrift Store
Answer: Weights used for mechanical cuckoo clocks.
These heavy metal items were identified as counterweights used in antique cuckoo clocks to drive the clock mechanism.
19 – Bubble with Microplastics Inside Found in a Shoe Box
Answer: A representation of microplastic pollution used for marketing, albeit controversial.
Nike included this as a symbol of their eco-friendly initiatives, though many called it out as greenwashing.
20 – Genie Lamp-Like Object with a Spout
Answer: An oil lamp, with a wick for lighting.
This curious object was a simple oil lamp, used for lighting before the widespread adoption of electricity.
21 – Silver Locket with Ink-Like Residue Inside
Answer: A purse with compartments for coins, makeup, and calling cards.
A mysterious silver object was actually an old purse, used by women in the early 20th century to carry essentials discreetly.
22 – Metal Coil That Plugs into an Outlet
Answer: An immersion heater for boiling water.
This dangerous-looking device was an old-fashioned water heater, used by travelers to boil water directly in a cup or pot.
23 – Spiked Metal Collar Found in Spain
Answer: An anti-wolf collar for sheepdogs.
This medieval-looking object was an anti-wolf collar used to protect sheepdogs from predator attacks while herding livestock.
24 – Small Trailer with Multiple Openings
Answer: A trailer for transporting racing pigeons.
This odd little trailer was designed to safely transport racing pigeons to competitions.
25 – Strange Cabinet with Key Hooks
Answer: A specimen cabinet for scientific purposes, used to store and organize collections.
The cabinet with small key hooks and drawers was likely used in laboratories or museums for storing specimens.
26 – Gold-Plated Speaker with a Short Cord
Answer: A vintage hearing aid, complete with a clip to wear on clothing.
This old-fashioned hearing aid was cutting-edge technology in its time, with a small speaker and clip for easy wear.
27 – Metal Finned Block with the Word ‘Hemma’
Answer: A cabbage slicer, traditionally used for making sauerkraut.
This odd kitchen tool was identified as a device for slicing cabbage, a must-have for anyone making homemade sauerkraut.
28 – Hook with French Inscription Found in a Hutch
Answer: A butter curler, used to make decorative curls of butter.
This kitchen tool was used to create fancy curls of butter for decorative presentation.
29 – Knit Tubes
Answer: Chair socks, designed to prevent floor scratches from chair legs.
These knit tubes were designed to cover chair legs, preventing them from scratching delicate floors.
30 – Stacks of Black Paper Found in a Safe
Answer: A “black money scam” tool, part of a common con where victims are tricked into believing the paper is dyed currency.
This strange find was part of a scam involving construction paper being passed off as hidden currency.
31 – Plastic Ring with Metal Claws Found on a Beach
Answer: A claw used to help fishermen pull in their nets.
This tool was identified as a piece of fishing equipment used to grip and pull in nets.
32 – Jar of White, Soft Objects Found in an Office
Answer: Silkworm cocoons, possibly collected for scientific study or textile production.
The soft white objects inside the jar were silkworm cocoons, an important material in silk production.
33 – Wavy Pattern on the Back of a Mail Envelope
Answer: An obfuscation pattern designed to hide personal information.
The wavy pattern was part of a privacy measure to prevent people from reading sensitive information through the envelope.
34 – Plastic Device with a Blade
Answer: A tool for making 5.25″ floppy disks double-sided.
This obscure device was used to modify floppy disks, allowing them to store data on both sides.
35 – Wrought Iron Poles Seen in London
Answer: Early 19th-century gas lamps, originally part of the city’s lighting system.
These wrought iron poles were remnants of London’s early gas lighting system, which illuminated the city streets in the 1800s.
Conclusion: The Collective Power of the Internet
The fascinating world of What Is This Thing? shows that sometimes, the answers are just a community post away. Whether it’s identifying everyday objects or solving historical mysteries, the online community’s combined expertise often surpasses even the most advanced search algorithms. Each solved mystery offers a glimpse into the vast and varied knowledge that we, as humans, possess—and the joy of sharing that knowledge with others. So next time you stumble across something you can’t name, remember: the internet might just have the answer you’re looking for!
