Every day — scratch that — every hour, minute and second, innumerable photos are uploaded and shared online. Most are unremarkable. But some have the potential to take off and go viral.
It’s hard to say what the “it” factor is exactly, but we can say with certainty that the following photos made the internet sit up and take notice.
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What are the odds?
A dropped bookmark, subject to random air currents and gravity, should probably land on its side. But thanks to a hardwood floor, this bookmark fell in a way that couldn’t be replicated even if you tried.
Ghost canes.
This sealed box of candy canes has no canes — or invisible canes — inside. So what’s the deal?
Apparently, a colony of ants found the box and made short work of the sugary goodness within.
Light up the past.
Not all, but some, traffic lights in Denmark are styled to look like Vikings. It’s a fun way to honor Scandinavia’s past, along with breaking up the monotony and sameness of most lights.
My skin is crawling.
No big deal, just a massive, 15 foot-long snake hanging out along a crowded urban street. Imagine walking down this darkened street at night and hearing this thing slithering along.
Good call.
This milk prints not only the best before date on its jugs, but also some common sense life advice. Honestly, it’s pretty hard to argue with a sentiment like this.
Explosive.
These parents and their three (soon to be four) kids teamed up for an inventive photo shoot. They took a pic with mom at full term, then took a second after Baby was born.
Home sweet home.
Hermit crabs are known for being adaptable and finding a home in almost any old thing. This PVC pipe joint may not be a shell, but if the crab is content, that’s all that really matters.
Good news, everybody!
I never knew that the Planet Express building from Futurama existed in real life. It’s weird to see such a familiar cartoon building rendered out of real bricks and steel.
Uncanny.
On the left is a passport document from the 1950s that looks suspiciously like a modern-day Cards Against Humanity set. I guess there’s something about white Helvetica text on a black background that’s timeless.
She’ll be fast.
This is sprinter Usain Bolt’s longtime girlfriend Kasi Bennett with the couple’s new arrival: Olympia Lightning Bolt. It’s a pretty inspired name for the daughter of a world-class Olympian.
The ultimate 2×4.
When you buy 2x4s, it’s pretty easy to figure out what part of the tree each piece came from. But rarely do you ever see one that so obviously came from the very middle of the tree.
Living the life.
A 101-year-old threw a big birthday party for his best friend’s hundredth birthday. It looks like he got a warm welcome into the centenarian club.
A rare angle.
A photographer took advantage of a low tide on a beautiful San Francisco morning to capture these unique angles of the Golden Gate Bridge. They show stuff — like the underside of the bridge deck and support pilings — that are rarely seen.
Breaking down barriers.
The pilot seen here, Madeline Swegle, seems pretty stoked to get her wings. It’s a little more significant than most ceremonies, as she’s the first Black female tactical jet pilot in U.S. Navy history.
Unexpected visitor.
When you’re stopped at a red light in a busy city, you’re probably not expecting to come eye-to-eye with a bird of prey. But that’s exactly what happened to this driver when a peregrine falcon decided to drop in.
Great likeness.
This dad and daughter recognized that they look pretty much exactly like Lee and Clem from The Walking Dead video game series, so they decided to embark on a picture-perfect cosplay.
Is #trashtag still a thing?
This pic not only makes this dude look good, it also shows the difference that one person, a bunch of garbage bags, and a little bit of effort can make.
Snacky snacks.
This Norwegian police officer has a standard-looking holster on her belt, but a quick zoom-in reveals unusual contents. Rather than carrying a gun, she’s got a couple carrots stashed away for her horse.
A life behind him.
This is Lawrence Brooks, America’s oldest living WWII veteran, who’s currently 110 years old. This piece was written about him earlier this year, and it covers his time in WWII as well as the racism he faced within the US military.
Making your own solutions.
Born without an arm, this man 3D-printed his own prosthetic arm and fitted it with electronic movement, too. He’s holding an egg to show the arm’s dexterity (by not immediately crushing it), and it really does prove his engineering skills!
A rainbow’s evil twin.
A red-only rainbow was photographed at midnight in Finland. Red rainbows occur when the sun is on the horizon, just like sunrises and sunsets look red, as the sun being low weakens blue/green light and amplifies red light.
Not a typical medium.
This user said they carved this watermelon for work. In asking what their job was, they answered “hospital foodservice director.” Quite the fancy hospital if this is what their fruit looks like!
Art and function.
This sculpture, called Ocean Atlas by artist Jason deCaires Taylor, rests just off the coast of New Providence in the Bahamas. At 18 feet (5.5 meters) tall and 60 tons, it’s made out of materials designed for it to transform into an artificial reef.
Feed me, Seymour!
This user, in their attempt to grow a pumpkin, had it split into what looked like a plant with teeth. The resemblance is pretty close… You should think about naming it Audrey III.
Lightning strike.
This lightning strike took place on a golf course, hitting the flag and leaving a pretty nice mark on the grass. This is a pretty decent reminder to get off golf courses immediately when it starts to thunder, metal poles in your hands aside.
Nature finds a way.
Not obeying any sign, this tree grew through and up out the top of a stop sign. Now we watch as it gets bigger and bigger, until the sign gets eaten by the tree.
You’ll never get lost.
This grocery store features a list of where to find certain items right on the cart, which I think is genius. No more awkwardly asking employees for aisle numbers.
A rainbow selection.
This user owns chickens who lay this array of colorful eggs! They offer little difference in actual taste, but the nice palette is sure to brighten any day, regardless.
Not the usual wedding gift.
I understand why these sorts of gifts aren’t commonplace anymore, but you can’t deny that these are some gorgeous cigarettes.
Laying down the terms.
This sign outside a bar makes it clear what kinds of patrons are welcome inside. If you’re going to spread the pandemic or bigotry, get out. Everybody else, though, is totally welcome.
Battle “scars.”
After a long fight with a bee, and though the cat won, it was left with a pretty silly mark. On the bright side, it can now take on a new career as a clown.
Still together.
This pic shows the evolution of a couple. The pic on the right was taken 23 years ago, towards the tail end of the 90s. In 2020, they’re still together — with a baby on the way.
