It’s amazing just how many inventions, objects, and artifacts we know nothing about. It’s even more amazing when we stumble upon something unknown to us, creating an opportunity to learn something new. The people in this list took action, coming to the internet to help identify some things. Thanks to them, we all get to learn!
“What is this X-shape on the wall, often seen around old farms/barns/stables?”
In this case, X marks the spot of an anchor plate for a tie! A tie is a large metal rod sometimes added to older structures to keep the walls from bowing. Thankfully, it looks like this building doesn’t need one!
“I’ve had this for like 15 years. I used to use while playing soldier as a kid. No idea what it is. It looks as though it may be something that drops from an aircraft.”
Dropped from an aircraft is correct! This is an ADSID (Air Delivered Seismic Intrusion Detector), first used in Operation Igloo White during the Vietnam war. Totally safe to own as they don’t contain explosives, and a very cool piece of military history!
“Found in DE forest. About the size of a golf ball and round and feathery.”
What looks like a frightening type of fungus is…well, not that. It’s a pom-pom hair tie that I’m sure some young girl is mourning the loss of.
“What is this thing my mom found, it’s about 15 inches long and has wood, embroidery floss, wire and maybe grass and seems vintage.”
My first thought was a fan, and look at me being all smart, I was right! The long handle goes down to the inside of your elbow, making it easier to fan yourself with!
“What is this. Found in a floor in Central Texas.”
This one wasn’t definitively solved, but the most agreed-upon answer was a piece of a tool used to tension chains and connect them together, also known as a load choker.
“Washed up on the Indian coast, made of plastic, legs for scale.”
Less of an object within itself and more of a piece, this was identified as once being part of a pump mechanism. Those disks help move water through pipes, often used in irrigation.
“Swiss autobahn retaining wall has square protrusions and panels that look like they can be opened.”
Often called soil nails, these are to help reinforce the wall to the earth behind it and keep any major shifts from happening.
“This thing was in the beach near a lighthouse, Asturias, Spain.”
Essentially a lighthouse backup system, this is a set of foghorns that only go off when the lighthouse isn’t on or can’t be seen for whatever reason.
“[This] has a hole in the top, a pull out drawer with a hole in it, and a hole inside of it that allows whatever is inside to drop down into the [hole] that is in the drawer.”
A pretty sweet find, this is an old candy dispenser! Self-serve, too, since there’s no coin mechanism.
“Found these clear, tube-like jelly things on the beach, near Oceanshore, WA.”
While you’re likely to find some creatures along the beach, sometimes you also stumble upon those creatures’ eggs. This is a bundle of squid eggs!
“Found washed up dead on a beach in Crete?”
Another mystery beach find, but this one looks a bit more unnerving. Or maybe that’s just me, seeing as this is a fangtooth moray eel, and I hate eels.
“What is this Mystery package I got in the post today?”
While everyone did think these were a package of mystery seeds that could be dangerous or invasive if not disposed of properly, they actually turned out to be plastic plants for an aquarium. Crisis averted.
“It is a trailer on the back of a flat bed, back end of the trailer is against the cab.”
While a lot of people were frightened over the lack of a flag on the bar sticking out the back, there was an answer found. It’s a trailer meant for carrying sails and paddles, long boat stuff.
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“Scene from Top Gun – What is this guy holding? During military review board, and he never moves it.”
Called a stenomask, that cup-looking object is actually a microphone. It’s created to be soundproof, so those around it can’t hear what’s being said, and to eliminate background noise on the other end.
“What is this paved area with concentric rings and a bench in the middle?”
A feature not often seen, this appears to be a mediation labrynth They’re meant to be walked through silently and alone so you can really think, or meditate, on a certain question or problem.
“This case just appeared in my neighborhood. Almost completely unmarked.”
Many people answered with some form of temporary traffic recorder, which was then narrowed down to a radar recorder specifically, which tracks all the speeds of the cars that pass by.
“Found in a nature preserve/hiking trail area, former Rockefeller property. Roughly 15-20 feet high. Maybe an old chimney or watchtower?”
Chimney was sort of close, it is a vent! One for the Old Croton Aqueducts, which used to carry water to New York City!
“What are these yellow things on my lightbulb?”
Just more of what it’s made of! They’re small class pieces made to reinforce the whole bulb structure.
“These small clear frames came with my sunglasses. What are they and how do I use them?”
Called a myopia frame, they’re for those who need prescription lenses. They can fit this frame to the inside of the sunglasses, pop their prescriptions in, then use the sunnies without the blurriness!
“I assume is a keychain multi tool but I don’t know what the tools are supposed to be.”
This is a handy dandy no-contact tool! From pushing buttons to opening doors, these little things can do various tasks so you can avoid germs!
