35 times internet experts helped identify strange finds (36 photos)
It happens that you come across some interesting thing or detail, but you have absolutely no idea what it is or how to use it. It's good that there is a community of "What is this thing?", where more than two million online detectives are always ready to help! 
1. “What is this phenomenon that I came across in the forest today?” 
Answer: “It’s called “ice flower” and is due to the fact that moisture freezes as it leaves the plant tissue.”
2. “In my girlfriend’s house, next to the door to the basement, there is this panel that lights up every time the lights are turned on in the basement. What is this?" 
Answer: “It shows that the light is on in the basement.”
3. “Found in my math teacher’s office. 100 squares with different patterns and colors. The patterns don't seem to repeat themselves." 
Answer: “This is multiplication. For example, 4 is 2 blue, blue is 2. It turns out that 4 is 2x2. 8 contains three blue ones: 2x2x2. 96 is 4 blue, 2x2x2x2 (32) times red, which is 3. 32x3 = 96.”
4. “We were staying at an Airbnb and there was this little metal tray built into the countertop. It's about 2.5cm deep (banana for scale), it can't be pulled out, and there's a shelf underneath it." 
Answer: “There were scales here.”
5. “What is this thing? A container in the shape of a small golden pig with a tiny spoon-like tail that you can take out." 
Answer: “This is a salt shaker”
6. “Two cars parked on the street, both seem to have T-shirts (or some kind of fabric) on their side mirrors, but only on the side facing the road.” 
Answer: “This is to prevent birds from attacking the mirrors.”
7. “Strange graves in a village cemetery in northwestern Iran. I've seen graves like this since childhood, but I never understood what these marks meant. The graves do not appear to be Christian or Muslim, and no one in the village knows their origin. If anyone knows anything, I would appreciate your help." 
Answer: “On tombstones in northwestern Iran there are sometimes figurative/story drawings indicating the person’s occupation.”
8. “We were burying our dog in the backyard, who died today at the age of 16, and came across this wall underground.” 
Answer: “There are holes in it, this is a drainage well. This thing fills up when it rains so the yard doesn’t flood.”
9. "Toilet with a U-shaped recess in the front" 
Answer: “This is a type of handicapped toilet that is more common in Europe than in the United States. It should also have a seat like this. This allows a person to slide directly onto and off the seat (such as a wheelchair) without their genitals touching the seat or toilet. It’s more convenient and reduces the spread of disease.”
10. “Silver hook in Art Nouveau style” 
Answer: “A hook for buttons on shoes. Used to catch all those tiny buttons on women's boots."
11. “What is this man holding in his mouth?” 
Answer: "Court stenographer's mask for dictation."
12. “What is this red leather figurine of the devil found in a wooden box in the attic?” 
Answer: “These figures are called Jenny Haniver. These are dried stingrays that have been reshaped to look like monsters.”
13. “Heavy and small. Found in southern Germany" 
Answer: “Medieval pilgrim’s plaque”
14. “They were in the baby kit on the plane, with no explanation or instructions. What it is?" 
Answer: “The spoon, fork and knife in the children's set have slots in the handles, these things are inserted into them to make model airplanes. Please note that there are 3 of them, and "mon avion" is French for "my plane".
15. “Why do these window bars have a bulge? Spotted in Spain" 
Answer: “This is for flower boxes.”
16. “What is this strangely burnt log I found at the campsite?” 
Answer: “This is a Swedish torch. Such a log burns longer than if it is simply thrown into the fire."
17. “What is the point of this very thin glass-covered shelf?” 
Answer: “It’s a bedside table and can be used to place coffee/breakfast cups on without leaving rings/coffee stains on the surface.”
18. “What is that 6-story tiny tower in the middle of a parking lot next to a baseball field in east Austin, Texas?” 
Answer: “This is a training building for firefighters. "They use this entire area for a variety of training, including high-speed police chases as well as shooting."
19. “Wooden mechanism on the wall of a historical building. It features watch faces that appear to be in sync. The knob at the bottom makes the arrows jump when pressed, but when you turn it, nothing happens. The dials are numbered, but some are labeled "Living Room", "Ladies' Entrance" and "Bathroom". 
Answer: “Servant call panel.” Buttons or strings throughout the house make it ring.”
20. “What kind of clamp is this? It only says “China”.” 
Answer: “This is a lockout/tagout lock. It is placed on a switch when several people are working on the equipment so that no one turns it off.”
21. “What kind of instrument is this woman demonstrating?” 
Answer: “It’s a bed warmer.”
22. “What are those tiny brown and beige beads I found on the carpet and windowsill?” 
Answer: “It looks like termite meal, that is, termite poop.”
23. “Metal decorative flower with removable petals, approximately 25 cm in length” 
Answer: "Ashtray"
24. “What is this thing? A slightly rusty metal plate with the word "Stop" carved into it. 
Answer: "Tail light plate A-13442-AR from a vintage Ford."
25. “Found in a commercial kitchen cabinet. What is this? About 15 centimeters in diameter" 
Answer: Hamburger press.
26. “A bench with strange cutouts. I don't think this is for bicycles, it would require too long a chain." 
Answer: “This is really for bicycles. If you want to sit down, you can place your bike nearby. They’re not for you to strap on your bike and go.”
27. “Found on a beach near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Recently there was a strong storm. It is very hard and breaks easily. Seems organic" 
Answer: “In cold weather, similar things also appear on our beach. It turns out that these were fats in the “treated” water from the Boston sewer plant, which was piped into Cape Cod Bay. They clumped together into big fat clumps, like this one. Industrial lubricants (synthetic waxes) are also regularly dumped from ships and washed ashore. Wax or grease seem like the most likely options.”
28. “I have seen this type of brass pole shaped like a cane (usually) in bars and pubs many times and wondered what it was and what it was used for.” 
Answer: “This is a separator. It serves to ensure that customers stand to the side, away from the part of the bar where waiters collect drinks. Also pay attention to the free space under the bar counter; the bartender (in some models) can open the counter to enter and exit. I wouldn’t want clients standing there and blocking access.”
29. “Brass or bronze ball with lines” 
Answer: "Pétanque ball."
30. “Strange “bench” near the old elementary school parking lot.” 
Answer: “This is playground equipment from the 70s and 80s. You need to lie on your back and slide through, pulling the bars.”
31. “Came in a box with a candy making kit I got on Craigslist. It is about 11.5 cm wide and has about 60 twist screws. It came with a lot of different semi-professional sugar/candy making tools and this one had me stumped.” 
Answer: “This is for making sugar webs.”
32. “This metal “ring” was in every hospital toilet.” 
Answer: “Prevents flushable wipes from washing away. Traptex sanitary ware protection system.”
33. “A fenced, copper gazebo-type thing on a residential property. House built in 1929" 
Answer: “This is the head (dome). At least it was before. When old buildings are torn down, people often buy them and renovate them.”
34. “Found this while cleaning out the attic. Made of wood, seems to be handmade, size 20 centimeters, but I have no idea what it is or what it does." 
Answer: “Perhaps this is a double yakub spoon, a symbol of hospitality in traditional African art. It symbolizes two different universes, opposite to each other.”
35. “Found this behind the freezer while renovating. Plastic body, plastic balls, metal lid, about 4 centimeters in length. Wall anchor? Cyanide capsule? 
Answer: “:This is an odor/pheromone capsule for a sticky moth trap.”
