22 unusual objects whose oddities are easy to explain (23 photos)

The world is full of interesting and strange things. But what is strange for one person is clear and understandable for another. Therefore, when we see something unusual, we turn to the wisdom of the Internet: there will probably be people here who will explain everything to us in detail.





"What are those holes in road signs for? I saw them in Maine."



"These signs are used in windy areas. The holes reduce wind resistance, so the wind doesn't bend or sway them as much as if they were solid."

"Why are these holes in the pavement? This is the entrance to the Roman amphitheater in Pompeii"





They are intended to be a fence to create a separate path for people who pass by crowds of plebeians and do not want to come into contact with them. It's like a modern VIP pass system.

"This plastic ring was located under the window on the plane. There is a protrusion in the inner circle that separates the two halves."



"To darken the windows. The bottom half is darker, the top half is lighter. The crew can select the desired setting."

"A long, thick rope with a metal cylinder with fins that seems designed to spin?"



This is a log, previously it was used to calculate the speed of a ship at sea. For centuries, sailors have thrown rope overboard and measured how quickly it unwound. To do this, they tied knots in the rope at fixed intervals, and if the ship was going fast enough to make a dozen knots in a standard amount of time (say, ten seconds), that would be a speed of twelve knots.

"What are those large bare earthen growths of mud on the slopes of a glacial volcano? This is Mount Baker"



Heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or high groundwater levels flowing through cracked rock can cause soil or sediment to move in landslides that continue as mudflows. Floods and debris flows can also occur when heavy rainfall on hillsides or mountains causes widespread erosion or lifts up loose sediments located in steep mountain channels.

"A strange stone structure in the forest. I opened the door, but there was nothing there."



"It's a simple stove that can be used to cook food. These are not uncommon, for example, in logging camps."

"Small gold oval with two buttons. Made of plastic"



"Remote control for vibrator."

"Obviously the document begins with the name "Elizabeth"



“This is a patent from the time of Elizabeth I. Patents were not given for anything back then - even for piracy.”

"Spotted while walking. Spongy texture, springs back when pressed. Any ideas?"



Someone is trying to prepare to smoke a plot of soil with roots. Peel the bark, cover with a nutrient medium (soil, wood chips, etc.) - and wait for the roots to form.

"Mysterious bottle of amber liquid found in grocery store. Small as a pill."



Fuse for fire sprinkler system.

“What is this small metal tool with teeth the same size but different numbers?”



These are gold testing needles.

“What is this spoon for? Either a soup ladle or a spoon for sauces.”



This is a sauce scoop.

"The button under the steering wheel was installed by the previous owner of the car. Flashes once when pressed and held, no other obvious functions. According to the previous owner, it has something to do with insurance."



This is a GPS tracker.

“What is this hole in the engine of the plane? It opened when the landing began and closed after the landing was completed.”



These are brake thrust reversers.

"What is this box? A lighter for scale"



This is a box for storing a collapsible safety razor with 2 blades, which were in use about 50 years ago."

“What are those levers near the foot of the passenger side door in my 1969 Impala?”



This is a ventilation control system.

"Heavy object made of black metal, painted yellow, with a single hole of an unusual shape. Almost 10 centimeters in length. Found buried in the backyard using a metal detector."



This is a pawl that prevents kickback from the table saw.

"This notch is in all the desks at my school. Why?"



“This is a finger hook to make it easier to move the desk - in classes this is often needed.”

"Hollow brass cane with spring-loaded spike"



It is designed to kill weeds.

"What is this strange network of cables and weights on the side of the building?"



This is a wire plant support system for a living wall. The weight below keeps the wires taut.

“There is a small zipper sewn inside my tent. It only opens from the inside, but behind it there is only a mesh, there is no way out



If you cut the mesh behind the zipper, then through the resulting hole you can thread, for example, a cable or pass something else necessary. And then you close the zipper - and there is no hole left in the tent.

“What is this thing? I found it in the kitchen of the guest house. There are two buttons on the sides that open it.”



This is a holder for oven safe pans.