In the past if you saw something strange, it was likely up to you, someone you knew, a person in the vicinity who could tell you what saw was. Even then, you would be limited to the information available in your local area, such as the city library. Today, we're lucky to have the internet, and with it, it's unlimited access to knowledge from places and people far and wide.
In fact, the popular website "Reddit" has a subreddit thread titled "What Is This Thing?" which lets users post photos of things they have no idea about and other people chime in with their ideas. Yes, a place on the internet where you can ask an innocent question and not get trolled. Hard to believe but it does exist.
Check out the list of the craziest explanations for the internet's most puzzling photo questions.
Green Alien Thing
Question: Green alien thing that grew on my band-aid. What is this thing? The answer is either a very long scientific explanation involving shelf-life, climate, exposure to moisture among other things. The other, simpler and better theory is they are sprinkles.
The Literal Spawn Of Satan
Question: What is this demonic looking creature? If we had to guess, we'd say this came directly from the gates of hell to spook the bejesus out of every soul which doubted the afterlife. But apparently, it's just a moth with fancy glands the females of its species have the hots for.
Mini Coats Of Arms
Question: I've met an old man in Germany and he sent me these little coats of arms, telling me to visit each of these locations before Idie. What are these exactly used for? This makes sense. Many veterans from that era would likely suffer from some injury or another and would sadly require a walking stick to get around, so stick medallions make sense.
Unfortunately, It Doesn't Make You Coffee.
Question: An old Samsung PC keyboard. What is the coffee cup key for? The answer we were hoping for was that the keyboard would unlock some secret coffee making function in computers. But it turns out it's a screen saver button.
Nobody Move!
Question: What is this? I found it next to my toaster. Please don't tell me it's some kind of cockroach molt. This person perhaps regretted asking this question. Now they can't sleep in their own home as they are always wondering where the alleged snake could be. Thanks, a lot.
The Hunter Becomes The Hunted
Question: Relative found these eggs in her yard in Georgia, hanging from a tree. What is this thing? Wow. That's all we can say. David Attenborough needs to do a nature show in Georgia, right now.
Let Them Bee
Question: A coworker found a hive on her balcony. She is convinced that is a beehive. I am not but I don't know what insect it is? Show me the honey! I will gift them to a beekeeper on the condition they give me some of their production now and then. Any takers?
Lifeguard Lifesaver
Question: Found this on a beach in New Zealand - there were thousands of them at the high water mark. What is it? It's a good thing this hero was there to save the day because we would have wanted to touch this sea beauty ourselves. It's not only Middle Earth that has magic, but the middle of the sea also seems to provide mystical creatures.
Snail Mail?
Question: I need your help! What is this? Forget snail mail, this is the package through a snail female and not in the "yay, I can't wait to open it" kind. How surreal it must be to know you hold the lives of hundreds of creatures in the palm of your hand.
Click "next" to learn the surprising explanations behind the internet's most puzzling photos:
Perfume Pendant
Question: Super small mini flask? The 'needle' screws into the flask. What is this thing? We want one of these! We imagine this what ancient assassins used to covertly poison their enemies. We're not saying we would use it for the same purpose, of course. Honest.
Better Get Rid Of It, Pronto.
Question: Oxycodone bottle found in the woods with electronics inside. What is this thing? We assume this person is not one who normally takes precautions. This could have been part of a bomb, a chemical weapon, etc., and they decide to bring it home. Luckily, or unluckily, it's a bait bottle to catch thieves. Better throw it away, NOW!
No, They Are Not Jalapeños. ?
Question: Took this weird bean home, now it's opening up and has me more puzzled. What is this thing? It's a good thing to ask before you put anything into your mouth. Easy, now. On first glance, you may think these are jalapeño peppers with cherry tomatoes. But you'd be oh-so-wrong.
Keep reading to see how the internet answered the next person's strange creature photo...
Salamander, I Choose You!
Question: Found this guy freezing to death in southern Michigan this morning. What is this thing? Someone just scored themselves a pet. Salamander, I choose you. Just don't use it do battle now, champ. #GottaCatchEmAll
Maybe, We Are Not Alone?
Question: Seen in the sky over Wisconsin last night. What is this thing? We're glad someone could clarify this because we were starting to panic for a moment. This greenhouse is certainly "lit".
Calling Doctor Who
Question: Found at a dead relatives house. What is this thing? We believe the reason this item fetches so much is that it is, in reality, part of Doctor Who's armory of gadgets. Who else would use this?
The Faith Of The Seven?
Question: White circles with purple dots on top of a headdress. What is this thing? Our guess was pretty close. We were thinking they were fans of the "faith of the seven" from Game of Thrones. But it appears they were fans of another throne altogether, the throne of heaven. The "five holy wounds", of course, represent the five wounds of Jesus Christ, known as the stigmata.
Drop. It. Now.
Question: My friend found this weird rock on the east coast of England. What is it? Yuck. We make no apologies for reacting this way. Worms in any form, dead, alive, or fossilized can stay underground. Just looking at this makes us squirm. Ugh!
We Prefer If You Don't Use The Bathroom ?
Question: What is the purpose of a door like this? Who builds something for the public if they don't want the public to use it? That's like building a swimming pool just to see the reflection of the sky. Trust politicians to come up with gold pieces of legislation which lead to results like this.
Extra Flavor?
Question: Found on an apple in East Germany. What is this thing? No. No. No. Thanks, but no thanks. We like our apples a little more organic, thank you. Thanks for the extra seasoning but we're not actually all that hungry anyway. Okay, thanks, bye.
Scull? Oh, You Meant Skull. Sorry, What?!
Question: Found on the beach (ocean) in MA, USA. (iPhone 5 for reference). Skull? Sternum? That's one big fish. It would actually be a great mask for a dress up party. And best of all, it's free. Just be sure to clean out the, umm carcass, first.
You Must Be Fun At Parties
Question: Interesting cloud formation, what's going on here? Thanks. Just when we were getting excited to hear some cool supernatural explanation for why the clouds look like they're being sucked out, this person pops our balloon. Thanks, science guy/girl.
Optimus Prime Mover?
Question: Seen in the sky while hiking in Manchester today. What is this thing? When they say transformer, do they mean, the electricity kind or the Autobots/Decepticons kind? Because both would make sense to us.
Momma With The Apt Title
Question: My mom found this on the floor of her beauty salon, she calls it a "cockapiller". What is this thing? Our first instinct was to presume it was a vegetable like a squash. As much as we appreciate this person's explanation, we prefer the poster's mother's name for it instead.
But We Care More About The Dog
Question: This little girl was photographed in the 1860's with her dog. What is she holding in her lap? Yeah, cool accordion and all. But where can we get a cute little pooch like that? I mean, look at how it's sitting up on its little feet. Aww.
It's Not A Citrus Fruit
Question: These were all over the beach in S. Maine. Think they were alive. What is this thing? There's an entire world to explore under the sea. And this tunicate is only a glimpse at what the ocean has to offer.
Not Really A Space Saver
Question: A gift to the Sultan of Brunei. What is it?! By getting one for your household, you too can boast that you use the same coconut grater as that which is used in the palace of the Sultan of Brunei. Cool, huh?
Throw It Back! Throw It Back!
Question: What did I catch? You can catch all kinds of strange things out in the great blue sea. As strange as this creature seems, it's not the strangest thing to come out of the depths of the ocean as we'll see.
Look But Don't Touch
Question: Mold? Spores? Something on a tree in the woods. Too scared to touch it. This one requires quite the explanation to answer according to one poster:
"Looks like some wooly aphids. Woolly aphids are sucking insects that live on plant fluids and produce a filamentous waxy white covering which resembles cotton or wool. The adults are winged and move to new locations where they lay egg masses. The nymphs often form large cottony masses on twigs, for protection from predators."
It's best to just let nature be sometimes, folks.
"Nothing" Is What Rocks Dream About
Question: I found this after a rock was broken. What is it? So we have the inside of a horsetail plant's stem. Aristotle once said, "Nothing is what rocks dream about." We wish we could see the look on his face when we show him this. Checkmate. ?
It's Not An Antenna
Question: Seen in Ohio. Obviously, a car. But does the top have a purpose? Our minds wondered if it were some kind of supercharged antenna, but it turns out it's used as the start line for horse harness racing.
License To Thrill
Question: It's made out of silver and the ball rotates. What is this thing? We would love to see this in a James Bond movie. "How do you like your cigars, Mr. Bond?" The same way I like my women, "buttery".
Don't Put It In There, Please.
Question: Any idea what these metal lightweight hollow things could be? The largest one is about five. Thank our lucky stars we don't live in an age where these tools are what is used.
Why I Don't Like Gardening
Question: Found in an earth pot at work, was growing in the dark since it had a lid on it. What is this thing? There's a reason some of us don't like gardening. Every time we have to pluck out something, dig a hole, or clear out feeds, we come across something half-bizarre, half-scary like this.
I Didn't Need To Know That
Question: Is this the beginning of a Stephen King novel? This mystery blob just appeared in my remote Maine cabin. There are also signs someone has been in here since I've been away. What is this? After realizing the cause of this mess, this person probably did wish it was an intruder instead. Eww. Ugh. Yuck.
Internet Detective
Question: Neighbor was involved in a hit and run and is trying to identify the red vehicle that hit him. Any idea what vehicle this could be from? And just like that the list of suspects just narrowed.
Try Fitting That In Your Pocket
Question: What is this thing? Seen in a charity shop! According to the internet, here's the answer: “Looks like it would dispense cigarettes” – frumble86. We'll stick with our lighters, thank you.
Not A Back Scratcher
Question: What is this tool? This looks like a tool from the stone age, but it turns out it's much more recent. We can't say we've ever seen this in action, but it's likely these haven't been used in a long time. Maybe it doubles as a back scratcher?
That Needle Has Been Places
Question: This needle thing was just found in a hamburger at a Lexington, Kentucky Mcdonald's - what is it? What we want to know is why do people pick things like these up and bring them home in the first place? Are we just germaphobes, or is this not normal at all?
Burn It With Fire!
Question: It Slid Out Of My Cooked Egg. What Is This Thing? Some might say, they get the chicken with the egg, but we would rather burn this with the hottest fires of hell than put it anywhere near us. No, no. Nada. No, thank you.
Butter Bing, Butter Boom!
Question: For a friend, what is this thing? Butter Bing, Butter Boom! Would your friend appreciate this? Wouldn't it be better to get them a more autonomous machine, or better yet, butter? Why would you torture them with this manual device?
Not In Good Taste
Question: Found these spots on the chicken out of a frozen store-bought package, each bit has this around the bone. What is this thing? This one was an eye-opener. All chickens deserve to have the best life possible before they become food for us. A happy chicken becomes a tasty chicken.
It's Not What You Think It Is
Question: Thing pulled out of a dog's mouth, looks like a sandworm from Dune. What is this thing? Creepy. It looks like a piece of bacon wrapped around shrimp-worm hybrid. Bad doggy.
Maybe You Should've Left It On The Tree
Question: Found hanging from a tree. Pen for scale. Feels like cotton. What is this thing? The things people bring into their house. What if this plant still had wasp eggs inside it and hatched overnight? People should really think twice before they bring things into their home. Risky business.
Look At That Glass
Question: What is this professor wearing? I believe he is in computer engineering. It's probably not too much of a stretch to say this was popular with his students. The added benefit, if he got caught staring at someone, is that he could just pretend he was looking at this fine piece of glass. ?
Bottoms Up, Literally.
Question: I know this is uranium glass but what is it used for? The top comes off. This would make for a great 21st Birthday Gift. It's also good for your shy friend at the bar who sips on their drink. You can't put it down until you're down, friend. You should never do shots half-assed.
Training Wheels For Cars
Question: My mom saw these on a car in southwest Florida, not sure what they are? They are the equivalent of training wheels for cars. If you want to tell everyone you suck at driving, please add these to your vehicle. Actually, you know what, it should be mandatory for half of the people on today's roads to have these installed.
Still Don't Know How To Use It
Question: What is this tool - some sort of gauge? Made by Starrett. The fact that most of us don't know what this is only tells us that the modern man and modern woman are less hands-on than generations past. But hey, at least we have the internet to lend us a helping hand, right?
Now I Want One
Question: Found in a London Airbnb. What is this thing? Some devices from the past should really be marketed better today. Like this ham holder. You could use it for other pieces of meat too. It will make for a much smoother cut of meat. Even Thanksgiving dinner would be a little less messy.
But How Did It Get There?
Question: Found in my backyard pond. Floating by that sack filled with fluid. What is this thing? The real question is how did it get there? Did one of the fish suddenly learn to walk and breathe? We need more details, comrade.
A Real Life Pokémon Evolution?
Question: What in the absolute f*** is on my car? Never in a million years would we have ever thought this one up by ourselves. It looks like something out of the Pokémon world. We're looking forward to seeing the butterfly-wasp hybrid!
Wiccan Magic
Question: I came home yesterday afternoon to find this tucked in my car door. Does anyone have a similar experience? The real question is who would put this on a strangers car? Is this some kind of next level Wiccan flirting? You could say, we're burning to know.
The Archaeology Lesson
Question: I was off-roading with my kids today and found this in the path blocked by a giant rock. Any ideas? And just like that, a veteran archaeologist saves the day. We sure wish we had time-traveling trails like this in our neck of the woods.
The Knife Collector
Question: This was given to me maybe 25 years ago because I collect knives. No one knows where it's from or the purpose of the stick (there's space for 2 sticks, but only one was in it when given to me). US quarter for scale. Who would've thought people would take their cutlery everywhere they went!
Fool's Gold
Question: Odd square metal embedded in a rock. What is this thing? We can understand why this would look unnaturally made due to its perfectly square dimensions. We were hoping it was something more unusual like an alien surveillance device. Pity.
Who Even Keeps Carnivorous Plants?
Question: This... Thing... Showed up inside the humid jar of my carnivorous plants. What is this thing? Again we have to ask, what? A slime mold which eats oats someone makes a person jealous not have one of their own. What is even the point of this anyway?
The Little Circles On Bus Windows
Question: What are these circles on a window of a bus and what do they do? Impress your fellow passengers with this bit of trivia next time you catch a bus. We have to admit, we never would have imagined the reason for these circles would be so profound.
The Future is NOW!
