Before the days when we had the internet, if you saw something strange or needed to find out about something it was a lot harder to get hold of the information. Mostly you had to rely on someone being able to help you or perhaps try and find some details in your local City Library. Of course all of the information available back then was limited, compared to the limitless access we now have online.
Now there is even a specific online page that you can go on to and ask all these sorts of questions and no one is going to troll you over it. This page is on "Reddit" which is a really popular website. Simply go onto the sub-thread called "What Is This Thing?". Here you will find all sorts of photos of things people want to find out about. It’s so useful!
We’ve put together this list of some of the most insane photo questions asked on the internet:
Green Alien Thing
Question: What is this? It looks like a green alien has grown on my band aid. The answer that was given involved lots of long words, details about shelf life, and lots of other things. Probably the simplest and best theory was that they are some kind of sprinkles.
Click "next" to learn the surprising explanations behind the internet's most puzzling photos:
Perfume Pendant
Question: What is this? I looks like a tiny dolls flask and it has a little needle in the top. This is probably a perfume flask used by ladies in time gone by to freshen up on the move. Of course, it could also be used to store less friendly substances like poisons. May have been useful for assassins way back in history.
Better Get Rid Of It, Pronto.
Question: I found this walking in the woods, it is full of all sort of electronic stuff and is an oxycodone bottle. Not sure what this is but it sounds like something you shouldn’t be messing with. Best place for this is in the trash.
No, They Are Not Jalapeños. ?
Question: I found this and took it home and now it’s opened up – what is it?! This may look like a juicy snack but in fact it is the seed head of a magnolia tree, they might look tasty but they aren’t for eating.
Salamander, I Choose You!
Question: I found this critter this morning, anyone know what it is? This tiny creature is a salamander. You can let him go, or you could keep him, name him and have a new pet.
Maybe You Should've Left It On The Tree
Question: What is this thing? I found it on a tree and it feels a bit like cotton. This is why you really should leave things outside if you don’t know what they are. This is an egg ball which could have hatched into a nice swarm of wasps. Not what you would want to wake up to in the morning.
Calling Doctor Who
Question: I found this in a relatives house, what is it and what does it do? This old style electrical component may look like an antique now but once upon a time this was state of the art technology. It would not look totally out of place in Dr Who’s Tardis.
The Faith Of The Seven?
Question: I saw nuns wearing this headdress, what does it mean? The purple dots represent Christ’s wounds and they are worn by Swedish nuns, members of the Bridgettine order or, more formally, The Order of the Most Holy Savior.
Drop. It. Now.
Question: We found this fossil in England, what on earth is it? There are lots of great coastlines in England where you can find fossils, this one is likely to be a nice cluster of fossilized worms.
We Prefer If You Don't Use The Bathroom?
Question: Why on earth would anyone put a door like this in a public bathroom? According to an architect the design is quite deliberate – in order to prevent people from using the bathroom. It takes time and money to keep them clean, this way they can comply with the law and you still can’t use the bathroom.
Extra Flavor?
Question: This was found on an apple purchased in Germany, what is it? You might want to avoid eating that – those are actually the eggs of a local butterfly and not that good to eat.
Scull? Oh, You Meant Skull. Sorry, What?!
Question: When I was in MA, USA I found this washed up on the shore. What is it? It looks like something out of a horror movie but clean it up and you could use it as an attractive wall feature...maybe.
You Must Be Fun At Parties
Question: What is happening to the sky?! We were hoping for some strange supernatural or alien phenomenon but then science comes along and ruins it all with stories about water and temperature. Aliens would have been much more fun.
Optimus Prime Mover?
Question: This was in the sky over Manchester today, what is it? This really looks like an alien spaceship is coming in or some kind of portal is opening up. Some would say this is what it looks like when a transformer blows – but where is the transformer? Or maybe they meant A Transformer...
Momma With The Apt Title
Question: What is this? Animal, vegetable or mineral? Well it looks like it could be a vegetable but it is actually the caterpillar of a sphinx moth. The person who found it nicknamed it a “cockerpillar”, we think it’s a pretty good name!
But We Care More About The Dog
Question: What is the girl holding in her lap? The photo was taken around the 1860s? This is obviously some kind of cool musical instrument but the dog is also pretty cool. If I was her I would had the dog on my lap and the accordion on the table!
It's Not A Citrus Fruit
Question: What is this? It was alive and it was on the beach in Maine? These are just another example of the amazing lifeforms under the sea. It looks like some kind of orange but it is actually a tunicate who sticks itself to a rock to feed on the passing plankton.
Not Really A Space Saver
Question: What is this item? It was a gift to the Sultan of Brunei. Well what do you get the man who has everything? A coconut grater of course. You can still buy these in the stores on the Pacific Island is you want one of your very own.
Throw It Back! Throw It Back!
Question: I caught this, what is it? This is a beautiful kind of starfish and yet another one of the strange sea creatures we rarely get to see. It looks pretty weird but there are some crazy looking things down there.
Look But Don't Touch
Question: OK, what is this? I found it on a tree in the wood and I just didn’t want to touch is. Is it some kind of mold or spores or something? This got a rather lengthy explanation but in a nutshell, this is some kinda waxy substance that is produced by the female woolly aphids when they lay their eggs. It is designed to keep predators off the eggs.
Aphid lives by sucking plant fluids and they grow wings so they can fly far and wide to distribute their eggs, once hatched they can suck on the plant for nourishment. The idea is to leave this kind of stuff well alone. It looks pretty unpleasant, who would want to touch it anyway?
Keep reading to see how the internet answered the next person's strange creature photo...
"Nothing" Is What Rocks Dream About
Question: What is this? I found it inside of a broken rock. It just goes to show that even rocks can hold some interesting secrets like this cast of the inside of a plants stem. It must have been a huge plant!
It's Not An Antenna
Question: I saw this in Ohio, why would anyone have this on their car and what is it? Either t his guy has a hankering to listen to a lot of radio shows from overseas or this is a start gate for horse racing. Your choice.
License To Thrill
Question: This is silver, the ball rotates, who knows that it does? What is it? This steampunk creation is apparently for lighting cigars although we are not sure how it works exactly.
Don't Put It In There, Please.
Question: These are very light, hollow and metal. The biggest one says it is a size 5. What are they? These are a form of medical dilator. Doctors used to do all sorts of strange things to cure people. We don’t want to know what they are meant to dilate. No. Really.
Why I Don't Like Gardening
Question: This had been growing in a dark pot, what on earth is it? It looks like something from outer space and would put anyone off gardening for a lifetime. It is probably some kind of plant or a fungus, but it looks so crazy.
I Didn't Need To Know That
Question: This appeared for no reason in my cabin. What is it? The person noted that someone may have been in the place while he was away, however it turned out to be some kind of disgusting mouse ‘residue’. Nope, and Nope.
Internet Detective
Question: My neighbor’s car was hit by a red vehicle – this bit fell off, any ideas on what car it could be? Well someone came up with an idea but it could really belong to anything red. It would probably be easier to look for a car with a lump missing.
Try Fitting That In Your Pocket
Question: I found this in a charity shop, what is it? One suggestion was that it was a cigarette dispenser from back in the day. Quite a cool gadget, not very portable.
Not A Back Scratcher
Question: This is some kind of tool, but what? Seems that this is how people used to lay carpets back in the day. The spikey side pushed the carpet and the bowl held the tacks. We are pretty sure that the tools have changed a bit since then.
That Needle Has Been Places
Question: Any idea what this needle is, I found it in my burger? Seriously, you picked that up? It is probably from an insulin pen and you need to get your money back for that burger.
Burn It With Fire!
Question: This thing came out of my cooked egg, what is it? The person who answered this knew exactly what it was, but would we want that in our egg? No, way! That is not going anywhere near our mouths!
Butter Bing, Butter Boom!
Question: What is this gadget? Back in the day before factories people made all sorts of machinery to make life easier, this one is apparently for making butter. Thankfully life is easier these days.
Not In Good Taste
Question: What are these marks? These are on all the chicken legs I bought? This is a pretty sad image because those marks are caused by neglect and poor housing conditions for the chicken that then go on to become our food. They should all have the best quality of life before that happens, sadly this is often not the case.
It's Not What You Think It Is
Question: What is this? My dog was trying to eat it. Something else that looks alien but is actually much more mundane – just a little ol’ caterpillar for some kind of moth. It is pretty creepy looking though.
Look At That Glass
Question: This looks space-age, what is the thing the professor is wearing? This is an early version of Google glass made before 2001 so it really was a kind of forerunner in its field. This one never worked though, it was just a model for display.
Bottoms Up, Literally.
Question: I know it is a glass but what is it for exactly? This is a shot glass that you can’t put down until it is empty. This is either a recipe for disaster or just for a pretty good night out. The design is actually a naked woman bent over the glass. Tacky.
Training Wheels For Cars
Question: Spotted on a car in Florida – what are these poles? These are designed for people who can’t park and/or have no idea how to position their vehicle on a road. It might be worthwhile mentioning that if you can’t do either of those things without the aid of a plastic pole maybe you should quit driving.
Still Don't Know How To Use It
Question: This too is made by Starrett but I don’t know what it is. Maybe a gauge of some kind? Even with the instructions we still can’t figure out how this works. It just goes to shows that in the old days people had to be much more interactive with their tools and machinery than we do now.
Now I Want One
Question: What is this? I found it in an Airbnb in London, what is it used for? This is a pretty good but little known invention which really needs to be more widely used. Designed to hold onto joints of ham, but could certainly make carving your Sunday roast a lot easier too.
But How Did It Get There?
Question: I found this in my pond and the sack is full of fluid. Anyone know what it is? Apparently, this is a fish bladder – what happened to the fish and how did that bladder get onto the land? It remains an unsolved mystery.
A Real Life Pokémon Evolution?
Question: What the hell did I find on my car? This one is pretty freaky to be honest, the wasps will hatch and feed on the caterpillar like some weird creature out of a horror movie. Yuk!
Wiccan Magic
Question: Why would someone put this in my car door? Now that is a very good question and it would be interesting to know some other things too like what was written on that paper and why was it burnt? Maybe you have upset your local witch?
The Archaeology Lesson
Question: What is this, I found it today on the path. It’s intriguing but thankfully getting on the internet gets us access to millions of experts, like this archaeologist who stepped in to save the day and solve the mystery.
The Knife Collector
Question: I collect knives and this was a gift. Anyone got a clue as to what it is and where it comes from? This looks like a knife an assassin could wield but in fact the only thing it was used for was to maintain traditional meat eating habits. It’s a bit like carrying your own cutlery around.
Fool's Gold
Question: I found a perfectly square bit of metal in a rock, what is it? Although it looks eerily like some kind of chipped device, the answer is not that sinister, it is just a lump of fools gold in a piece of slate.
Who Even Keeps Carnivorous Plants?
Question: This is inside a pot of carnivorous plants, anyone know what it is? Some people collect weird stuff, and carnivorous plants is one but slime mold is another. Who wants to keep a mold and feed it on oats? That’s just strange.
The Little Circles On Bus Windows
Question: I noticed circles on the bus window, why are they there? Well no one expected that sort of explanation, and really most of us would have imagined they were just decorative. Who knew they actually had a practical purpose after all>
The Literal Spawn Of Satan
Question: This looks like a hellish demon. What is it? Although it looks fearsome this is not a demon come from hell to drag innocent souls into torment. It is, in fact, a moth. The reason it looks like this is to attract the females. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Mini Coats Of Arms
Question: I’ve been given some little mini coats of arms by an old man – he told me I should visit the places on them, what are they exactly and what are they used for? This are tiny plaques that fit on a walking stick and act as a souvenir for all of the places you have visited. If you think about it it is a cute way to remember all the places you’ve been.
Unfortunately, It Doesn't Make You Coffee.
Question: What does the coffee cup key on an old PC Keyboard do? Sadly this one has nothing to do with coffee, it certainly won’t make you a cup. Apparently on the old Samsung PCs this coffee cup sign was used as a screen saver button.
Nobody Move!
Question: Can someone tell me what this is? I am hoping it is nothing to do with a cockroach. Fortunately it wasn’t, unfortunately it was probably the rattle from a rattlesnake.
The Hunter Becomes The Hunted
Question: This was found by my relative. It was hanging from a tree in her yard. She lives in Georgia, any idea what it could be? It’s impressive, but no. Call David Attenborough.
Maybe, We Are Not Alone?
Question: I saw this over Wisconsin last night, is it alien life? Wow, that sounds exciting but the more mundane explanation is that it is only LED lights in a greenhouse. These lights can apparently be seen for miles and come in a range of colors. Sorry.
Let Them Bee
Question: I think this is a beehive but I’m not sure, anyone know what this is? I don’t know what this insect is either. Maybe you should leave it alone, if there’s honey it’s a bee, but bees sting. Walk away.
Lifeguard Lifesaver
Question: Does anyone know what this is? I found thousands on them in New Zealand, they were on the beach. Wow, this is truly a mystical creature. It’s amazing how many animals and plants live on the earth and in the sea that we still have no idea what they are.
Snail Mail?
