People Turned to the Internet to Identify These Random Items

You’re probably familiar with Sherlock Holmes, who was the go-to man to solve mysteries back in the days in Victorian England. A renowned detective, Sherlock Holmes would figure out ciphers, solve cases as well as age-long mysteries. However, we’re not quite certain that Sherlock Holmes would have been able to solve many of the modern-day mysteries on his own (or even with the help of Watson!). This is because a lot of these mysteries are quite strange. As a result, internet forums exist all over the web, with many people dedicating their time to solving such mysteries. Below are a number of items that Sherlock Holmes would not have been able to identify, but luckily, people on the internet did!

The Pillow Zipper Protector

 The nighttime comes with darkness, and naturally brings with it a lot of fear, apprehension, and mystery. Moreso, when you’re in a hotel room and not in your familiar bedroom at home. This explains why finding a strange item in a hotel pillow will set anyone off. It will most likely warrant a call to the front desk, at a late hour of the night.

Thankfully, it was discovered that it was not a harmful object but was actually used for protection. A pillow zipper protector, this object kept the zipper in check keeping out mites and bugs, thus allowing you to have a good night’s rest. Anytime you come across this object, be sure to keep calm and enjoy your sleep.

Wrong Seed

There are a lot of edible seeds known to mankind, so typically you won’t raise an eyebrow when you come across a new one. However, when the seeds have strange characteristics, like being unusually colorful or resembling beads, there seems to be a problem. This was the case when this person found strange seeds in their food.

The “seeds” turned out to be a strange item, as they were discovered to be eggs from a bug. These eggs came from a bug known as the harlequin bug. Thankfully, this bug is not known to pose any threat to human health. It is however known to be pretty harmful to cabbage and other vegetables.

The Transparent Skylight

The first glance at this item might give you the impression that it is a fish tank. Well, that is the wrong impression as this particular skylight is a unique effect for Bubbl, a special ride-sharing company. Bubbl caters to passengers that are classified as high-risk individuals, including elderly people, special needs persons as well as children traveling alone.

This special skylight serves as a means of alerting other motorists, to the fact that high-risk individuals are being conveyed. Bubbl was set up in Dallas, Texas, and employs retired or off-duty police officers, in order to ensure the safety of the passengers. What a wonderful idea!

A New Tongue

What would be your reaction if you got your tongue replaced by a parasite? Horror, right? This woman had a second-hand experience of what that looked like when she was gutting a fish. She found a strange creature in the fish’s mouth, in the area where its tongue should originally be.

Not sure what she was looking at, she decided to do a quick internet search. The result showed the creature to be Cymothoa Exigua, also known as the tongue-eating parasite, which attacks fish. This parasite eats off the tongue of the fish completely, after which it takes its place. Acting as the new tongue, it then nourishes from whatever food that the fish consumes.

What Is in the Water?

Water is one of the essentials that every human needs to survive. We need water for cooking, cleaning, and most importantly – drinking. So, what happens if you find strange substances in a cup of water that you left overnight? Are you going to stop drinking water altogether? We think not.

As always, the internet came through for this person, saving them from what could have been a water phobia. The explanation for the substances in the water is connected to the lamp that it was kept beneath. The substance was explained to be a residue that fell from the lamp into the water during the night, and solidified right after.

The Mail Dish

A mailbox is meant for letters and postage, so it is normal to be surprised when you see a strange dish that cannot be explained. Looking at it closely, this strange thing looked like a tiny seat for ants or even a bird perch. Another explanation is that it could have been a tool for placing the envelopes neatly, but that doesn’t really make sense.

Eventually, the purpose of this dish was figured out, thanks to the helpful people of the internet. It serves as a means of keeping change for postal workers. In the case that a letter or postage arrived with insufficient funds, the mail recipient will utilize this dish to leave change for the postal officer.

The Strange Structure

Through the years, architecture has advanced greatly, giving rise to several unique buildings and structures. However, there are hardly any structures as strange as this one. This building was encountered on a hiking expedition, and the discoverer could not make any sense of it. This person was not only confused but also scared of it.

Thankfully, internet users came through once again, and the building structure was identified as a water tower. This water tower is situated in an area that used to have a railway line. The function of the water tower then was to refill steam engine tanks that had run out of water.

Watercolor Roof

Still on the topic of unique architecture, this roof is definitely one-of-a-kind, as it has the appearance of a set of watercolor paints. Looking at the picture, one can see different colors including green, black, white, a shade of brown, and something that looks like burgundy. Another look at the picture will help you spot what resembles thread-like structures.

Quick research, however, shows that this is not the photo of a roof, but a satellite photo was taken from above. This clarifies the actual state of the watercolor roof as massive pools of some sort. The thread-like structures beside the pools can also be discovered to be roads on further inspection.

The Unusual Night Bug

One problem that a lot of homeowners face is pest infestation. These pests usually come alive in the nighttime, crawling into your bed while you sleep. Yikes, sorry for that image! Roaches, bedbugs, and spiders are among the common pests that might disturb us during the night. However, when you come across a bug that you don’t recognize, it typically causes panic.

This is because you can’t tell whether or not it’s dangerous. The unfamiliar is always scarier. The person in question came across a strange item while sleeping, and was a bit worried, to say the least. Thankfully, someone on the internet identified them as buckwheat hulls – harmless seeds that are often used as pillow stuffing – that most likely fell from their pillow.

I Wouldn’t Drink That

This bottle contains some kind of weird liquid that the person who discovered it has a hard time identifying. Seeing that it was in a jar that typically contains bitter orange juice, the first thought was that it is some sort of growth that comes with stale, bitter juice.

This wrong notion about the content of the bottle was corrected when the picture was posted on the internet. It was rightly identified as a growth called “Scoby”. Scoby, which stands for symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, usually forms when a kombucha drink is made. We still do not think that this looks safe to drink though.

An Alien Fork

Cutlery takes a lot of different forms, so it is quite normal to assume that this is a distinct or maybe ancient fork. In all honesty, it looks like something that might have fallen from an alien spaceship. This fork, however, is not meant for feeding purposes, nor is it an alien item.

It is actually a tool that is referred to as a rope wrench. The function of a rope wrench is to control tension when ascending or working on a rope. Rope wrenches are used for wires. Rope wrenches work by separating the lines, in order to give you enough room to splice or fix loose strands.

You’re Being Watched

With the development in technology and the new tools at the disposal of thieves and hackers today, one cannot be too careful. This is why a lot of people are concerned about security even in the comfort of their homes. Just like this person, who spotted a strange chip behind their door.

Merely looking at the picture, a lot of questions come to mind. Where was the picture taken? Is it the person’s home, or maybe a hotel room? While we can’t get answers to that, we can say for sure that the internet solved the mystery. An internet user identified it not as a camera, but a mounting device for a surveillance camera.

The Hollow Dachshund

Dachshund is a cute dog breed, and apparently, they also make for cute decor. Dachshund ornaments are loved by many people and are a common fixture in a lot of homes. In reality, great importance is given to the cuteness of the Dachshund ornament. This particular one does not pass the cuteness test, leaving its owner wondering if it has any purpose.

In its hollow state, the ornament looked pretty creepy and haunted. The owner decided to look up the reason why it was hollow, and as always the internet came through. This Dachshund ornament is actually a kiddie stationery holder, for crayons and decorative pencils. A great item for kids that love dogs and coloring.

Prawn Cracker?

Almost everyone is a lover of tasty home snacks, and prawn crackers happen to be one of the best around. Notwithstanding your love for prawn crackers, anyone would be taken aback if they came across this irregular piece in a bag that they purchased. Apparently, this is what a typical homemade prawn cracker looks like.

This particular one is a Southeast Asian recipe and is made of garlic, baking soda, shrimp, and tapioca flour. This is what the cracker looks like after preparation and before frying. So, if you come across a prawn cracker looking like this, you can be sure to fry and eat it without hesitation.

Blinding Lights

A quick glance at the picture below, and you might think it is a scene cut from a science fiction flick. At a second, closer look, it appears to be a picture from a distant future. As shocking as it might sound, this is a picture of a real structure situated somewhere around California.

The lights that you see are part of a generator plant. The structure of the plant enables it to convert heat from the sun into steam, before turning to energy. The part of the structure that looks like pools of water are the mirrors used to refer sunlight onto the plant.

A Grate Rock

You know how people sometimes find treasures where they least expect to? Well, this was one of those times as this individual discovered an interesting fossil. Initially, it looked like a regular block of concrete that dropped on a metal grate. Internet findings, however, showed that this was a wrong assumption.

On the face of the rock is an impression made from an ancient trunk. The rock must have been on the trunk of the tree for a long while to make such an impression. Sadly, the type of tree that left this impression is unknown. Let’s hope that it was taken to a lab for identification.

The Worry Doll

Looking at the picture, the little doll looks like something you would see in Conjuring, Get Out, or any other horror movie. With the black, hollow eyes and outstretched arms and limbs, it has the appearance of a voodoo doll. As a matter of fact, anyone that refuses to take it will not be faulted.

Surprise, surprise, this is actually a worry doll – quite the opposite of a voodoo doll. The way it works, you’re supposed to share all your worries with the doll just before going to bed. You pour out your frustrations to it, place it under your pillow and then sleep blissfully. Honestly, I will probably have more to worry about if I sleep with this under my pillow.

White Guy on the Ceiling

Take a deep breath before viewing this one. You know the horror movies that we mentioned earlier? It’s quite common to see weird creatures in them, hanging on ceilings, bedposts, and window frames. This white creature on the ceiling has about six legs and appears to be ready to pounce at any time.

You can breathe easy now, as this is just a regular house spider. This spider has been infested by a parasitic fungus, hence its white state. The spider is probably dead at this point, so it is powerless and harmless. Hopefully, everyone gets to read this explanation before coming across a spider in this state.

Not Grandma, Too

You know how we all have these ideas of our grandparents as being so wise and saintly? It’s usually hard to think of them as young people who lived a fast life at some point. This grandma received a gift from her friend, who had passed recently. In an unexpected twist of events, her grandchild was shocked to find out what the gift was.

The item, which required some cleaning to get it back to its original state, had some Asian imprints. It could almost pass as an antique item that belonged in a museum, only it was discovered to be an opium pipe. Maybe it was not for Grandma to use, and her friend only sent it for safekeeping.

What Type of Currency?

This looks like the strangest currency to have ever existed. Taking a close look at the currency, it appears to be a mock-up design of some sort for monopoly or another money board game. There are a number of things that look strange about those bills. For one, it is Pesos that was seemingly issued by the Japanese government.

The official currency of Japan is Yen. There are eight countries that use Pesos, and Japan isn’t one of them. Also, the words on the money is written in English, and not Japanese. The internet had an answer for the mystery, as the currency was identified to be valid, but irrelevant. It was in circulation around 1941 when Japan occupied the Philippines.

Not Your Regular Charger

Have you ever paused to think about the fact that viruses can get into your phone through your charging port? Good for you, this person that invented this item already has the possibility in mind. While this might look like a regular charger, you guessed it – it’s actually something quite different.

This device protects your data while you charge your device. How does it do this, you might ask. The way it works, you connect it to your charger, in order to ensure that nothing comes through on the other side. With this item, your safety from data thieves is guaranteed.

Termite Frass

This guy opened his kitchen cabinets one day to discover these tiny white dots. After cleaning it, he noticed they reappeared after a couple of days. We wouldn’t want to find any mysterious white substance in the cabinets where we store food (or really anywhere else in the house). So, he turned to the helpful people on the internet for some answers.

As many people pointed out, this was termite frass, and indeed a cause for concern. These white dots are waste of perforated wood created by termites. Reddit users suggested this person would call pest control asap, rather than cleaning this and trying to deal with the pest himself. We sure hope he took their advice to heart.

Not a Banjo

Remember those lucky finds that we mentioned earlier? Well, this instrument happens to be one of such items. A stringed instrument, it looks like a type of banjo to the average man, but of course, it isn’t – otherwise, it won’t be featured on this list. It took some time to identify this, but it turned out to be worth the wait.

A music enthusiast and an internet expert excitedly identified this instrument as an old Gibson guitar. The instrument has strings as well as a drum of some sort at the base. This instrument appears to be a valuable relic that could turn out to be a prized asset for whoever discovers it and is willing to sell it.

Finding Shells on the Beach

If you have ever been to White Sands, New Mexico, you would know that it is a special sight to behold. Visitors to this beach have described it as being out of this world, almost like a location that belongs on another planet. With the white sand and otherworldly appearance, one can expect to come across strange things at the site.

So, if you’re sightseeing or taking a hike on White Sands beach, spotting this metal shell might seem very normal. It will, however, make sense to be careful, as it is a mysterious sphere with a shiny top. An internet expert believes that the metal shell is most likely a titanium sphere that came from space debris.

The Pick at the Door

This tool looks like it could belong in just about any toolset, ranging from kids’ toys to a plumbing set. In actuality, it is a tool known as a tension wrench, which is a major part of every lock picking set. Basically, it’s an important tool for burglars and house thieves.

If you see this in your doorway, there is a very high probability that someone has tried to break into your house (but also a good chance they failed). This little item can actually cause you to lose a lot of your precious belongings, as lock picking sets can be purchased just about anywhere. Be sure to look out for anything that looks like this.

A Strange Rabbit

The best thing about nature is not that there are a lot of unique species, but the fact that there are always new creatures to be discovered. This creature looks like a hybrid of some sort, resembling a rabbit when you look from the right angles, only a lot fluffier. However, this isn’t a rabbit, but a rodent known as Patagonian mara.

Also known as Patagonian cavy, this creature is native to Argentina. Patagonian cavy is a species of rodent that is closely related to guinea pigs. This means that they are hybrids, after all, explaining their unique anatomy. It might interest you to know that Patagonian cavy is kept as a pet by some individuals!

Tiffany’s Muddler

We’re all familiar with Tiffany & Co. as a luxury jewelry retail company, one of the most popular ones in the country. However, this is quite clearly not jewelry, so we’re at a loss. So was this couple when they received this heirloom from the woman’s grandma. Apparently, she refused to say what this was.

We’re sure this is a very nice gift, but naturally, this couple wanted to know if it has any purpose or whether it was purely decorative. A number of people suggested this is a tree branch muddler, which probably dates back to the 1930s or 1940s. Back in the day, the muddler was used to smash fruits and herbs and mix them in tea. Muddlers are still in use today (although, not fancy Tiffany’s muddlers), but they are commonly used to mix cocktails.

The Earliest Fan

Knowing how unique early architecture was, it’s easy to see why anyone would think this structure is a sunshade. A fringed and upholstered flap suspended from the ceiling is certainly alien in this time and age. This is actually one of the first models of ceiling fans ever made.

This ceiling fan doesn’t work with electricity, hence its unique design. To use the fan, the rope is flapped, freeing the attachment to be used. The attachment is then flapped for ventilation. Seeing that this is a dining room, one person will stand to flap the fan while others eat.

Fruit Peelers

We all have a junk drawer in the kitchen, where we keep all the random kitchen tools we bought at one time or another and don’t use that often. We actually have a junk drawer in every room in the house – where else are you going to put all the random junk you don’t really need, but you must hold on to for some reason?

It looks like this couple found a surprising object inside their junk drawers, and they decided it was time to start using it. Or at the very least, find out what it was. As a clever internet user suggested, these are fruit peelers. The green, monkey-shaped one is a banana peeler (how sweet is that?), and the blue, caterpillar-shaped one is an orange peeler. There you have it, folks.

The Brightest Orb In The Sky

When we see great scientific innovations from up close, it’s hard to believe our eyes sometimes. On this list, we have come across a number of innovative structures and items that left the discoverers astonished. In this case, this structure was spotted from the sky, making it even more captivating.

Someone explained this was solar capture that is used to convert heat into energy, just like the generator plant that was discussed earlier. The way it works, the mirrors that are visible in the picture function in concentrating the light to the center. This heat from the light explains the bright orb in the center of the structure. The orb then converts the heat to energy. 

Lime-what Buildup?

There are a lot of house maintenance chores that should be performed on a regular basis, but we either forget about them, neglect them, or simply don’t know we have to do them. However, if we neglect to do some of these chores, it might catch up with us and become an even bigger nuisance. That’s what happened to this couple, who noticed weird white spots on their showerhead.

They decided to isolate the showerhead with a plastic bag, and after a week, they noticed this white powder accumulated inside the bag. That’s not reassuring at all. People on the internet informed them they were dealing with limescale buildup – a solid, chalky deposit that often builds up around water sources – such as water pipes and showerheads. Luckily for them, this isn’t dangerous and is easy to fix.

The Beauty Of Estate Sales

Have you ever attended an estate sale or yard sale? Then you would know that it is one of the strangest events to be a part of. The items on sale at an estate sale range from priceless to bizarre. Basically, you’re going through items that a person has collected over a long period of time, and you never know what kind of treasure you might find!

It’s important to keep your eyes open and be ready for surprises. This piece of furniture looks a little funny, as it doesn’t appear to have a defined structure or purpose. The funny shape didn’t stop the person that got it from the estate sales. As it turns out, that individual made a solid investment, as this is a sculpture from popular American artist Frank Limone.

Animal Guard

Can you imagine finding an unidentified object in your yard? We wonder how long it’s been there without this person knowing and how did he finally stumble on to it. Perhaps it’s a new house, and this belonged to the previous owners, in which case it makes more sense. But why would they leave it behind? And what is it, anyway?

It looks a bit scary, like some kind of a torturing device. No? Is it just us? Perhaps we’ve watched one too many horror films. In reality, this is an electrostatic animal guard, and its purpose is to keep intrusive animals away from your yard. When an animal touches the spikes, it gets a light electrocution shock.

A Pane-ful View

Make no mistake about it, this is an actual window that you’re looking through. It looks like a snapshot taken after bullets have been fired at the glass. The only problem with this assumption is that it’s quite far from what this glass really is. These are bumps that you see, and it has a very clear explanation.

This window is from an old building, and as such, the panes were created using the old spinning method. The method involved spinning molten glass into a flat shape, which leaves them with whorl. This whorl which marks the point where the spinning took place is the bumps that you see in this picture.

The Safe Hangers

There are many questions that come to mind looking at this type of clothing hanger. Is it some type of punishing item for whoever uses it? Seeing that the pegs switch downwards with little pressure. It also looks like it could double as a light switch in another part of the house, or even another dimension.

Thankfully, the internet provided the necessary answers, ending the many speculations on what this could be. It is a special type of clothing hanger used in homes for institutionalized people. It works perfectly for hanging clothes but flips downward as soon as a heavy item is placed on it. This function helps to prevent self-harm.

Solving The Crime

The best thing about the internet is that you can find just about anything you need. Ranging from important information to identifying a particular item as well as solving a crime or mystery! With the help of regular people on the internet, this hit-and-run crime was solved in no time.

The crime took place somewhere in Washington, and this debris was the only evidence available to the cops at the scene. The picture was posted on the internet by the investigator, and he got much-needed help. A former investigator saw this piece from the car, and identified the model, putting many years of experience to use.

Charming Snowflakes

The best type of mystery is the one that comes from goodwill and if you’re lucky enough, is worth a fortune. It’s more fulfilling to find an old heirloom or old currency than discovering weird creatures growing on your ceiling or attic. Thankfully, these items turned out to be lucky finds.

Pictured above, is a cute little charm box that contains lovely snowflakes made of brass. Not everyone likes snow, but you will be sure to love what these snowflakes represent. An internet mystery solver pointed out that the three snowflakes have different shapes. It was also added that the medallions each represent peace, love, and happiness.

A Beautiful Sky

The sky takes different forms showing a variety of beautiful pictures at certain points of the day. Sometimes, the sky is cloudy, while at other times it has colors like blue, bright orange and violet. At some other time, it appears like there is some sort of writing in the sky.

Who or what was responsible for this writing in the sky? Was it a bird or a plane? Was a pilot trying to be artistic with their flying pattern? This is actually the result of a rocket launch. Patterns like the one above are formed in the sky, whenever a rocket is launched nearby.

A Monster in the Can

Spotting a strange item in your drink can trigger a lot of terrible emotions. For one, you stay off the drink totally, if it is something that shakes you terribly. Finding this junk in your can of Monster drink will definitely leave you less enthusiastic, to buy another can in a hurry.

The internet explained this growth in the can, to be a hardening of a sweetener used in the process of production. It could be xanthan gum or molasses, both of which are common sweeteners used in the production of sweet drinks. The person that discovered this will most likely stay away from Monster drinks for a while.

A Mysterious Black Hole

You know how in horror films they always have to check every dark corner of the house, they always have to go down to the basement and follow the mysterious sounds, and they always stuck their faces in mysterious, dark holes? Well, this person was curious about this hole in their house, but they turned to the internet for answers.

Luckily, people of forums such as r/whatisthisthing have all the answers. Someone pointed out this wasn’t a formidable peephole for the neighbors, but rather a fixture for a chimney. Chances are there used to be a wood stove near this wall, and a chimney was fixed to the roof.

You’re Money’s No Good Here

That’s what you’d probably hear if you tried to pay with this coin. However, it doesn’t mention how much its coin is worth, and while it looks like a penny or a cent, something tells us it’s worth a lot more than that. Once again, the person who found this coin turned to the internet for answers.

The fact that the coin opens from inside suggests that it isn’t a coin at all, so that’s your first clue. We bet if you thought about it long and hard enough, you’d figure out what this was. People on the internet point out this is a lighter – and a vintage one, at that, not one of those lighters you can buy at the drugstore.

Hand Massager

How would you react if you found this unexplained item inside a care package? You know, the type of complementary care packages airlines or hotels provide their guests. It has some writing on it, which probably explains what this is, but cit won’t provide any answers unless you can read Chinese (or is it Japanese?)

It does look pretty creepy. I could probably stare at this forever and not realize what’s the purpose of this item. Luckily for us, this person posted this photo online and got some helpful answers. As it turns out, this object isn’t ominous at all – it’s a hand massager! Makes perfect sense, right?

The Swimming Rodent

Finding rodents in our house is bad enough, but rodents that can swim and fly? That’s too much. Nobody likes to found mice or rats in their house – any type of animal isn’t wanted in your house unless you brought it home with you from the shelter. Can you imagine your reaction if you saw this little guy in your bathroom?

It looks like some type of a rodent, but why it is wet? This suggests he crawled out of the toilet, which is exactly what happened. This rodent is a flying squirrel – he can swim, and while he can’t exactly fly, he can glide. He might not be as scary as a mouse or a rat, and he isn’t dangerous, but that’s not something you want to find coming out of your toilet.

Pipe Down

If you were hiking and you saw this pipe, would you give it a second thought? What if you saw a couple of them? Some people would walk past it, minding their own business, while others would stop and wonder what these pipes are and what’s their purpose. They must have a purpose, right?

Well, they do. These pipes located on the side of a hill are used to initiate intended avalanches. The next question is why. When the hill becomes covered in snow, after, say, a snowstorm has passed, these pipes are used to create small, supervised avalanches in order to clear the snow – rather than waiting for a big, destructive avalanche to occur on its own.

UFO or Cloud?

Some people believe in the existence of UFOs, and some people believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster. We’re not here to tell you what you should or shouldn’t believe in, but we’re here to learn new things and appreciate the beauty of nature. One thing we know for sure is that Mother Nature is full of surprises.

This unique cloud isn’t something you see every day, so it’s definitely worth taking a picture of. This person took it to the next level and shared this photo online, hoping to get an explanation for this wonder. This unique cloud formation has a name – lenticular cloud – rare cloud formations that are flat.