What is this thing: the strangest finds. Issue 177

Have you ever seen strange objects whose purpose is unclear? Luckily, there's an online community called What's This Thing, where the collective wisdom of the world can help you understand the origins and purpose of the most mysterious things.





2. "Found in the forest"



Pheromone bark beetle repeller.

2. "I got drunk at a fancy club and found this in my purse today, what is it?"



Toilet paper holder.

3. “What is this symbol on the rear window of a passing car? Saw it in Georgia, near Atlanta.”



Aegishjalmur/Ægishjálmr (helmet of awe and horror) - one of the most famous symbols of the Vikings, used to protect warriors and instill fear in enemies.

4. "I found this many, many years ago..."



Silver women's purse with mirror, made in the 1920s.

5. "A friend found this in a lake in Glacier National Park, any idea what it is?"



It looks like a mastadon tooth.

6. "Help! What is this?"



This is the pin that holds the nail clippers.

7. "Found on the beach after a storm in North Carolina"



Whale jawbone.

8. "Heavy, made of glass, found in a landfill"



Element of a modern LCD projector. White light is divided into three streams. Each beam passes through its own monochrome matrix, which forms a picture of the corresponding color, and then all three are combined using a prism. The resulting image is projected onto the screen.

9. “I saw a device on my neighbor’s lawn that made a high-frequency sound when I walked past it.”



This is a means of repelling animals.

10. “I found it in my parents’ bathroom closet.”



Container for cleaning contact lenses.

11. “I saw it in a thrift store, no one knows what it is”



Device for squeezing out toothpaste.

12. “My uncle kept this for many years, but he never found out what it was.”



This must be the mineral marcasite.

13. "Over Orlando, Florida"



"Spacex falcon 9 launch vehicle enters atmosphere."

14. "Found this at a garage sale..."



Scissors are designed specifically for cutting off the top of a soft-boiled egg.

15. "What's on my new desk?"



Alarm button.

16. "My mom found this by her pool."



This is a cigarette holder. The flower opens and the beads help secure the cigarette.

17. "Hanging at my parents' place"



Egg timer and stand

18. "They hung it in the laundry room."



This is a security camera. Takes pictures when it detects movement.

19. “What are these dots on the car window for?”



This is how the characteristics of the glass are indicated.

20. "Saw it while playing golf"



This is a slime mold.

21. "I inherited it many years ago"



Coal stove.

22 "Found this on the road next to my car"



Bottle capping device.

23. "Found at a garage sale"



Indian vase made of brass.

24. "Found on the floor of a hotel room"



A tool for squeezing out blackheads on the face.

25. "Found it near a restaurant 25 years ago"



Ear for a fishing rod.

26. "Any ideas?"



A dreidel is a top that, according to tradition, children play with during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

27. "What are those things attached to cut trees?"



Humidity indicator. A mixture that darkens as it dries.

28. "There are these wires in every room of the house I'm moving into, what are they for?"



Coaxial cable.