While not everything on the internet is accurate, it remains a valuable resource for people looking for guidance or a starting point. Take Reddit, for instance—there’s a subreddit for nearly every topic imaginable, including communities where people ask for help identifying unusual items. Here are ten bizarre objects that have left users puzzled.
1.Unusual Finds on the Shore
A few years back, someone discovered a strange, glass-like tube at Nags Beach in North Carolina and turned to Reddit for help identifying it. The top guess was that it was stingray teeth. It was explained that stingrays, like many animals, continuously shed and regrow their teeth. While this seemed the most plausible explanation, many people were surprised. One user commented, “I never knew this! I’m today years old and had no idea stingrays even have ‘teeth.’” Another user expressed concern about the original poster’s bravery, saying, “It freaks me out that you put your finger in it… shudder.”
2.Beware: Strange Items That Pose Risks
A Reddit user shared a photo of a fuzzy growth found in their home that left them confused. While it might look like something from a fairy tale, it was actually a highly toxic type of mold—though this wasn’t officially confirmed. One commenter recounted a tragic story: years ago, their newborn daughter and a baby living upstairs were frequently ill, and the baby upstairs eventually died due to exposure to toxic mold found in the vents. The coroner reportedly said even a healthy, strong man touching that mold could face a fatal outcome. The commenter advised the original poster to get their lungs checked and see a doctor. Thankfully, the original poster later confirmed it was mold, and after the landlord addressed the issue, no further problems occurred.
3.The Sunny Sphere Puzzle
This unusual but fascinating device is known as a Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder. It operates by focusing sunlight through a glass sphere to burn a trace on a specially designed card, which records the number of hours and intensity of sunshine throughout the day.
4.Possibly Dangerous, Certainly Unpleasant
The explanation to this question is both disturbing and might make you reconsider grabbing ice from fast food joints or gas stations. One user, who had professional experience cleaning and maintaining food and beverage machines, shared some eye-opening details. They mentioned that most restaurants and gas stations rarely clean their ice machines. They strongly advised against using the ice from such places. They also explained that a clear slime inside an ice machine means it was recently cleaned, but over time, this slime turns pink and then black. This insight serves as a reminder that steering clear of odd or questionable objects is often the safest choice.
5.When History Meets the Kitchen: The Butter Churn Handle
Though it might look like a device for torture or some kind of home repair tool, it’s actually quite the opposite—it’s used to create joy by making spun sugar.
6.Unveiling the Mystery with Purpose
Someone else turned to Reddit for help identifying a peculiar item belonging to the original poster’s grandmother. While the grandmother didn’t know its purpose, she did mention it was older than herself. The box originally belonged to the OP’s great-great-grandmother and was used to store dog food. A helpful Reddit user suggested that the item was probably a vintage stock dispenser once used to hold dry goods like coffee, beans, or grains. They humorously added, “Dog food? Sure, why not. But I’d probably clean it thoroughly before putting coffee in it.”
As expected, the world is full of curious and mysterious objects—but thankfully, Reddit is always ready to assist with the answers.
7.Vintage-Looking Oddities with Unknown Uses
The object, described by the original poster as a “black steel briefcase with a motor,” features an “infeed control” and electrical connection, and weighs roughly 30 pounds. Many commenters suggested it could be an old portable key cutter. One noted, “Could be an old key cutter but don’t know for sure,” while another agreed, explaining that the part on the top left likely holds the keys and moves to a post on the bottom right.
However, some believed it might be a tool used for polishing other tools. One user explained, “The spinning wheel is a polishing disk; the hole holds a stick of polishing compound. The tool rest on the upper left slides onto the post beside the wheel, and the fine adjustment controls the wheel’s angle.” Another added more detail, stating, “The jig holding the carbide lathe bit mounts onto the post next to the spinning wheel, allowing precise angle adjustments for shaping tool bits.” This user estimated the machine likely dates back to the 1940s or 1950s.
