15+ Items That Had the Internet Anxiously Searching for Clues

Ever stumbled upon an object that left you scratching your head in confusion? We’ve all been there! Our inquisitive nature just won’t let us rest until we’ve uncovered its true purpose. But gone are the days when we had to trek to the library or beg an expert for answers. Thanks to the power of the internet, we’ve got a whole army of online detectives at our fingertips! And boy, have they uncovered some wild secrets about mysterious objects.

1. “It’s rubber or silicone, the size of a fingertip; it doesn’t erase; it’s about as hard as a bouncy ball but doesn’t bounce like a bouncy ball. Doesn’t light up. What is it?”

© vairpods / Reddit

AnswerIt’s “an 80’s light bulb eraser without the metal bottom editing to add they never really erased anything”

2. “What are these metal things on the corners of these stairs and their purpose?”

© LocalSalesRep / Reddit

Answer: These are corner dust guards. They make it easier to sweep dust out of the corners.

3. “What is this thing? A small gold pig container with a removable tiny spoon for a tail”

© merlee13 / Reddit

Answer: It’s a salt cellar.

4. “What’s happening here?”

© putonurseatbeltz / Reddit

Answer: “Evaluation trial trenching” is done to make sure there are no important archaeological artefacts that might be destroyed by excavation.

5. “Why does this Stop sign look different?”

© iatethecookies / Reddit

Answer: These are blinders, typically used so the sign can be read from a narrow angle. They’re also called directional shields. You’ll see them on traffic lights a lot more often.

6. “Plastic-like, circular object made of ‘cells.’ It can be found on several beaches, in Sardinia (Italy).”

© nicolasap / Reddit

Answer: This is biofilm used to treat waste water.

7. “I now own these neon rainbow acrylic mystery sticks. Anyone know what I bought?”

© flingo2014 / Reddit

Answer: These are multi-color acrylic Mahjong pushers.

8. “I found this when cleaning my parents basement. It’s made out of wood and the paint is heavily chipped.”

© Mimosa****** / Reddit / Reddit

Answer: It’s a phone stand. The vertical cavity is for your city phone book or books. The top is a handle for moving it about.

9. “What is this toilet’s purpose?”

© ReinaSparks / Reddit

Answer: This is a 1950s Standard “Sanistand” urinal for women.

10. “This fancy hotel has a shallow tub with 2 sides.”

© kjax016 / Reddit

Answer: You’re supposed to keep your feet in the warm water first and then quickly put them in the cold water (repeat a few times). This is supposed to help with circulation. These tubs are usually used in spas and other wellness or health-related facilities.

11. “This thing is in the middle of the wall in my 1906 house.”

© theMstates / Reddit

Answer: It’s a capped off gas line from when they used gas lighting.

12. “This metal covering on the floor inside our new house, screwed to the ground.”

© holographic********* / Reddit

Answer: This is a built-in floor outlet.

13. “This pumpkin thing opens on a hinge, there is a latch inside with a small glass jar.”

© willywillwilfred / Reddit

Answer: It is a vinaigrette, a piece of jewelry containing smelling salts or perfume that women hung from a chatelaine chain in Victorian times.

14. “I found this weird thing in a junk drawer.”

© Skusci / Reddit

Answer: The classic Sunbeam Mixmaster had a juicer attachment which looked like a bowl attached to the top of the mixer. This is the spout from which the juice pours out. The wire part had a small sieve to filter the pulp.

15. “What is this ice phenomenon I found on the forest floor today?”

© jadbronson / Reddit

Answer: The term for it is “frost flower” and has to do with moisture freezing as it escapes plant tissue.

16. “What is this tall piece of plastic with a metal base that collapses into it?”

© LifeIsAnAbsurdity / Reddit

Answer: This is a clarinet (or similar instrument) stand.

17. “This strange object from Tiffany’s mysteriously given to my wife by her grandmother while refusing to say what it was.”

© zsaleeba / Reddit

Answer: This thing is for stirring drinks.

18. “I found this while cleaning out the attic. It’s wood, looks handmade, measures 8 inches, but I have no idea what it is or what it does.”

© daeris_cos / Reddit

Answer: It’s a Yacouba Double Spoon — a symbol of hospitality in traditional African art. It represents 2 very distinct universes that are opposite.

19. “White plastic object with squares and rectangles; it’s light and has nothing written on it.”

© Hero_2_0 / Reddit

Answer: It’s a battery holder for the original battery in the Mercedes Benz W168. Source: I had that car (also English user manual page: 295)

20. “A small metal object that fits in the palm of my hand. The gold-colored part slides up and down but can be locked in place with the adjuster screw.”

© AnneKakes / Reddit

Answer: It looks like this fountain pen holder for an embosser.

21. “Small metal bowl with 4 legs and threaded lip”

© spinning_vinyl / Reddit

Answer: “Radiator cap for Ford Model T 1909 to 1927.”

Bonus: “I saw this weird cloud while running.”

© JVillan / Reddit

Looking for a wilder ride filled with mysterious objects and online sleuths? Then you won’t want to miss this article! We’ve compiled 15 of the most bizarre discoveries that left people scratching their heads — until the internet detectives swooped in to save the day.

50 Iconic and Rare Historical Photographs

We at HistoryColored have decided to curate 50 interesting, rare and iconic photos from history. There are many reasons why a photograph may be featured on this list. Some of the reasons include: it was the first time something was ever captured on camera, it shows a famous figure from history, the image depicts an important historical event, it is a “rare” photo that does not get shared as much as it should, or it is an “iconic” historical photo. It may not fall under any of these categories but can still be featured in this list for a different reason.

These photographs are in no particular order. They have been curated and added to the list over a long period of time, so no decision was taken on how they should be ordered. Be sure to take the time to check out every historical photograph featured on this list!

As well as this list, be sure to check out the other photos featured on HistoryColored!

1. The First Photograph Ever Taken, 1826 or 1827

The first photograph in history, the view from a window at Le Gras in 1826 or 1827.
The oldest surviving photograph to exist. It was taken by pioneer photographer, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The scene depicts a view from a window in Nicéphore Niépce’s estate known as Le Gras in Saint-Loup-de-Varennes, Bourgogne, France in 1826 or 1827. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

2. General William Tecumseh Sherman, circa 1865

Side profile photograph of General William Tecumseh Sherman in his Union Army military uniform in c. 1865
Side profile of Union Army Major General, and the Commanding General of the US Army, William Tecumseh Sherman, in his Union Army military uniform in circa 1865. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

3. Dali Atomicus, 1948

Salvador Dali suspended in mid air along with other objects within the iconic photograph Dali Atomicus taken in 1948
The photographic artwork by Philippe Halsman called “Dali Atomicus” showing three cats water, an easel, a chair, and Salvador Dalí all frozen in mid-air, 1948. This was the 28th attempt at taking this photograph. Credit: Library of Congress // Public Domain

4. The Solvay Conference on Quantum Mechanics, 1927

Key attendees of the 1927 Solvay conference photographed sitting down and in suits. The names are Auguste Piccard, Émile Henriot, Paul Ehrenfest, Édouard Herzen, Théophile de Donder, Erwin Schrödinger, Jules-Émile Verschaffelt, Wolfgang Pauli, Werner Heisenberg, Ralph Howard Fowler, Léon Brillouin,
Peter Debye, Martin Knudsen, William Lawrence Bragg, Hendrik Anthony Kramers, Paul Dirac, Arthur Compton, Louis de Broglie, Max Born, Niels Bohr,
Irving Langmuir, Max Planck, Marie Skłodowska Curie, Hendrik Lorentz, Albert Einstein, Paul Langevin, Charles Eugène Guye, Charles Thomson Rees Wilson, Owen Willans Richardson
The 1927 Solvay Conference on Quantum Mechanics at the Institut International de Physique Solvay in Brussels, Belgium. This image features many of the greatest scientists in modern history. Some of those that you may recognize are: Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Max Planck, Niels Bohr, and Auguste Piccard. See the full list of names here. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

5. King George V & Tsar Nicholas II Together, 1913

Nicholas II of Russia photographed alongside similar looking and cousin King George V of the United Kingdom, while wearing military uniform.
First cousins and royals Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (left) & King George V of the United Kingdom (right) photographed together wearing military uniforms in Berlin, Germany, 1913. Credit: Library of Congress // Public Domain

6. The Manhattan Bridge Under Construction, 1909

Photographs of the Manhattan Bridge under construction. You can see the layout of the bridge but there is still a lot to build. March 23 1909.
The construction of the Manhattan Bridge on the East River in New York City. This photograph was taken on March 23, 1909. The bridge finished construction in 1909 and first opened up on the 31st of December 1909. Credit: Library of Congress // Public Domain

7. Soviet Prisoner of War, 1940

An injured Prisoner of War from the Soviet Union with a bandage around his bloody head, with clothing wrapped around his body. He looks cold as he is near the Arctic Circle where temperatures can get to -43 degrees Celsius
An injured Soviet Prisoner of War (POW) dressed in new clothes near the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Finland, during the Winter War on the 6th of January 1940. Credit: Military Museum of Finland // CC BY 4.0

8. Dr. Wernher von Braun with 5 F-1 Engines

Aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun standing next to five F-1 rocket engines in 1969.
Dr. Wernher von Braun, an aerospace engineer that was a leading figure in Nazi German rocket technology, and then United States rocket technology, photographed standing in front of five F-1 rocket engines in circa 1969. Credit: Wikimedia Commons // Public Domains

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