You see something that makes you pause. Something that doesn’t belong. Your brain hits the brakes, your mouth almost says: “What the…?” Like waking up and the sky is so pink it looks like a neon marshmallow exploded across the horizon, or an egg that sits in the carton with a brown spot that’s basically winking at you, daring you to question everything you thought you knew about breakfast.
Then someone shows up. A friend, a neighbor, or that random expert on the internet who just happens to know stuff. They take one look, shake their head, and explain. What seemed unexplainable suddenly makes sense or at least someone tells you it does.
There’s relief, a little laughter, maybe a shake of the head. The moment is over, but it sticks. Weird things happen to all of us, and the best part isn’t just finding them, it’s watching someone else make sense of the nonsense.
1
"—Saw this bright-deep pink sky last night. No filter. Anyone know what this is?"
"—Greenhouse lights reflecting off the night sky"
2
“—This is on my new neighbour’s car. Does anyone know what this might represent?”
"—Looks like the cross from Slayer’s God Hates Us All album."
3
“—Bought this this morning. What could the white part be?”
"—Probably a chunk of shortening/lard/butter that didn’t get mixed in properly."
4
“—Found on a property we are interested in buying. What is it?!”
"—Definitely spray foam. It looks like this after a few years in sunlight."
5
“—What’s on my school cafeteria’s ceiling?”
"—Thermal insulation to protect the beams from heat during a fire."
6
“—Found at a park. It’s heavy.”
"—It is a Version 7 gearbox for an airsoft gun,usually for the M14."
7
“—My dog found this ‘creature head’ on the beach on our walk. It is massive. What kind of fish was this?”
"—It’s a tuna head used as chum in crab traps and similar setups. I found one a few months ago."
8
“—Seen on a colleague’s desk.”
"—It’s one of those multipurpose ‘don’t-touch-things’ hooks."
9
“—For the life of me I can't figure out what this is.”
"—I actually have one of these! It's a wine holder."
10
“—Found this in my hot and sour soup… What is it??”
"—Looks like a grommet from a refrigerator."
11
“—Small and round glass circles, found in a box of my late grandfather’s collections.”
"—These are replacement front glass pieces for pocket watches."
12
“—Found these stuck under the fridge. What are they???”
"—Overspray from spray foam used to insulate the fridge."
13
“—4,000-year-old Berber drawings in the desert of Algeria. What is this?”
"—Depictions of their vision of their “gods.”"
14
“—Renters installed… Whatever this was in the house??”
"—I’m thinking a bar sink island, perhaps, based on the location and shape."
15
“—This is in the corner of the master bedroom in the house we’re renting, pretty sure it’s not a camera, but what is it?”
"—It’s just a window glass-break sensor."
16
“—Found in SE PA off a trail near the Schuylkill River. 5–6 ft, rusted metal, and hollow.”
"—First thing that comes to mind is an old buoy."
17
“—Egg-shaped metal object found at a beach on a Sicilian island. Any ideas?”
"—Austro-Hungarian M1899 10 cm fuze."
18
“—Found in my pond.”
"—Looks like a floating dock that’s not floating anymore."
19
“—What is this brown thing in the egg? Feels firm. Too scared to eat it.”
"—Likely a meat spot formed when the hen was laying the egg."
20
“—Found this in my room. I have no idea how it got in here or what the text says.”
"—This is the charm from a specific cat collar."
