13 Objects That Will Stump You With Their Mysterious Origins

There are numerous things surrounding us that we often can’t figure out what they’re meant for or where they come from. Frankly, we can’t imagine what people used to do before the Internet, but, luckily, we can solve any mystery that comes our way with the help of the sharpest minds online.

1. “Small elephant filled with water left at flat after party. Debating with flatmates over what its purpose could be.”

Answer: It’s a melted reusable ice cube.

2. “Thumb protector, possibly, but for what? Found at a yard sale.”

Answer: Chainmail glove for shucking clams/ oysters.

3. “A pole with a ring around it and a heavy base.”

Answer: An umbrella holder.

4. “MIL left this behind after a move. It was plastic wrapped, never used. It has a mesh cover, small holes, and a plunger that presses into neither of them.”

Answer: Reusable tea bag strainer.

5. “20 years of research and Reddit is my last hope!”

Answer: The skeleton of a Freshwater Drum’s pharyngeal teeth.

6. A white plastic stick that gets narrower in the middle, with small hands on both ends, given as a wedding favour/gift for guests.

Answer: Drink muddler stick.

7. “Found this small kettle years ago. Anybody have an idea why this has this unique shape? Wallet for scale.”

Answer: A portable men’s urinal for bedbound patients.

8. “A ziplock bag tacked above a door. Seems to contain water and a few pennies. What could this be for?”

Answer: Homemade mosquito/fly deterrent. The light reflecting off the water and pennies is supposed to scare off pesky bugs.

9. “My wife got this as a white elephant.”

Answer: This is a Himalayan calendar. The largest rung of 12 is the month, the next two are the days of the month (3, then up to 9), and the last four are the year in four digits.

10. “What are those veins on the egg?”

Answer: It tends to be because the hen has been sick with bronchitis. These eggs are safe to eat, though.

11. “Found among Grandma’s things. All snowflakes go into the box, spring clasp on the box.”

Answer: A box of charms: peace, love, happiness.

12. “I accidentally broke a toy egg and this green thing was in it?”

Answer: It is usually used to “trigger” some sound effect when used in combination with a toy pan (like, it begins to “fry” when put into the pan).

13. What is the purpose of the “chip” in the one prong of this fork? It’s on multiple forks in my drawer.

Answer: They make one tine wider for cutting stuff, but the wider one wouldn’t stab as well as the others, so they gave it a clipped point.
Answer: It’s only on dessert forks because it’s acceptable etiquette to cut a dessert with a fork.

Truth be told, there are countless more mysterious things that people need help with. From bumping into something puzzling on the street to finding unexplainable things in their own bed.