r/whatisthisthing Identifies 47 Mystery Finds, From Tractor Weights to Oak Apple Galls
Updated
Updated · BuzzFeed · May 27
r/whatisthisthing Identifies 47 Mystery Finds, From Tractor Weights to Oak Apple Galls
1 articles · Updated · BuzzFeed · May 27
47 objects highlighted in a new roundup were identified by Reddit’s r/whatisthisthing, turning finds from attics, beaches and remodels into specific answers.
The list ranged from everyday vintage items—a stereo slide viewer, bike reflector and cake server—to specialized tools such as a lab gas-syringe plunger, water-leak geophone and elevator test weights.
Several identifications carried safety or legal implications, including pyrotechnic flare cartridges, an obsolete 40-year-old heat detector, a likely practice-bomb component and a logger marked with a radiation warning.
The most unusual solves included a Pelota Mixteca glove weighing 7 to 12 pounds, a PTM imaging dome linked to forensic documentation, and natural finds such as a mantis ootheca and oak apple gall.
How are forensic labs and museums using online sleuths to help solve official cases and authenticate artifacts?
When online crowdsourcing identifies dangerous items, what mechanisms exist to ensure public safety and prevent misuse?
As AI masters object recognition, what is the future for human-powered identification communities like Reddit?