What is this thing?

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Let us help you identify that mysterious object you’ve found.

Currently in CHALLENGE mode: If you've got something obscure knocking about, post a picture, and let's see how we do. Please prefix such posts with "CHALLENGE:" so we know we've got a fighting chance.

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More photos in the comments. Is it supposed to be connected to the motherboard? I found it in the case. It wasn't connected. I think that the backside is some sort of thermal patch. I can tell that it's not a camera but I'm very confused and the connection reminds me of more of a laptop or phone connection not something you would see in a PC. The data matrix contains the same text as the white sticker.

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this came in my fridge. its a kithenaid. what it do?

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Thought it might be a battery pack at first so I wasn’t going to touch it but it appears to be plastic.

Possibly broken at the top? Unsure.

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Sorry for potato quality, but it's soft and fuzzy on the outside, and the inside is somewhat mushy and is a light yellow/green color, and it's about 2 inches long.

Found under some trees at our city park in South Mississippi.

Edit: I'm now seeing a number of the fuzzy peels laying around one of the picnic tables, so is it some sort of food?

Edit 2: It doesn't seem to have any notable smell that I can tell.

Edit 3: Solved - Magnolia Flower Bud

We're actually sitting under a Magnolia tree right now and I just looked up and saw one still on the tree, so this is now 100% confirmed.

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submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 
 

I found this going though some things but can't figure out what it's from. All the dice are wood, with the six on the outside having a standard 1-6 numbering, while the middle one counts by tens, from 10 to 60. The plastic case doesn't open and doesn't have any markings. They are loose enough you can 'role' the dice by rubbing the whole thing on the palm of your hand. It can kind of act like a fidget spinner, but I'm pretty sure it predates them. Any searching I've done has either turned up actual fidget spinner dice or sets of roleplaying dice, so I'm turning to all of you.

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I have no idea (programming.dev)
submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 
 

There are multiple of these in my city. Kinda giant bird feeder looking

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Why are these wires on this water tower? What do they do?

Update:

Caught it with the curtain up!

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What's this device (circled in blue) that's attached to my furnace? It recently got replaced and I forgot what the HVAC technician called it, or what its function is.

I do rember that they said to put some vinegar in the U-bend (circled in red) once or twice a year. I forgot to ask why this is necessary, but I'd guess that it tends to collect moisture, and the vinegar will prevent mold?

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Southern Finland. I've found these and some more bluish ones. They are fairly small (the flower itself is about 4-6cm) and have these long, pretty thick leaves. It isn't visible in the photos, but the petals have this glittery look on them. Here's one of the blue ones, in a vase: I've mostly seen them near yards or gardens, so I think they aren't native.

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Found this in the attic of a house built a few years before Oklahoma's statehood. Looks old, but also looks like a reproduction of something old. It's at least old enough to be super brittle and has tannin staining on the back where it was mounted to a piece of wood for a LONG time.

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I know they are some sort of nail, but I had one in my tire and at the store found a near identical one and now I'm beginning to think my tire guy is playing shell games. I mean, what are the odds?

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submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 
 

A brittle rock made of glitter. It breaks in this linear fashion and can be pound into sand by a mortar and pestle.

Anyone got any clues?

Edit: Thanks for all the answers. I found it in Romania and after searching for forums of minerals from Romania, I got a few other clues.

It isn't conclusive to me yet, but the possibilities are:

  • Pyrit
  • Mica
  • Schist
  • Nagyágit
  • Calaverit
  • Sylvanit

Of these, Mica and Sylvanit fit the best (imo).

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I've acquired this thing recently. It's solid wood and none of the parts move. The handle is firmly attached. It measures 14" tall. It comes with three different sized holes: 1-1/4", 1", and 7/8".

So far, my guesses are: misc. tool holder, tobacco pipe rack, communion cup holder, crochet needle holder, or shot glass flight tray. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

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I think it could be an isopod but am unsure. It doesn't look like ones I am familiar with in houses (usually basements, which is not where this is).

It is about 10mm or 3/8" long, seems to move towards the top of the picture (but mostly is just wiggly), and is slightly hairy. Western USA.

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Saw this at a friend's house and thought it looked pretty gnarly. I think it's a Buddhist statue or Karura/Garuda but I'm am entirely not sure.

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We are stumped!

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The disc is otherwise printed like a "normal" Bluray, but there is this metallic quadruple ring on top. The image is from the "proof" of a scene release, so it might have something to do with being an early release.

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In my flat I had a normal hook for towels in the bathroom. And this one. It's obviously just a part of whole hook, but other hooks are solid (can't be disassembled). I found that it's probably Gio Bella Riete collection, but didn't found any possible match. Examples of other accessories from this collection:

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I recently bought a few machinist chests full of tools and other goodies. I'm not a machinist myself, but I'm familiar with a lot of the tools associated with the trade. This piece is a smooth solid steel cylinder with four equal spaced holes bored completely through it. It measures approximately 5.5" long and 2.25" diameter. Weighs almost 4-1/2 lbs. The end has stamped "Feb. 48 Eddie Champ." The other end is identical minus the engraving.

I suspect it might be a cylindrical square, but I've not seen examples quite like this. It came with a plastic sleeve.

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submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 
 

I haven't seen one of these in a few days, so I thought I'd toss in one of my own.

It's meant for via ferrata to reduce the impact of falling on static gear. You loop a short rope through the holes and it absorbs the forces of the fall by friction of the rope slipping through. This is the Kong Kisa.

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What is this evil plant? (pxlfdde.fsn1.your-objectstorage.com)
submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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This picture was taken on the Rio Grande River Valley, on the left side of the image is the river, the right side is the flood control ditch. I am guessing the purpose is when the river rises too high some underground pipes divert the extra water to this so it can drain into the flood control.

This image there is a second, black pipe visible that goes under the ditch road and empties into the ditch.

I would love to know what the grey pipe is called so I can look up a diagram of how they work exactly.

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submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 
 

Current out-of-bounds item list for reference:

  • Fidget and other sensory toys because I feel like moving in a certain way purely for the sake of itself isn't in the spirit of these challenges.
  • Alternative "wellness" products that largely function as placebos by being in the general vicinity of a person such as crystals and "energy focusing copper coils" and the like. Weird looking traditional instruments like a special type of gong or something are acceptable.
  • Specialty massage products are fine provided they're mostly used to massage an area other than the genitals (at least, assuming I can tell, but I'm fairly knowledgeable in that area). I do not use sex toys at all for these challenges (that's just not what my aim here is). It's also still ok if the specific massage philosophy claims to have other, pseudo-scientific benefits such as for chiropracty or acupuncture, as long as the tool itself is an actual massage tool.
  • objects that are mostly or entirely ornamental / decorative in nature like jewelry and sculptures. I'll still use something that is an ornamental version of something that has a specific non-ornamental purpose (ex: a lot of traditional fibercraft tools or recreational drug equipment for weed or caffeine). Hair ornaments and pins are fine as long as they have some specific niche use such as ornamental hair rollers or having an interesting closure for pinning your shawl in a specific way or something.
  • tools that are too broadly applicable such as specialty abrasive drill bits or specialty brushes where what makes them use specific is stuff like size shape and bristle stiffness which are still pretty broadly applicable (a little brush with a long handle has a looot of different uses, think about everything you can do with a used toothbrush).
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