If you’ve been around young children, you’ll know that they have the tendency to ask a lot of questions that you just don’t have the answer to. It can get annoying, sure, but it’s also a reminder that there are many things even us adults can learn about how things work.
Reignite your curiosity and learn the answers to the “what happens if” questions you didn’t know you had. Ever wondered what happens if you microwave non-food items? Want to know what things look like after being struck by lightning? Read on to find out.
Watermelon Hulked Through A Fence
People have been modifying plants for a long time, whether it’s to improve their nutritional content or make them look more aesthetically pleasing. In this case, though, this watermelon didn’t really need much human assistance when it hulked through a nearby fence as it grew.
If you found this one interesting, then you’ll definitely be amazed to know that some Japanese farmers actually grow their watermelon in a cubed shape. This is achieved by putting the growing fruit in a square-shaped mold and waiting for it to conform perfectly to it while avoiding breakage.
Snapping A Photo On A Vibrating Cell
No, you’re not looking at an alternative version of our world where everything is wavy and squiggly. This is just what happens when a call comes in as you’re taking a photo on a vibrating phone.
You get a photo like this because most cells are equipped with a rolling shutter. This means that the sensor captures what’s in front of it from top to bottom making fast-moving objects look wavy in the final image. You can also see this in action when you try to take a video of quick movements.
Baking A Sharpie In An Oven
When you work at a busy bakery, mishaps like this happen more often than not. You see, Reddit user Lunhala was using this Sharpie to mark cookie sheets with bake dates but unknowingly left it when putting a batch in the oven.
After ten minutes inside an oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, this is the result. It exploded and sent out its ink in what looks like a dark cloud of smoke. Hopefully, Lunhala threw out the batch of cookies that were with this marker. You just don’t know what kind of health conditions can pop up after eating sweets baked with something that isn’t food grade.
Leaving Soda In A Hot Vehicle
Reddit user Trumpeter1112 sure dodged a bullet when they left this can of soda inside their hot car. They could’ve returned to an exploded can with its contents all puddled up inside the vehicle. It’s happened to other people before, as a quick search on the subreddit r/mildlyinteresting proved.
This kind of thing can also happen when you leave soda in your freezer for a long period of time. That’s because liquids tend to expand when they are heated or cooled. In fact, all three state states of matter swell when the heat is applied to them.
Putting An Entire Corn Cob In The Microwave
Bored of regular popcorn? Here’s something you might want to try. You can pop corn kernels while they are still attached to the cob for a new version of the popular snack. Be reminded that you can’t do this with fresh maize you get from the grocery, though.
You’d want to dry the stuff out first for this to work. Once you have done so, place the cobs inside a paper bag after buttering them up. Cook as you would with regular popcorn in the microwave, and there you have it, popcorn on the cob.
When Lightning Strikes Asphalt
Asphalt is a material that’s mixed and applied in high temperatures. Being struck by lightning, which can air it passes through for up to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s no shock that the substance returns to its liquid state.
What caught us off guard though, is how this piece of lightning-hit asphalt cooled down afterward. It ended up looking sort of like a coral formation with a bunch of calluses growing out of it. Some might even say that it resembles the character Groot from the film Guardians of the Galaxy.
What Burst Pipes Do To Wood
Whoops. We’re pretty sure basketball practice and gym class would be canceled for a long time seeing the state of these wood floors. According to Reddit user Isai76, this is the result of water pipes bursting underneath the area, which turned into a warped mess pretty quickly.
Even more interesting is that The Simpsons have done a bit that involved something just like this happening. On the brighter side, we think this would make for an interesting design for a skate park. Can you imagine the kind of tricks skateboarders can come up with ramps like these?
Decade-Old Play-Doh Fresh From The Container
Got some old Play-Doh from when you were a kid lying around? Open them up, and you might just find something as cool as this. As it turns out, crystals can grow out of your old playthings once you leave them alone long enough.
This happens because of the high salt content that Play-Doh has. You’ll realize this if you’ve tried making your own homemade playdough before. The good news is that you can still restore dough that’s gone bad by adding water to it until the compound starts to become soft and pliable again.
An Insect Got In The Way Of The Fabric Printing Process
Now, here’s something we’re willing to bet you’ve never seen before. As Reddit user GAMERGRILLE shared, they bought this pillowcase and noticed how an insect might have interfered with the fabric printing process. Thus, it ended up leaving a permanent mark on the surface as if it’s just part of the original print.
We still wonder how this particular pillowcase passed various inspections (or should we “insections”?). For some reason, nobody really noticed this disturbance in the fabric’s checkered pattern until someone bought it, huh? Oh well, at least GAMERGRILLE ended up with a one of a kind pillowcase that even luxury linens won’t be able to match.
What Happens When You Freeze-Dry Gummies
We’re not sure why you’d want to, but if you’re ever wondering what would happen if you freeze-dry gummy bears, this is the result. As expected, the sweet treat lost its plumpness and what was left was something comparable to sour cheese puffs.
If you happen to have access to a freeze-dry machine, you can try this out for yourself and even test how other food would fare when put to the same process. Better yet, why not start an Internet business selling various kinds of unconventional freeze-dried snacks while you’re at it?
Leaving A Plastic Spoon In The Dishwasher
Having a dishwasher comes with a ton of perks. It takes care of a chore that many people don’t really like doing, but that doesn’t mean that using it has no downsides. A good case in point is this melted baby spoon that a hot dishwasher turned into a fork.
This should be a reminder for moms and dads to double-check the products they buy for their children to ensure their safety. Of course, it should come without saying that everyone should make sure that the things they do put into the machine are actually dishwasher safe.
Water Frozen Mid-Spin
If you grew up in a place that gets harsh winters, you’re already familiar with with how water bodies can completely freeze when the cold season comes. Seeing water frozen mid-move, as what happened with this spinning wheel, is something different, though.
This reminds us of the Internet trend of people throwing hot water into winter air only for the liquid to turn into ice before hitting the ground. If you’re planning on trying this experiment out yourself, be careful about getting by the boiling water you’re using, as you can get blisters from coming in touch with it.
Flashlight Shining Through A Kaleidoscope
For those who are unfamiliar, what you see here is a Novascope, a kind of handmade kaleidoscope created out of stained glass. Each one is designed with a light-sensitive side where people can shine a flashlight into to illuminate the intricate patterns inside.
Since not everyone has the money to buy their own Novascope (they cost hundreds of dollars a pop), check this photo out. Looking at it would give you a taste of the real deal and the mind-blowing visuals the device has to offer. You’ll also find tons of YouTube videos showing what a Novascope looks like in motion.
Leaving Antibiotics Unrefrigerated
Most antibiotics require refrigeration to maintain their taste and effectiveness. Leaving them out at room temperature when they’re not supposed to be, results in the medication separating and looking like this. Although it looks like some kind of dessert, you might not want to use it once it turns this way.
If you happen to keep some liquid antibiotics at home, make sure you’re keeping them the right way. And if you notice any kind of changes in their appearance or smell, don’t hesitate to come to your doctor to ask whether they're still good to use.
Throwing Hot Coals Into The Trash
Not throwing hot coals in a plastic bin might seem like common sense to you, but it wasn’t for the person responsible for this mess. And unfortunately, things like this happen more often than not, that some places even put signs on garbage cans to discourage people from putting hot ashes in them.
To avoid causing fires and damaging public property, be sure to dispose of your coals and ashes properly after barbecuing. This means waiting for the materials to cool for days and then wetting them for good measure after. Then you can leave at the curb for trash pick up but separate from other combustible refuse.
Record Warped In The Heat
Music lovers would know the pain of forgetting a record in your hot vehicle only to come back to it damaged in some form. Reddit user whalejazz12 got to experience this first hand after returning to one of his vinyl records warped beyond imagination as it melted in the heat.
According to experts, records are molded in an oven with a temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit. And if it’s a hot day and your vehicle is parked in direct sunlight, its interiors could easily reach such a high temperature. That said, be careful of what you leave behind inside before you run off to do errands.
Maple Syrup Turned Solid
As it turns out, leaving a bottle of maple syrup in your fridge could give you Canadian “diamonds” as the sweet liquid can crystalize over time. While you can’t really sell these as precious stones, the good news is that they’re still good to consume.
You see, maple syrup could last for a long time, just like honey. Some have even kept the former for 50 years without going bad when stored in a glass container. To dissolve the parts that have solidified, all you need to do is melt them on a hot pan. You could even eat them as they are like candy.
High-Speed Winds Tore This Shirt Sleeve
Want to try out an indoor skydiving wind tunnel? Then you better be prepared to have your clothes torn up like this. As Reddit user, Dsams shared, this was the end result of his experience at the Paraclete XP SkyVenture in North Carolina.
The simulator’s wind speeds could reach over 150 mph, according to its official site. Given that it only takes continuous winds 90 mph to damage or even uproot entire trees, we definitely could see how Dsams’ sleeves could have been torn apart as they were floating inside the wind tunnel.
This Driving License Left A Permanent Mark
No, you’re not seeing an old, haunted wallet. Believe it or not, the face you see in the corner is a permanent mark left behind by the owner’s driving license. We reckon they never had to take the card out after getting pulled over in their car the entire time their license was valid.
Depending on what state they’re from, the owner probably kept the license in the same place for as long as eight years for it to leave behind such a freaky mark. And since old habits are tough to break, we bet they’ll have another wallet with a ghostly face mark on it soon enough.
When Lightning Strikes A Golf Pole
Here we have the aftermath of a metal golf pole that was struck by lightning. With metal and wet soil both being conductors of electricity, we imagine those cool vein-like marks on the ground were left there by the current that transferred as the lightning hit its target.
Here’s to hoping nobody was out in the golf course playing when this incident unfolded that stormy day. They could’ve been electrocuted through the ground they were standing on and ended up in the emergency room needing immediate medical treatment. Lightning might look cool but being struck by it is no joke.
Multiple Light Beams Going Through One Doorway
If you wake up in the middle of the night and see these fragmented light beams streaming through, you’d probably freak out. You’d think some aliens have landed their UFO in your backyard and are now plotting to abduct you.
In reality, though, this is just the result of a nifty lighting setup. As the Imgur user posted the photo shared, the four bulbs they have in their bathroom emit their own distinct beam into the bedroom when the door is almost closed. Thus, we have this light effect that looks straight out of the Netflix show Stranger Things.
Mixing Two Soaps Results In Instant “Lava Lamp”
As it turns out, you just can’t refill your old soap bottle with a different kind of soap. If you did so, you’d also get something like this lava lamp-like effect Reddit user GOOPunch when they mixed clear and white soaps in one container.
You don’t need a degree in chemistry to understand how a phenomenon like this occurs. This is just the result of trying to combine two liquids that have differing densities. As a general rule, anything denser than water would sink, while the opposite is true for lighter substances.
A Spoon After 45 Years Of Use
When Reddit user Cistfurcharlie’s grandmother borrowed a spoon from her job at a pensioner’s club in the ‘70s, she decided to keep it for life. She ended up putting it to good use to being the utensil she’s been making her coffee with every day for 45 years.
As a result, the once rounded spoon has changed shape and gone square. She must be one strong woman by the way she ground down the silverware over the years. And seeing how much she loves the spoon, Cistfurcharlie might just get the thing from her last will someday.
Lemons Float, Limes Sink
If you’ve incorporated drinking citrus-infused water in your healthy lifestyle resolution, you might already be familiar with this phenomenon. You see, even when you stir them together over and over, lemon slices will float while lime slices would sink.
The explanation for this phenomenon is the same as what happened with the clear and white soaps we discussed before. Since the lemon slices are less dense water, they ended up floating to the top. Meanwhile, the lime slices are denser and proceeded to sink the bottom of the water dispenser.
A Road After A Storm Passed Through
Strong storms have been known to lift and carry a host of heavyweight things. So far, we’ve heard of tractors, farm animals, and even an entire house being displaced after a storm passes through. But we can’t say we’ve seen a road turned to the side until now.
As Reddit user Craigrets shared, a storm picked up a portion of this road and moved it off in a different direction. Commenters pointed out how this would be possible given that the pathway seems to be made of chip-seal and wasn’t really glued down to the ground. What we’re wondering though, is how a phone’s GPS would interpret this new intersection.
Microwaved Highlighter
You’ve seen a marker baked ti explosion. Now, look at this highlighter that was heated inside a microwave. While we know that the water component of ink vaporizes at a lower temperature than others, we still can’t explain just how a formation like this turned out in this case.
Still, the end results do look cool. The pink highlighter proved to be a great choice for the experiment as it ended up looking just like cotton candy. We doubt this would be edible, though. Glycol isn’t really what you’d want to be included in a sweet treat.
Constant Water Flow Wearing Away Cement
Scientists believe that it was erosion caused by water that formed the Grand Canyon. That said, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that flowing water could also cause the top layer of this cemented area to erode over time.
One Reddit commenter had an additional theory, though. Based on their experience working from concrete, they said that there must have been some kind of acid in the water to have caused something like this from happening. They also pointed out how corrosive the juice of peas can be on concrete.
Ornamental Cabbages Left Untrimmed
Cabbages are not just planted to be harvested for food. Some types are grown specifically for decorative purposes just like these. Passing by this pot, you might not recognize the common produce, though. That’s because these plants have already bolted.
This likelihood of a plant starts shooting a flower is prevented by the regular picking of leaves. But since nobody seems to be eating these cabbages, they managed to go further down their life cycle. At this point, most plants become inedible as they focus their energy on creating seeds.
Hair Got Stuck In A Zipper
We could see how this might have happened. You’re in a rush to get out of the house. And in your haste, you accidentally zip your jacket up too fast, catching one of your hair strands right smack on the zipper.
Going through your day, the strand stays trapped in its place. By the time you come home, it has fully conformed its shape to that of the zipper. Aside from the unusual curl pattern the strand ended up having, you shouldn’t be shocked that your locks can be this pliable, given how easy it can be to straighten or curl it.
A Marble After Being Heated and Cooled
Ever wondered what would happen if you heated a marble over an open fire? Well, we’ve got the answer and more. See, this stunning piece is what your regular marble looks like after being heated and then immediately cooled in cold water.
It sure looks like a precious stone now, doesn’t it? We bet someone skilled and has the right tools could even turn this into some kind of jewelry and do its stunning colors justice. After all, marbles are made of materials like glass and quartz, which are already being used to make accessories.
Growing Grass Straight Out Of The Seed Bag
If you’ve tried to achieve a perfect lawn before, then you already know that the endeavor requires a lot of money. One way to save some is to buy grass seeds to plant instead of already grown patches. That’s probably what this person was doing when they bought this bag.
Their project didn’t pan out as planned, though. For some reason, they left the grass seeds unplanted long enough that they germinated and grew right out of the bag. Knowing that Bermuda grass tends to germinate between 10 to 30 days, we’re guessing that’s likely near the actual amount of time it took for this to happen.
A Black Shirt With A "Sun Tan"
Tie-dye shirts may be the “in” thing these days, but have you ever heard of sun-tanned shirts? Well, they’re really just clothes that have faded through prolonged exposure to the sunlight. Take this shirt, for example. It took years of being crammed in the back of someone’s vehicle for this to happen.
If you think this kind of faded style is cool, then you’re in luck. You can pretty much replicate it in less time. All you have to do is wash your selected shirt on hot and with a cup of bleach. Then, leave it out to dry in the sun until it has faded to your liking.
An Artichoke In Bloom
Here’s an artichoke like you’ve never seen before. As it turns out, it could mature and grow into a flower if you leave the vegetable uneaten. Gardeners would already know this, though, as artichokes are technically just a cluster of immature buds.
Unfortunately, waiting for your artichokes to bloom would make them inedible. By that point, its leaves and base would already be too tough to eat and won’t be useful for your recipes. It would make for a good display though, if you treat it as you would regular blossoms.
After Microwaving A Bag Of Chips
You’ve probably seen jewelry made out of bags of chips on sites like Etsy. And if you’re wondering how their makers got them to look so realistic, that’s because the bags are actually just shrunken versions of the real thing.
You see, the bags are made of polymers that are stretched out to make the flat material used for the final product. Reheating the containers in a microwave reverts the polymer to its original state. If you time your microwave just right, you might even get to keep the writings on the back of the packages intact and readable.
A Shovel After Planting 90,000 Trees
In case you were wondering, this is what happens to a BushPro shovel after being used to break ground and plant over 90,000 trees. While mostly intact, it did end up losing about three inches from its blade. Mind-boggling stuff, huh?
You’d be even more impressed knowing the kind of work that goes into planting trees in Canada, where this shovel is manufactured. Among the toughest jobs in the world, it involves walking an average of 10.5 miles a day to plant a whopping 1,60 trees per person. For that kind of hard labor, tree planters are paid a daily salary of just $130.
Coconut Shell Polished To Perfection
Sure, reading books while on lockdown for months is a good way to pass the time, but even avid readers would get bored of it at some point. That’s probably how things like this polished coconut shell came to be.
Don’t scoff at it, though. Spending hours sanding a coconut isn’t a totally pointless activity. There are artisans in Bali, Indonesia, who transform the wooden shells into souvenirs to sell to beachgoers. An Australian company called Coconut Bowls was even inspired by them and began selling kitchenware made of polished coconut.
Styling Frozen Hair In A Hot Spring
Up in Canada, there’s a hot spring with waters that reach 108 degrees Fahrenheit while the ambient temperature stays at freezing point. The place is called the Takhini Hot Pools, located in the mountainous Yukon territory, and they’ve found an amazing way to showcase this awesome feature.
For years, the resort has hosted a Hair Freezing Contest. Contestants are challenged to come up with the most creative styles they can do with their frozen locks while the rest of their body stays warm in the hot spring. The competition is often joined by hundreds of contenders who create looks like the one in this photo.
Furnace Filters Before And After A Wildfire
If you’ve lived anywhere where wildfires are a regular occurrence, then you know how furnace filters come in handy whenever the smoke reaches your house. They’re an important defense against potential damage to your HVAC system and preempt the need for heating repair.
Still, it’s fascinating seeing the difference between a fresh filter and one that has been at work for two weeks while wildfires are blazing nearby. If you’ve ever doubted whether you really need to have filters installed in your house, this is proof that should convince you to get some.
Using The Stove Sans The Metal Covers
Ever wondered what those metal grates above your stove are for? Well, here’s your answer. Aside from holding your pots and pans in place while cooking, they also prevent your stove from turning into a bonfire when you turn on the burners.
Don’t believe us? Try switching on all your burners at the same without the grates the next time you’re doing a deep clean in your kitchen. Just make sure that fire insurance is covered in your policy if your little experiment goes haywire and causes an actual fire.
Thousands Of Flares At A Stadium
While the US seems obsessed with football and basketball, the rest of the world loves soccer. And the result looks something like this: a stadium filled with fans holding up flaming flares. If you’re thinking that this looks like an accident waiting to happen, you’re not wrong.
This practice has resulted in various injuries and mishaps in the past. According to a Boston.com report, open flames in soccer stadiums have caused game delays, injuries to fans, and even a recorded case of death. Still, spectators seem to enjoy having beautiful but dangerous pyrotechnics to celebrate wins or express frustration.
Blinking Faster Than The Shutter
Here we have another case of a rolling shutter capturing a unique photograph. This time it’s a photo of a boy with his eyes closed in front of a reflection of him wide awake. That’s because the camera caught him mid-blink.
While some people dislike rolling shutters, we say this photo is proof that it can create one of a kind image. You just have to be creative enough and know the importance of timing. With a bit of practice, maybe you can even copy this perfectly timed shot, too.
Roots Wrapped Around A Skull
Nature has a way of reclaiming all things human remains included. Hey, if fauna can take over abandoned buildings with ease, skulls won’t be as hard to take back, right? That’s certainly what happened in the case of this cranium wrapped in the roots of a tree.
Knowing how roots can break through something as strong as concrete sidewalks, you’re probably wondering how this skull survived this ordeal. That’s because human bones are actually four times stronger than concrete. We doubt the deceased owner of this skull detailed this kind of burial by tree roots in their will, though.
Driving Over 83,000 Miles Without An Oil Change
Here’s proof that even a luxury car needs to be maintained. This is a photo of an Audi TT engine after being driven for more than 83,000 miles without a single oil change. Safe to say, gearheads were shocked to see the image.
According to Motor1, the only way to move forward from this situation seems to be to replace the entire engine. Still, it’s surprising to see the vehicle run for that long despite never having been serviced. Perhaps that’s a testament to its manufacturer’s ability to make top-notch vehicles?
A Literal Fork In The Road
You’ve heard the expression “fork in the road” many times. You know what it means, but we’re guessing this is the first time you’ve actually seen a literal fork in the road. And it’s not just a regular fork but one that has been completely flattened after being run over by traffic so many times.
No wonder Reddit user Graphyt97 took this photo of the rare object. We do wonder, though, whether they decided to pick it up and take it home as a keepsake. If beachcombers can keep their findings, there’s no stopping pedestrians from doing the same.
Tear Streaks On Freshly Spray Tanned Skin
Skyler Davis decided to get a spray tan to look her best for her high school’s senior prom. It turned out well...at first. Just 10 minutes after her appointment, she ended up getting into a fight with her boyfriend.
Feeling upset, the Ohio teen wasn’t able to stop herself from crying. Big mistake! Her tears messed up her fresh tan leaving unsightly streaks from her eyes going down to her neck. Safe to say, her attempts at perfecting her look for prom totally backfired. Luckily, she had enough time to get her tan re-done, and things went well the next time.