this post was submitted on 07 Sep 2025
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Science Memes

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Welcome to c/science_memes @ Mander.xyz!

A place for majestic STEMLORD peacocking, as well as memes about the realities of working in a lab.



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  1. Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
  2. Keep it rooted (on topic).
  3. No spam.
  4. Infographics welcome, get schooled.


If you are here asking: "Is this a science meme?"

Probably, yes. We use the Dawkins definition of meme: a replicating idea, not just an image macro with a fact on it. A good post here doesn't need to teach you something. It needs to make you ask something: who, what, where, when, and especially why or how.

Science isn't a filing cabinet of facts, it's a conversation. For example, a photo of an eel or other localized wildlife counts because most people never see one, and wonder is the first step of inquiry. A car meme counts if it makes you curious about what's under the bonnet. If you want to talk about something you noticed in the world, chances are someone else wants to talk about it too.

We moderate for vibe, not category. Pruning is light, especially where a post creates interesting discussion. Experimenting is encouraged.

See the pinned paper on Shitposting as Public Pedagogy if you want the academic case for why this works.



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[–] BanMe@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

The periodic table is predictive. From a few elements, the rest could be projected and expected, like the Higgs-Boson. The table makes no predictions for things we cannot measure and are in fact theoretical, like dark matter which lacks any empirical evidence. Would be awesome if it did because then it wouldn't be theoretical anymore.

[–] webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Whats the difference between expecting and predicting here?

BH was theoretical at first. The new breakthrough was empirical evidence.

[–] Tattorack@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

Do not mix theory with hypothesis. A theory in science is a very big deal and needs a lot to be true in order to even reach theory status (which is why "string theory" isn't a theory. More like "string idea").

[–] bunchberry@lemmy.world 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Periodic table is for atoms. I think you are mixing it up with the standard model, which is for subatomic particles.

[–] Tattorack@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

They're both the same thing for a different area.