this post was submitted on 09 Feb 2026
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Science Memes

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[–] lengau@midwest.social 20 points 10 hours ago (3 children)

Cilantro: tastes like soap

Can smell ants: no

Sorry, I'm a counterpoint. I got the worst of both.

[–] kautau@lemmy.world 14 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

But do ants taste like soap or cilantro

[–] dunz@feddit.nu 1 points 1 hour ago

They taste kind of almost vinegarey

[–] Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world 8 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

I'm with you. Can't smell ants, but cilantro is soapy.

There are lots of little genetic quirks out there. I experience Arnold's Reflex, that is, I cough when I stick a cotton swab in my left ear canal. (Only my left. My right doesn't react.) There's also the Photic Sneeze Reflex, which is where you sneeze when looking at light. I don't have that, but around 35% of the population does.

I'm sure there are countless more little things like this that people just haven't talked about/gathered enough data on yet.

[–] Denvil@lemmy.ml 4 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

Every single time I walk outside, 3 sneezes sometimes more because of the sun. Although I've never met somebody else who does the same

I learned about the Photic Sneeze Reflex when discussing the frustration of cancelled sneezes (you know, when you feel one coming on, but then it just doesn't happen and it leaves you feeling weird.) He told me, "When that happens, I just look at a light." I had no idea what he meant. Meanwhile, he thought it was normal for everyone. We both learned something that day.

[–] XeroxCool@lemmy.world 2 points 8 hours ago

I didn't know about the cough reflex. I'll have to check if it's both sides. Can you taste iodine? It's present in hot pink food dye, making things like pink peeps taste worse than yellow or blue for me

[–] Commiejones@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 8 hours ago

I can smell ants (but they aren't disgusting just sour) and cilantro is delicious.