this post was submitted on 23 Apr 2026
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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.



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.

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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[–] matlag@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The trend is what matters. China: electrification is going so fast it's hard to follow. Pollution is going down very fast. The USA: cancel all plan to promote EVs and weaken regulation on gas cars: pollution is to go up. And that's not including public transportation offset on the cars density, where China is basically 40 years ahead…

The cross-point on air quality might be much closer than you think.

[–] Imgonnatrythis@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Is it though? Have you been there or lived in a place with high smog and low air quality? Do you or your child have asthma? I made the comment simply as a note of the current condition - you sometimes literally can have a hard time seeing the city skyline in Beijing and I've never been to places like Hotan and other more industrial areas where it is worse.

Living or even visiting a place and saying it's the trend that matters sounds like politician speak. Tell that to your lungs and brain while you sit in the pollution.

[–] matlag@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 months ago

I lived in China for 6 years. I experienced smogs dense enough you couldn't see a building 10m away.

I've been travelling to Shanghai on several occasions and went there again last year.

The improvement now vs 10years ago is dramatic! I'm not saying it's all fine, but I will say this: now I live in Canada (Québec) and forest fires make the air here worse than what it is in Shanghai on a regular basis.