this post was submitted on 02 May 2026
841 points (99.5% liked)
Science Memes
20089 readers
1959 users here now
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.

Rules
- Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
- Keep it rooted (on topic).
- No spam.
- Infographics welcome, get schooled.
This is a science community. We use the Dawkins definition of meme.
Research Committee
Other Mander Communities
Science and Research
Biology and Life Sciences
- !abiogenesis@mander.xyz
- !animal-behavior@mander.xyz
- !anthropology@mander.xyz
- !arachnology@mander.xyz
- !balconygardening@slrpnk.net
- !biodiversity@mander.xyz
- !biology@mander.xyz
- !biophysics@mander.xyz
- !botany@mander.xyz
- !ecology@mander.xyz
- !entomology@mander.xyz
- !fermentation@mander.xyz
- !herpetology@mander.xyz
- !houseplants@mander.xyz
- !medicine@mander.xyz
- !microscopy@mander.xyz
- !mycology@mander.xyz
- !nudibranchs@mander.xyz
- !nutrition@mander.xyz
- !palaeoecology@mander.xyz
- !palaeontology@mander.xyz
- !photosynthesis@mander.xyz
- !plantid@mander.xyz
- !plants@mander.xyz
- !reptiles and amphibians@mander.xyz
Physical Sciences
- !astronomy@mander.xyz
- !chemistry@mander.xyz
- !earthscience@mander.xyz
- !geography@mander.xyz
- !geospatial@mander.xyz
- !nuclear@mander.xyz
- !physics@mander.xyz
- !quantum-computing@mander.xyz
- !spectroscopy@mander.xyz
Humanities and Social Sciences
Practical and Applied Sciences
- !exercise-and sports-science@mander.xyz
- !gardening@mander.xyz
- !self sufficiency@mander.xyz
- !soilscience@slrpnk.net
- !terrariums@mander.xyz
- !timelapse@mander.xyz
Memes
Miscellaneous
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
Only if you measured it in wheel-lengths... In meters it would just be an arbitrary number
The ratios will still apply
Yes but the ratio to the wheel radius. So unless you know that, the circumference is just an arbitrary length
It isn't just a single linear measurement, it would be multiple measurements. Also they weren't using meter circumference wheels, the wheels would be, to us, some arbitrary standard that would be revealed when dividing the two lengths by pi.
I think the point of the post re: the tired paleontologist is that the pi-related ratio just isn't that interesting, Ancient Aliens uses math to mystify the subject, not make it simpler to understand. So I think the thing youre hung up on is the point of the post. It just isn't that interesting of an insight if you understand the math, but of you present it a certain way, youre like selling the idea that ancient civilization had access to abstractions (like pi) that maybe didn't "exist" for ancient civilizations. But when you think if it in terms of practical applications, you realize that the tools and the work that people were doing didn't require exactness of abstraction, just exactness of practical function.
Ancient Egyptians did have a concept of pi, but to them it was 22/7, which is more than close enough for any practical application. Pi is 3.1415.. and 22/7 is 3.142. They didn't need that exact of a figure to build a pyramid, their calculations were as good or better than our engineers use in practical application. Civilizations that are around for thousands of years end up figuring shit out when they try to do stuff. We use mathematics to plan, and so did they; but to build something you don't need someone who has memorized pi, you just need engineers with practical experience building things. Ancient civilizations had that, their tools contained their methods of abstraction, even in rare cases their books did not.
But Ancient Aliens never imagines real people with real experiences, it assumes stupidity and brutishness in its subject, when actually they are objectively stupid and brutal. You're confusing rationality for sensationalism, which I appreciate imagining the world as being more rational than it is.
You make it sound like you're disagreeing with me but then you restate my point