this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2026
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Science Memes

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



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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.

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[–] Draconic_NEO@mander.xyz 16 points 1 day ago (3 children)

Most scientists won't say that there are no straight lines in nature, it's so obviously and provably wrong. I think it's more of a thing philosophically said when talking about how modern life is so different and unnatural compared to the lives of ancient people or animals.

[–] ArcaneSlime@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 23 hours ago

Tbh, I've only ever heard it when talking about camouflage. And tbf in that context it is somewhat true, you're harder to see if you break up those straight lines.

[–] TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

what is 'natural' life, being a sustenance farmer, and dying of starvation if you have a bad harvest?

[–] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 hours ago
[–] Noobnarski@lemmy.world 2 points 20 hours ago (3 children)

Agriculture is already somewhat unnatural, so I guess a "natural" life would be hunter gatherers.

[–] Lemminary@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago

This is why I prefer the word synthetic and define around that.

[–] TubularTittyFrog@lemmy.world 1 points 20 hours ago

oh I see, so if you aren't a roving band of stone age people, then it's unnatural?

and are these societies also matriarchal or something too, because you know the patriarchy is unnatural as well?

[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 1 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

Are you trying to say that we don't follow the laws of nature? That our activities are supernatural?

[–] Noobnarski@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

Somewhat yes, nature usually tries to adapt to the environment, we are adapting the environment to us.

I haven't seen any other animal building roads and factories and cities.

[–] silasmariner@programming.dev 0 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Buddy, what is natural about me, a person who has never met you, talking to you, a person I have never met. How the hell doss that make any sense. Fuckin' superpowers m8. All up in this gadget.

[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 2 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Me: hello, nice to meet you!

You: What the fuck!?

[–] explodicle@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I wonder if there's any animals who see crystals in nature and think "wow that's a really cool rock".

[–] Draconic_NEO@mander.xyz 2 points 10 hours ago

Without a doubt. It would be weirder if there weren't.

[–] laz@pawb.social 4 points 1 day ago

Birds definitely think this. My local Magpies have definitely attempted bribery with cool rocks and shiny discarded human objects