this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2023
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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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[–] Hupf@feddit.de 96 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] TopRamenBinLaden@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

That second one is deep.

[–] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 79 points 1 year ago (2 children)

In a sense, all the light harvesting parts of a plant are collecting information about its environment.

[–] fossilesque@mander.xyz 46 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Do you often feel like there are thousands of eyes watching you? Taps pen.

[–] Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I do wonder the resolution that it could detect.

Can a leaf detect the difference in blue light coming from above and green light surrounding it? Can it detect the green and brown light surrounding it? The red light reflecting off a bird sitting above it?

If it's sensitive enough to the different wavelengths a leaf wouldn't really be all that much different from an eye.

I mean.. yes?

Like that is kind of all a leaf is 'really' doing.

I dropped this mostly as a joke, but here is photosythesis:

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/47117e3d-82e0-4325-816f-ed2c854d18b2.png

All plant pigments are photoreactive in 'some' manner:

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_and_General_Biology/Book%3A_General_Biology_(Boundless)/08%3A_Photosynthesis/8.05%3A_The_Light-Dependent_Reactions_of_Photosynthesis_-_Absorption_of_Light

Its ancient dusty, pre-covid exposure memories, but I took a course as a graduate student covering the quantum physics of photosynthesis, and that's basically what a leaf is doing. In the above image, the peaks on the left at around 400-500 can be thought of as blue light, and the peaks around 640-800 can be thought of as red light. Both of these wavelengths of light are involved in photosynthesis, which you can think of as in a manner, solar fusion in reverse. The plant has to take the light from the sun (the product of fusion), and get that energy reattached to a molecule. In fact, iirc, its basically the same electron orbital diagram. And it does make sense, because physically, that is what is happening.

These days I do much more boring stuff, but I always loved photosynthesis. Its probably one of my favorite chemical reactions. Nah fuck that it is my favorite chemical reaction.

So like, yeah. Plants have a TON of information about their environment. Granted, their photosensors don't have lenses, but they are constantly gathering and reacting to information about the quantity, quality, and locations of light. Afa resolution? Thats like, actually a super interesting question. Not having a lens is a big drawback.

[–] southsamurai@sh.itjust.works 72 points 1 year ago (18 children)

If some lady brought out a conversation that fucking awesome, I wouldn't want a second date either. I'd fucking propose. Well, would have. There's very little sexier than enthusiasm and a love of knowledge.

And no, not literally propose, and it would hopefully turn into a second date, but that's no fucking fun to open up with in a comment, ffs, you fucking pedant.

[–] ApathyTree@lemmy.dbzer0.com 18 points 1 year ago (8 children)

As a woman with that level of enthusiasm about niche science info (I got a degree as a science communicator, because I literally can’t help myself sharing interesting info when it seems a good time to do so)..

It’s very very difficult to find people who aren’t intimidated by it, or put off by the enthusiasm about something they don’t begin to understand/care about. Of all the people I talk to randomly, maybe 1 out of 30 people actually likes the enthusiasm past the first 5 min. And even that 5 min can be a stretch. That is to say, they tolerate it, they don’t tend to engage with it or encourage it. Mostly you get “oh, that’s neat”. Which is a great way to shut the entire conversation down, cuz where do you go from there?

I tend to agree that enthusiasm is interpersonally attractive, it’s why I make small talk by asking what thing the other person finds interesting that they learned recently. (Not something they think I want to know, something they are interested in). I don’t think the majority of the population views it that way, though. They only think enthusiasm is good if it’s a subject they already care about in some way. And they don’t want to share theirs in case it’s not something you are interested in, even if all you actually are interested in is whatever sparks their passion.

I guess it could be my area, but I’ve been a lot of places (mostly within the same country ofc) and found about the same whether rural or urban, north or south. Also I don’t think my observation is because I’m a woman, but it could be a contributing factor, idk.

Well, as much as I hate to say it, most people are so busy looking for their turn to talk that it wouldn't matter how interesting what you're saying is.

Which, I get. I'm not immune to eventually losing attention to unfamiliar material. But that's why you listen; you pay attention and ask about what they just said if you aren't familiar with it. If nothing else, let your brain perk away while you listen and wait for it to ring the bell of association! Until you get into some really arcane subjects, there's almost always going to be a point where something relates to something you already know, so it's just a matter of being patient.

But, sadly, I think you're right. Women simply get ignored, even by other women. Doesn't matter how much they know, how high their degree of expertise is. People tend to rank anything coming out of a woman's mouth as less important. It certainly isn't the entirety, but I would agree it contributes, as you said.

[–] Hadriscus@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Please nerd out over here, I could bathe in vulgarization all day

[–] ApathyTree@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Clearly so, as you taught me a new definition - vulgarization - the act or process of making something, or of something becoming, better known and understood by ordinary people.

I appreciate that. Thanks! :) in that definition (and the more traditionally used one) I’m a vulgar mf!

Unless you want to know about like magnetic tornadoes on the sun or how sponges are colonies of cells often using glass/silicate compounds in various shapes as a common skeleton (wouldn’t want to bathe with those!! But each species has their own unique structure!), I haven’t much off the top of my head without a good conversation to spark some back-of-the brain latent info that’s stored and conversationally relevant. I’m a steel trap for niche science stuff, and it often takes a good conversation to bring it out. How else do you know what info is worth sharing?

^_^

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Dude pedants ruin everything. I can't tell you how many times I've had to explain the concept of hyperbole to someone

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[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 46 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Came for the meme, stayed for the scientific studies.

[–] Ozymati@lemmy.nz 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The trees are watching us.

[–] workerONE@lemmy.world 38 points 1 year ago

That's cool, I'd go on a second date with you.

[–] Kata1yst@kbin.social 35 points 1 year ago

Well that's super fucking cool

[–] The_v@lemmy.world 35 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You bastard. I was supposed to work tomorrow. Now I am going to depending down this hole.

[–] Something_Complex@lemmy.world 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I am resisting the will, I'll just date him so he can tell me all about it

[–] SnipingNinja@slrpnk.net 5 points 1 year ago

Well, tell me when you have learnt it all, I'll date one of you to learn after that

[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 31 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thank you for the links!

A bit horrifying that actual research points to plant vision.

[–] Narrrz@kbin.social 11 points 1 year ago

the likelihood of triffids grows every higher

[–] affiliate@lemmy.world 24 points 1 year ago

their loss king

[–] NegativeLookBehind@kbin.social 24 points 1 year ago (2 children)

So if you have plants in your bathroom, they’re watching you poop. Neat!

[–] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

That kind of explains why I can't keep plants alive... I'm traumatizing them so bad they want death.

[–] lol3droflxp@kbin.social 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

For 90% of people it’s watering issues. Mostly overwatering.

Ya, usually I either overwater or forget about it entirely for extended periods of time.

That's why I have mainly plastic plants now. Much less fussy.

[–] fossilesque@mander.xyz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

5 words: Beer bottle drip feeder attachments.

[–] lol3droflxp@kbin.social 5 points 1 year ago

Drip feeders can in fact be excellent. Unless you’re already the kind of person who will forget about those as well.

[–] blackbrook@mander.xyz 9 points 1 year ago (3 children)

But wouldn't they be, like, "yum, fertilizer!"?

[–] Narrrz@kbin.social 7 points 1 year ago

plants are farming us all for food. playing the long game.

[–] Rocketpoweredgorilla@lemmy.ca 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Probably not with my diet.

[–] blackbrook@mander.xyz 8 points 1 year ago

Plants: "Eat more phosphorus and potassium!"

Not if they have to see that guy with his pants off!

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[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What? That chick is gonna miss out. What dating app was she using?

[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 year ago

I like lemmy memes

[–] ReMikeAble@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago

I'd eat it in a salad, then morph my life away!

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