this post was submitted on 06 Jul 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.



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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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[–] Wizard_Pope@lemmy.world 2 points 4 hours ago

Yeah there was a tree that was flowering for like 3 weeks in june and it made ma want to puke it smelled so bad. Still have no clue what tree it was and it was luckily only where I worked and not where I live. So I did not have to smell it constantly.

[–] Ironfacebuster@lemmy.world 10 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

I absolutely hate Bradford pears but people in the south LOVE planting them. Damn fools, I say!

I have friends that apparently can't even smell them 🫩

[–] buddascrayon@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

The people who owned our house before us planted one in our front yard. We didn't realize what it was until a couple years after we had lived here and it started sprouting its flowers. Even then it took us a while to realize where that smell is coming from. Now the thing is fucking huge and taking it down would be incredibly difficult and expensive because of where it's planted. So 3 weeks out of the year we just don't go outside and keep our windows closed... 😑

P.S. we do not live in the south. I don't even understand why this thing is here.

[–] qarbone@lemmy.world 4 points 6 hours ago

Smh outed themselves as gooners who can't even tell anymore

[–] InvalidName2@lemmy.zip 9 points 9 hours ago

Pretty flowers they remind me of my dearly departed Harold.

[–] CannonFodder@lemmy.world 36 points 13 hours ago (5 children)

Isn't all pollen basically tree cum?

[–] SwingingTheLamp@piefed.zip 14 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

No, it's genetically the offspring of the plant, and contains at least one non-reproductive cell. Pollen produces the male gametes, so the seeds created from it produce the 3rd generation of plant, genetically speaking. (1st gen is pollen producer, 2nd gen is pollen, 3rd gen is seed.) It's basically an ultra-minimal gametophyte stage.

[–] deltapi@lemmy.world 11 points 8 hours ago (3 children)

So it's tree...pre...cum? Wait, no, the tree is throwing his balls into the air, but he also grows more balls..?

Why did I even start typing today?

[–] Hueristic_Autistic@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

Trees are just inverted root systems

[–] SwingingTheLamp@piefed.zip 3 points 6 hours ago

Well, the pollen does grow an enormous (relatively) schlong to deliver its sperm into the stamen...

[–] ViperActual@sh.itjust.works 6 points 8 hours ago

I thought this for the longest time until I fell down a rabbit hole a while back. Pollen is literally the tree's offspring in the form of microscopic plants. When the flowers of a tree are fertilized, the pollen literally grow into the actual reproductive parts of the plant to begin the fertilization process.

[–] snooggums@piefed.world 16 points 12 hours ago (5 children)

Yeah, but why does it sometimes smell like mammal cum?

[–] LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net 4 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Some trees are pollinated by beetles, flies, or other insects that might normally be attracted to rotting flesh. As a result, they often emit a more meaty odor. Why cum specifically I can't say but I think cum has certain organic molecules in common with dead things.

[–] MJKee9@lemmy.world 2 points 6 hours ago

I almost did a joke re: dead things and sex, which was meant to be self depreciating.... But it kept sounding like i was stanning necrophilia. So here we are.

[–] WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 3 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Doesn't cum just smell like bleach or avocado? Nothing in particular?

[–] snooggums@piefed.world 4 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

It definitely smells like salty bodily fluids.

[–] WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today 5 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

My nose is not so good for that, so feel free to cum anywhere, I won't figure it out.

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 4 points 8 hours ago

That's the strangest invite to a bukkake party I've ever gotten. I'm down.

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[–] apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world 48 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago) (3 children)

Ginkgo trees don't have flowers. They are gymnosperms like pines, firs, spruces, cedars etc. They produce cones.

Their "fruit" smell like ass though. Not even fruit, just a fleshy pine cone of sorts.

[–] AFKBRBChocolate@lemmy.ca 3 points 7 hours ago

Yeah, the meme is fine but OP got the wrong tree in the title. Should be the callery pear.

[–] tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip 7 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Not even fruit, just a fleshy pine cone of sorts.

Some places they eat the fruit, like Japan and China

[–] 7eter@feddit.org 3 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah they actually are not to bad tastewise. Just be sure to use gloves when handling the raw fruits with the stinky flesh around it.

I heard various things about their health benefits. But people seem to agree to only consune small amounts.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

uh, why? 🍐ԅ( ͒ ۝ ͒ )

[–] Quibblekrust@thelemmy.club 11 points 11 hours ago

They smell like vomit.

[–] sepiroth154@feddit.nl 33 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

Reproductive organs smelling like reproductive organs isn't that weird, now that I think about it, reproductive organs smelling like flowers are weird...

[–] harambe69@lemmy.dbzer0.com 77 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

On the bright side, you can masturbate around them and no one will know! By smell at least.

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife@lemmy.world 10 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Damn, I wish I'd read your second sentence.

[–] Dojan@pawb.social 37 points 16 hours ago (2 children)

Unless the tree narcs on you.

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[–] Bonus@mander.xyz 4 points 9 hours ago

Jacarandandfindout!

[–] Zephyr@sh.itjust.works 62 points 17 hours ago (14 children)

Yeah my college campus had an area with Bradford pear trees and that definitely created more than one awkward conversation.

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