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If you are the type of person who enjoyed volcano eruptions and potato battery experiments in high school, chances are you still love science even if you aren't working in the field.

But whether you read the magazine Scientific American or watch the YouTube channel Veritasium, we at Bored Panda have something else you'll probably enjoy. The “Science Memes” Facebook group. 

Brought to the internet and managed by a collective known online as LabRule, this community unites 936K members who constantly share the best science memes they find.

Interestingly, science memes can be just what the world needs right now. According to wildlife biologist Michael Barnes, much of science has lost its curiosity.

As a result, Barnes thinks that the scientific community has created an exclusive club where your entry into it is a publication, and to stay in it, you must continue to do so at the expense of integrity, new and exciting knowledge, and trust from the public.

This exclusivity, he believes, has created a rift.

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“By being overly technical, esoteric, and pedantic, the scientific community has made it virtually impossible for the layperson to understand the information being presented to them, resulting in animosity and divisiveness that has led us to this current anti-science movement,” Barnes writes.

“We look down on and condescend those who don't understand the process and then act surprised when people reject the knowledge gained from hard, credible science. For example, the current environment of climate change denial is one of the larger issues of our time.”

#8

My Blanket At 3 Am

My Blanket At 3 Am

Tommie Cleghorn Report

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Mara Is… A Surgeon
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

About to go suffer this, wish me luck EDIT: thank you for wishing me luck, it helped some!

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#9

Science Lab In A Movie

Science Lab In A Movie

Farazx Riazx Report

Therefore, Barnes thinks that it's time for a change, and that includes funny science memes. “It's not enough to throw complicated jargon at the public. There needs to be better and more meaningful communication,” he says.

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“We've come to the apex of an 'us vs. them' dichotomy where it doesn't matter what is said. 'We' are right and 'they' are wrong, and that's final. Communication needs to be more open and transparent. Both for the sake of those conducting research and those it's being communicated to, i.e., the public.”

While Barnes believes that researchers need to be more precise and transparent in their research, I'll try to argue that science memes can actually facilitate all sorts of dialogues about the sciences.

After all, as writer Helen Brown pointed out, they aren't just entertainment but also have a serious side. According to researchers looking at modern forms of communication, these funniest science memes are a language in themselves, with a capacity to transcend cultures and construct collective identities between people. Not to mention that memes can also be powerful tools for self-expression, connection, social influence, and even political subversion.

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#16

They Misunderstood

They Misunderstood

Tiffany Williamson Report

#17

Venn Diagrams

Venn Diagrams

Tiffany Williamson Report

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Tiny Turtle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why is there a cat with only one ear and only roughly 2/3 of its head? A bit abnormal but 10/10 would still give pets and pspspspspspspspspss

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Paolo Gerbaudo, a reader in digital politics and director of the Centre for Digital Culture at King's College London, describes funny science memes as a “sort of a ready-made language with many kinds of stereotypes, symbols, situations. A palette that people can use, much like emojis, in a way, to convey content.”

#19

Very Angry

Very Angry

Pawan Prajapati Report

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similarly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a theory I like to call "Schrodinger's Cancer". So long as I never get tested, although I might have cancer, technically I don't.

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Researchers at Facebook, for example, showed in a 2014 study just how widely science memes posted on the social media site can spread and evolve. In one example, they found 121,605 different variants of one particular meme posted across 1.14 million status updates.

#22

Accurate Af

Accurate Af

Umid Jani Report

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Phoenix
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But... but... I need the stars and planets to align in a particular way so I can find true love and great wealth. I cannot do these things on my own!! /s

Khavrinen
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a cartoon on my fridge from "The Other Coast" titled "Hollywood Horoscopes", where they all read "You will meet someone who is shallow and vain".

Stardust she/her
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only way stars several lightyears away can effect you is if they go supernova within 30-100 light years away from you but I’m pretty sure that not that many stars went supernova 30 years ago

Michael P (Perthaussieguy)
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

With around 200 billion trillion stars in the universe (https://www.astronomy.com/science/astro-for-kids-how-many-stars-are-there-in-space/) ...you never know

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Vasana Phong
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s like hearing a psychic say, did your great great great grandmother passed away? , and the recipient, oh my gosh how did you know?!!

Sonja
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, that's not exactly true in every case. If you're for example an astronomer they're making you a living. And if you're operating a romantic restaurant on the edge off a cliff, stars and planets being visible in a clear night will definitely elevate your income. And even if you're just a common person walking home in a clear night, seeing those beautiful sights in the sky will make your walk more enjoyable and give you happiness. So I'd say, this sentence is completely bogus and just as false as any horoscope.

Robert T
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Best one I read for Taurus was: Full of wit, charm and a lot of bull. :D

Raven Sheridan
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not entirely true. There's anecdotal evidence that the phases of the moon can affect human behaviour and mood.

小呀小苹果
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The moon is neither star nor planet. Also anecdotal 'evidence' is usually (but not always) not considered evidence by scientists because it is so wildly unreliable.

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Paloma Vita
Community Member
Premium
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And yet, the moon moves the oceans and we are mostly water... just sayin'

John George
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Mars in Virgo makes me too skeptical to believe in Astrology.

El Jay
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg they were spot-on with mine this time! How do dey do dat? Witchcraft?

tuzdayschild
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow! I'm a taurus and it's like this was written just for me.

JessieJ&LilyLovebug
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Except that the moon effects the tides and gravity, and the sun has solar flares and effects electrical fields...

Sunshine
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

oh hush religion is their business not yours even if it seems a lil odd

DJR
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is one star that affects my life on a regular basis; in fact, you might say it affects me daily.

nebulamoon333
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Then how come whenever it’s a full moon crazy stuff around me starts to happen 😭

Fred L.
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, if the sun suddenly vanished it would quite affect my life.

Haywood Jablome
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The moon affects people, but that isn't a star or a planet is it? The poor moon is just a "celestial body"

michael Chock
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Astrology is a living example of manifest destiny. This chart is subjective.

Ash
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They affect my life in that I hear what they're doing and go, "Ooo! Sounds cool!!"

Tanya Power
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Stars & planets do not dictate they indicate possibilities & opportunities dispel our ignorance

Apatheist Account2
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They have no impact whatsoever on how your day is going to go - unless you're paranoid and believe astrologers, in which case it may at best be self-fulfilling.

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#23

What Dream?

What Dream?

Brent Harrison Report

#25

Holographic Meatloaf

Holographic Meatloaf

Stephanie Nicole Jones Report

Memes tap into our collective consciousness and have been referred to as digital folklore – or “Netlore.” “We can see not just the new ways people do things or the new ways people express themselves in public but also some of the themes, some of the anxieties or desires people have. All of these complex issues are reflected in things like memes,” says Gerbaudo. 

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So if the scientific community really is stagnant in the way it communicates, isn't an intuitive and quick-spreading format of science memes exactly what could remedy the problem? 

If you agree with us, continue checking out the awesome “Science Memes” Facebook group finds we still have on this list!

#30

Uranus In Front Of A New Generation

Uranus In Front Of A New Generation

Stephanie Nicole Jones Report

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Emperor Kitten
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If people would just pronounce it correctly it wouldn't be a problem! Say it with me, Yur-a-nus.

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#31

When You Got A Geography Test

When You Got A Geography Test

K AS Khattak Report

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BC
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I’m neurodivergent (according to the recent literature and evaluations) and I have a weird thing of being able to recreate entire maps, geospatial areas, and the globe in my imagination. But the freaky (deaky) bit is that I can follow entire historical narratives across the maps like I’m watching a film. And then focus on specific groups of people or individuals to follow them. It’s interesting but extremely intense. Sometimes I have to try to turn it off when it gets too much. Especially as I’m a war historian. Unfortunately, my condition includes being ultra-empathetic which means I have the tendency to take on others’ pain. Not great in my profession.

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#32

He Has Been Waiting

He Has Been Waiting

Sherlyn Alam Report

#34

Just 50 Years

Just 50 Years

Sandeepon Dey Report

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similarly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So what? You were in hypersleep. It's not like you suffered ... primitive subhuman!

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#36

Cats Are Liquid

Cats Are Liquid

Tiffany Williamson Report

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PlatinumTheCat
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cats are jello! They’re solids that also take the shape of whatever container they’re in! Cats are jello!

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#37

We Do It At 7am

We Do It At 7am

Mardy Report

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#41

Writing In Heartbeats

Writing In Heartbeats

K AS Khattak Report

#43

We Walk Today

We Walk Today

Stephanie Nicole Jones Report

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Jinx
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i heard once that, allegedly, we hiccup because our fish brains are trying to breathe, or something like that

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#44

Talk Dirty

Talk Dirty

ア リ Report

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CD King
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"There are millions of mites pooping and having sex in your eyelashes"

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#46

Detect Photoshop

Detect Photoshop

Jwan Atto Report

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RedMarbles
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

NASA is always upfront about the colorizing it does, so I'm guessing this is a "moon landing was faked" conspiracy theory reference?

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#47

So Basically I Just Passed A Science Scholarship Exam And I'm Still Single So

So Basically I Just Passed A Science Scholarship Exam And I'm Still Single So

River Villanueva Report

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#48

Maybe I'm Quantum Physics

Maybe I'm Quantum Physics

Mohamed Hamed Report

#50

Real

Real

River Villanueva Report

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Navindu Wijewardena
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in our paper classes there is a specific time period where hands go up and try to remember whether it is the right hand rule or left hand rule and wondering why the f**k do we have 2 of them

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#51

The Math Is Hard

The Math Is Hard

River Villanueva Report

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DBear
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why I can't watch war movies after having spent 5 years in the Air Force.

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#57

First Law Of Motion

First Law Of Motion

Mohamed Mayah Report

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KittyGaming
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahajahhaha basically how i only wake up after my morning medicine and a bit of time here on BP

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#60

Something Of A Scientist

Something Of A Scientist

Tuzhen Ahnok Report

#61

Extremely Sorry

Extremely Sorry

Jagjeet Badhan Report

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#69

Best Way To Test A Battery

Best Way To Test A Battery

Dave Whalan Report

#71

It's A Painting

It's A Painting

Umid Jani Report

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#75

It Keeps Improving You

It Keeps Improving You

Musheer Alam Report

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#81

Why Are There Still Monkeys?

Why Are There Still Monkeys?

Saf Stern Report

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Katie Lutesinger
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because we're not "descended from monkeys". We share a common ancestor with monkeys and apes. We're cousins, basically.

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#82

Your Kids Deserve

Your Kids Deserve

Abdullah Aamir Report

#84

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3D10

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3D10

R. Hoque Report

#85

Straight From Chatgpt (Stolen'tn't)

Straight From Chatgpt (Stolen'tn't)

River Villanueva Report

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#88

Looking At My Friends

Looking At My Friends

Bilal Mohammed Report

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#89

Solving Math Problem

Solving Math Problem

Axel Paner Report

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Exasperated Side Character
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once the age i got for a mom was like 1986- which only now do i realize must have been the birth year

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#91

Professor After Reading My Answers

Professor After Reading My Answers

Hossam Hamada Report

#92

When You Don't Have A Enough Money

When You Don't Have A Enough Money

Lao Milandrus Report

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#96

I Will Never Look Again

I Will Never Look Again

ア リ Report

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Boreddd🇺🇦
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think I still have some photos of the board from math class from 4 years ago... yeah, never looked at them

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#97

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary

M Abid Masood Report

#98

Innate Immunity

Innate Immunity

Alaa Ahmed Report

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Feathered Dinosaur
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find that analogy lacking... Innate immunity is usually efficient, while studying the night before an exam, well...

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#99

Why!

Why!

Kunal Sureshrao Tekade Report

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similarly
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A long time ago, the foundation of science was asking questions: "What is that?" "Why is it there?" "Why does it do that?" Then came "guided" science, originally envisioned as a kind of short cut, but used by corporate science to hurry things along. People would make a hypothesis and then tried to find evidence to support the hypothesis, frequently discarding contradictory evidence. Now we've reached the end of science, the stage I like to call "You can't question this! It's SCIENCE!!!"

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#101

I Put My Hand In The Toaster

I Put My Hand In The Toaster

Avin N Tiger Report

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k1ddkanuck
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

While it would be empirically impossible to test for absolute certainty, I do contend that the data at hand point toward one conclusion in particular with regard to this case study. That being said, I must however remain open to the unlikely but undeniable statistical probability that the results of this experiment could potentially be inconclusive or misleading.

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#102

First Guy To Eat A Carrot

First Guy To Eat A Carrot

Ravish Kumar Report

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#105

If You Don't Love Me

If You Don't Love Me

PHILIPPINE CHEMISTRY PROFESSIONALS BOARD EXAM REVIEWER Report

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DKH
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"If you don't love me at my boat, you don't deserve me at my chair"?

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#106

Her BF Doesn't Know

Her BF Doesn't Know

Chemistry and physics lovers Report

#107

It Was Easy

It Was Easy

Lorenz John Jago Report