this post was submitted on 27 Dec 2025
841 points (98.5% liked)

Science Memes

18023 readers
1815 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

  1. Don't throw mud. Behave like an intellectual and remember the human.
  2. Keep it rooted (on topic).
  3. No spam.
  4. 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

Physical Sciences

Humanities and Social Sciences

Practical and Applied Sciences

Memes

Miscellaneous

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
top 42 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] muhyb@programming.dev 63 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] AtariDump@lemmy.world 6 points 1 week ago

Go man, go!

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 50 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Here's some more:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E2sTPfhWUAEYXTQ?format=jpg&name=medium

I think the English version came first though

[–] FarceOfWill 33 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

Finally someone justifies using a caudecus as a medicine symbol.

[–] wunami@lemmy.world 26 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Single snake is Rod of Asclepius. A caduceus is 2 snakes and the staff has wings.

[–] FarceOfWill 5 points 1 week ago

Yes. Im talking about the heart one cos it looks like two snakes.

[–] sauerkrautsaul@lemmus.org 0 points 1 week ago

actually....

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 week ago

I was a couple months ago old when I found out that the medical symbol they use is of 2 snakes doing it.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus_as_a_symbol_of_medicine

Honestly I feel like Hermes having domain over alchemy is a decent enough pretext

[–] ivanafterall@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago

Proctology:

[–] sad_detective_man@sopuli.xyz 19 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Can any doctors explain to me what field this is

[–] melsaskca@lemmy.ca 17 points 1 week ago

Low self-esteem.

[–] djmikeale@feddit.dk 8 points 1 week ago

Study of mental illnesses

[–] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 15 points 1 week ago

Lol at tits and ass on the cosmetic snek.

Thank you for properly representing the Rod of Asclepius instead of the Caduceus!

[–] Bluewing@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

As an old and now retired medic, once again EMS gets left out. Our caudecus is twin snakes with a pair of wings attached to the rod.

Some say the snakes tell you we are real, honest to god, professionally trained medical personnel. And not just an overpriced taxi service.

The wings indicate we will fly to your medical emergency as fast as we can. Because the louder you scream, the faster we come.

And the rod is the gear shift lever that tells how fast we can shift from 'This ain't nothin' to 'Oh shit we gotta go. We gotta go NOW' And 'Inject ALL the diesel' modes.

And finally our motto: "I'm always willing to bet your life I can keep you alive long enough so you can die on some doctor and not me"

[–] wolfrasin@lemmy.today 9 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

Caduceus - 2 snakes on a winged sword - human medicine

Asclepius - 1 snake on a stick - veterinary medicine

[–] muhyb@programming.dev 12 points 1 week ago

Dionysus - Snake on a stick: Yum.

[–] stephen01king@piefed.zip 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Doesn't Caduceus symbolize trade and commerce?

[–] MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Yes, that other comment is crap.

[–] FarceOfWill 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

No , look, the caudecus isnt a medical symbol. Someone ages ago in america got it wrong and used it everywhere and now people are confused and use a symbol of hermes god of merchants as a medica...

OMG you fools, this explains why none of you can afford healthcare

[–] MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip 8 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Btw, why the snake on a stick?

[–] flora_explora@beehaw.org 6 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

It's the Rod of Asclepius, not to be confused with the caduceus!

There are various theories why this symbol was invented. The one that makes most sense to me is that it depicts a (formerly widespread) parasitic nematode being removed by wrapping it around a stick to slowly draw it out of the body.

For a visual demonstration of the parasite and its removal: Bizarre Beasts - When is extinction the 'right' choice?

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

There's also just the use of snakes as a symbol of rebirth and healing. I feel like people know the difference between a snake and a worm, personally

[–] flora_explora@beehaw.org 2 points 1 week ago

You're probably right, yeah...

[–] AFallingAnvil@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

It was the symbol of Hermes, the Greek god of messengers. It's called a caduceus, and it was a symbol of peace that would grant safe passage to the carrier. For similar reasons it would be adopted by medical experts and come to be associated with medicine.

[–] ns1@feddit.uk 5 points 1 week ago

This is just Vulcan writing

[–] SabinStargem@lemmy.today 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] tlmcleod@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 week ago

Based on the coloring you may want to see a doctor

[–] fascicle@leminal.space 4 points 1 week ago

I'll never go to a gastro pub again

[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Been more involved with orthopedics than anything else

[–] not_woody_shaw@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

Opthalmology looks goofy enough to be me.

[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 1 points 1 week ago

Okay, I choose... that one!

[–] Jankatarch@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I never considered that snakes have a butthole they poop from this just looks like a hole was drilled.

[–] ReginaPhalange@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

I deeply want someone to draw a version of this for Scientology.

[–] sundaymidnight@lemmy.world -3 points 1 week ago (3 children)

"orthopedics"??? isn't it "traumatology"?

I will never understand this people (USA)

[–] faythofdragons@slrpnk.net 11 points 1 week ago

No, because orthopedics covers congenital stuff like scoliosis too

[–] dustyData@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

Entirely different things, and I think the meme actually correctly corresponds to orthopedics. It's a pediatric specialty, and unfortunately, most of the treatments are some form or another of restraining body parts so they grow straight. Hence the snake tied to the rod in order to remain straight instead of wrapping and slithering around.

[–] spicehoarder@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago

Europeans refusing to learn etymology again... You would think they'd have an easier time with this.

It actually makes more sense when you learn that American English is formed by the foreign languages of the people who immigrate here. But Europeans also have issues with foreigners so I guess that adds up.