0 points

Oh, my. I hadn’t even noticed how much less I’ve had to clean my Windshield lately. That is a very bad sign…

permalink
report
reply
0 points

It’s been a couple years since I’ve had to scrape the bugs from my windows.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

I had to last week. It was the first time in years.

permalink
report
parent
reply
0 points

Couldn’t that also be new improvements in car aerodynamics where bugs simply glide off instead of getting squished?

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

Apparently, it’s the other way around, presumably because unaerodynamic cars pushed around a big air cone, which deflected the insects.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/12/car-splatometer-tests-reveal-huge-decline-number-insects

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

I’m 51, I spent the 90’s in Louisiana, and since my wife doesn’t fly, we have driven across the USA more times than we can count. In the 90’s, if you didn’t have a bug screen on your grill, the LoveBugs would clog your radiator and you would over heat. You also needed the windshield scrib and squeegee to scrub off the bug splatter every time you filled up. Now, you don’t need either of them.

permalink
report
reply
0 points

I have been thinking about this recently. How much of this is lack of bugs vs aerodynamics. I mean back in the day we all drove big rectangles. I’m not denying the fact that it could be a mass extinction of bugs. Just curious.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

Nope, seems to purely be the mass extinction thing. In fact:

modern cars hit more bugs, perhaps because older models push a bigger layer of air – and insects – over the vehicle.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/feb/12/car-splatometer-tests-reveal-huge-decline-number-insects

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point
*

This has bothered me for years. It’s a really strange thing to be telling younger relatives about how you legitimately could not drive any substantial distance without windshield cleaner at certain times of year. I remember them being plastered across the front edge of the hood and against the radiator after a long trip.

It’s one of the most visibly different things about the world today, IMO, and it’s a little eerie.

permalink
report
reply
3 points

We’re undoubtedly in the midst of another mass extinction, caused by human activity. Here’s another one that will freak you out:

permalink
report
reply
1 point

Here’s a fun one about the fish:

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

TIL there are animals called Ass

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point
*

This makes no sense… It says pets aren’t included.

There are 500-700 million dogs worldwide. There are only just under 59 million horses.

I don’t believe any of this as a result.

Edit: and 35 million camels …and only a billion cattle. This entire thing is demonstrably bullshit.

permalink
report
parent
reply
0 points

And that’s only because whales and elephants are so massive.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point
*

It doesn’t help that we chose the meatiest animals to keep as livestock and then made sure they got even fatter than they started by any means necessary. One factory farmed cow probably weighs like 12 wild deer and a few wild rabbits for good measure.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

Why is that supposed to freak me out? We cultivate animals for consumption and there’s not a 1:1 absorption/usage ratio. Now add insect biomass.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

200,050: a giant cockroach at the wheel.

permalink
report
reply

Science Memes

!science_memes@mander.xyz

Create post

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

Community stats

  • 10K

    Monthly active users

  • 3.2K

    Posts

  • 51K

    Comments