this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2024
581 points (97.4% liked)

Science Memes

16299 readers
754 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
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] perishthethought@lemm.ee 46 points 10 months ago (5 children)

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

My fave parts (edited for brevity):

The adult mites are 0.3–0.4 mm (3⁄256–1⁄64 in) long. Each has a semitransparent, elongated body that consists of two fused parts. Eight short, segmented legs are attached to the first body segment. The body is covered with scales for anchoring itself in the hair follicle, and the mite has pin-like mouthparts for eating skin cells and oils that accumulate in the hair follicles.

... and ...

The mites are transferred between hosts through contact with hair, eyebrows, and the sebaceous glands of the face.

Ohhh good.

[–] Maalus@lemmy.world 23 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Wait, 0.3mm is huge, you should be able to see that. I don't think this is right.

[–] jabathekek@sopuli.xyz 4 points 10 months ago

Maybe we do see them, but mistake them for bits of skin or dirt.

[–] Krackalot@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 10 months ago

Agreed. 1/64th of an inch is .016". An average human hair is .003" in diameter, that would be as long as five hairs wide. You wouldn't even need a magnifier to see the largest ones.

[–] Robust_Mirror@aussie.zone 1 points 10 months ago

Combine the size with the fact that they are semi transparent and live in hair follicles and sebaceous glands, both of which are essentially under the skin, and that's why you don't generally see them.

[–] Classy@sh.itjust.works 4 points 10 months ago

3⁄256

Please don't let the Amish at my work know that such small increments of size exist. They'll ask me to cut my trim to that level of tolerance

[–] unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz 1 points 10 months ago

This is why it's okay to make out with randos at parties and such. You get mono for 6 months plus accretion of zillions of new friends.

[–] JackFrostNCola@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

mouthparts

Josh & Chuck just got a tingle down their spines

[–] flora_explora@beehaw.org 1 points 10 months ago

Fitting username :P

Although tbh they look kinda cute!