this post was submitted on 23 Mar 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] mkwt@lemmy.world 139 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Facts about this:

  1. Bags, with contents, were left on board the lower descent stages of the lunar modules. They remain on the moon to this day.

  2. There was at least one incident on Apollo 10 where feces escaped and was floating around the cabin.

Part of the radio transcript:

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Apollo 11 made the first actual moon landing, so if this transcript is from Apollo 10 the bags of shit are currently circling the sun in the lunar module, which was jettisoned on the way back to Earth. According to Google it's in a heliocentric orbit, "drifting aimlessly around the solar system."

Even more details: the abbreviations CMP, LMP and CDR in the transcript mean Command Module Pilot (John Young), Lunar Module Pilot (Gene Cernan), and Commander (Tom Stafford), all now deceased. Young and Cernan each returned to walk on the moon in Apollo 16 and 17.

[–] mkwt@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I am well aware that Apollo 10 did not deliver shitbags to the moon.

But 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 did, if they defecated at all on the moon, leave it behind per checklist. There are 96 inventoried bags on the moon, but it is not recorded which, if any, are filled with what. It would have been easier to avoid on the earlier missions, which spent less time on the surface.

At least one astronaut claims he avoided a bowel movement for the entire mission duration.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Slashdown must have been rough with a big one in the chamber. I'd be afraid of an unplanned jettison on impact.

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 108 points 2 months ago (5 children)

The finger cot is there because zero G and dehydration commonly result in constipation.

[–] Sergio@slrpnk.net 75 points 2 months ago

So... they must have trained in using the "finger cot" technique.

"Sorry Biff, you're a great mission candidate in all other respects, but your finger-cotting just isn't... uh... cutting the mustard."

[–] Comrade_Spood@slrpnk.net 47 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Exactly what I came to the comments to find out. Thank you random stranger

[–] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 28 points 2 months ago (2 children)

The best part of this feature is that it's clearly a result of iterative design. So engineers were trying to solve constipation, and someone with a PhD was like "Well, you know what works for me..."

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

and someone with a PhD was like “Well, you know what works for me…”

I do workplace safety and hazardous materials, so occasionally I get to start a talk with "This room has more doctorates than nostrils, so it should be easy". And then I have to explain things like "Dangerous liquid goes into the dangerous liquid sink" or "No, you can't remove the mask to scratch your nose, even if it's really really itchy".

[–] philpo@feddit.org 2 points 2 months ago

Oh god yes, so much.

I do disaster response planning, mostly for healthcare. "No, your OR really needs electrical power!" "No, you can't still run your outpatient clinic during an active shooter situation!" "For fucks sake,NO,you will not use a diesel generator indoors to power the ED!Not even with a open window. Your windows are 30cm x 1m"

[–] agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 months ago

"Whenever I'm having a... problem, I generally work it out with a pencil"

[–] null_dot@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] SacralPlexus@lemmy.world 6 points 2 months ago

It’s a covering for a finger, kind of like cutting the finger out of a latex/nitrile glove. It looks just like a tiny condom made to fit on a finger.

[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 35 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Actually, it's in there because shit doesn't fall off your ass in 0G. It kinda curls out towards the back if left to dodo its own thing.

[–] grrgyle@slrpnk.net 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

See this is the kind of shit I want to hear about in the documentaries.

[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Read "Packing for Mars." I think you'd enjoy it.

[–] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 22 points 2 months ago (1 children)

So basically spooning the turd out? That's the Corvette driving american heros I know and love 😘

[–] Trollception@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 months ago (3 children)

How do they do it in your country?

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 36 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] ToffeeIsForClosers@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago

A three-ply layered joke. Well done!

[–] nick@midwest.social 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

They work it out like you would a math problem.

By using a pencil.

[–] philpo@feddit.org 2 points 2 months ago

As long as it's not the same math genius who calculated the amount of tampons for the first female long term crew member...

[–] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 4 points 2 months ago

There is a whole documentary about it. Just Google 2girls1cup.

[–] neatobuilds 7 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Is it like force puking by poking the uvula but butt uvula

[–] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 2 months ago

I curse the day nature evolved eyes

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

you mean the prostate?

[–] Blackout@fedia.io 61 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'd just hold it until I got back from the moon

[–] Zron@lemmy.world 23 points 2 months ago

Maybe the impact from landing will just force it out of you like that 1800s invention of putting pregnant women in centrifuges to doing the baby out.

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 43 points 2 months ago (2 children)

"Stop using the bag, we haven't even started the countdown."

[–] Agent641@lemmy.world 35 points 2 months ago

"Neil, it's been eighteen years since you got back from the moon, you really need to stop using the bag and finger cot. We don't even make these anymore except special order for you."

[–] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 2 months ago

"Sir, stop using the bag. You're not even an astronaut. how did you even get into this building?"

[–] GluWu@lemm.ee 43 points 2 months ago

The finger cot is there because space is super fucking boring

[–] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 41 points 2 months ago (1 children)
[–] CreatingMachines@fedia.io 46 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Well, looks like you figured out how to use the finger cot, well done!

[–] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 2 points 2 months ago

Alot of trial and error.

No regrets.

[–] And009@lemmynsfw.com 1 points 2 months ago
[–] Shotgun_Alice@lemmy.world 24 points 2 months ago (2 children)

New fear unlocked, diarrhea in space.

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Space-Lax 2 - Projectile Boogaloo

[–] Tungsten5@lemm.ee 15 points 2 months ago

NASA really expects you to go man to man with a bag? Im willing to try it but I cant say that I am excited to

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 13 points 2 months ago (1 children)

opens bag

Smells like farts

"Ew what the fuck?"

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemm.ee 11 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Where is the spatula hole?

And I assume they had to share the poop knife.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago

Adhesive tape to the buttocks is exactly what got the Jock in Saturday morning detention.

[–] wanderwisley@lemm.ee 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I hope the vomit bag and poop bag are properly labeled and kept apart from each other.

[–] somethingp@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

I assumed they're not reusing bags, but I guess I'm not sure

[–] RazzleDazzle@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 months ago

Mary roach did a whole segment on this in her book "packing for Mars". I can highly recommend both the book and Mary as an author in general.

[–] philpo@feddit.org 3 points 2 months ago

Tbf, not that different from an stoma bag