471
submitted 1 day ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] [email protected] 13 points 1 day ago

Unless it is either perfectly perpendicular to the skin or is already somehow laying in all directions: There can only be one direction. Given a mole moves in tight spaces backwards and forward, both would make sense.

[-] [email protected] 15 points 1 day ago

Maybe their fur is like a sequin sweater

[-] [email protected] 10 points 1 day ago

No really, this is a real quality mole fur has

[-] [email protected] 18 points 1 day ago

This is a mathematical problem with no solution, there has to be a cowlick on a sphere. Perhaps the mole avoids this problem by not being a sphere, where there is a possible solution

[-] [email protected] 17 points 1 day ago

It's very short and perpendicular to the skin. It feels like velvet.

[-] [email protected] 11 points 1 day ago

I dont remember learning about moles in math. Chemistry, yes, but I don't think moles care much about topology.

However, if we assume an ideal mole in empty space with no air resistance, we would see how they have this property: their hair follicles would, in the absence of outside interference, stand straight up. So, its technically more accurate to say that every direction of petting a mole is equally wrong.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago
[-] [email protected] 3 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

Someone else covered it in another reply, but moles have bald areas. Hairy Ball only applies when it's entirely covered.

Edit: other comment

[-] [email protected] 9 points 1 day ago

But it’s not completely covered in fur. A partially hairy sphere doesn’t need a cowlick.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago

Cowlick doesn't go against what the post is saying

Their hair can lay in any direction at anytime

It's not saying that you can make their hair all perfect in any direction.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

A topological sphere so unless moles are actually a torus then it's still not possible.

[-] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

Good news, vertebrates are tori

[-] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Unless they wear a whig.

this post was submitted on 14 Jun 2025
471 points (98.8% liked)

Science Memes

15165 readers
1233 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