2010-07-04
Explanation
This comic contrasts the mythologized version of scientific discovery with a more honest (and crude) depiction of how scientists actually feel about their breakthroughs. The top panel, labeled "Myth," shows an Einstein-like figure reverently marveling at general relativity: "My God... Gravity is a curvature of spacetime. Spacetime curves! It is so beautiful." He is depicted with a serene, almost spiritual expression, hands raised in wonder.
The bottom panel, labeled "Reality," shows the same Einstein figure bursting through a door, arms spread wide, triumphantly yelling "Booya losers! Guess whose science dick just grew ten inches!" while onlookers stare in shock. This captures the idea that major scientific achievements are not just about quiet intellectual beauty but also about ego, competition, and the very human thrill of one-upmanship.
The joke skewers the popular image of scientists as dispassionate seekers of truth. In reality, scientists are competitive people, and making a groundbreaking discovery likely comes with a massive rush of personal pride and a desire to lord it over rivals. The crude phrasing deliberately clashes with the lofty subject matter of general relativity to maximize the comedic contrast.
The votey panel shows someone in bed being told "Come to bed, honey," but responding "No. The internet needs dick jokes!" This is a meta-joke from the cartoonist Zach Weinersmith about his own creative process, acknowledging that instead of sleeping, he stays up making exactly the kind of crude humor found in this comic.