cant
Explanation
The Joke
The comic features a series of panels depicting a conversation about popular science communication. In the first panels, a character expresses frustration about pop-sci content, noting something along the lines of "Do you ever get bummed out thinking there's no way to do science communication without everything being set out for you?" to which someone replies "All the time."
A robot or AI character then recites guidelines: "Do not kill humans. Do not think beyond your station. Do not make novel claims. Let the humans live." Another character explains that the important thing is not to say things that are actually wrong — it is fine to simplify, but the problem with pop science is when it crosses the line from simplification to making claims that are effectively false or misleading.
The punchline involves someone asking "Did you get that from Instagram?" — pointing out the irony that the criticism of shallow pop-sci is itself being delivered through the same shallow media channels.
The Humor
The comic satirizes the state of popular science communication in the social media age. The joke targets the tension between making science accessible to a general audience and maintaining accuracy. Pop-sci content on platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok often oversimplifies to the point of being misleading, but the alternative — dense, jargon-heavy accurate science — does not get engagement.
The deeper irony is that complaints about the shallowness of science communication are themselves often delivered through the same shallow media formats being criticized. The comic captures the frustration of scientists and science enthusiasts who want the public to understand real science but find themselves trapped in an ecosystem that rewards flashy oversimplification over careful accuracy. The title "Can't" reflects the seeming impossibility of doing pop-sci communication well within the constraints of modern media.