this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] perishthethought@lemm.ee 31 points 2 months ago (3 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 14 points 2 months ago (4 children)

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

[–] jabathekek@sopuli.xyz 2 points 2 months ago

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

[–] MeowZedong@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

0.3mm in length, not diameter. Yes, you can see them, but they just look like dead skin/gunk to our eyes.

Image1

Image2

Image3

Gallery with visible accumulation of mites on hairs

[–] Krackalot@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 2 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 2 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.

[–] TankieTanuki@hexbear.net 11 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

3⁄256

Who uses inches at this scale? I mean, really, Wikipedia.

"Hand me my 1/256th inch ruler."

[–] brown567@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I learned recently that machinists used to use fractions to indicate tolerance, like a dimension given as 5/16 could be ±1/32 of an inch, because anything less than 9/32 would round to 4/16, and anything more than 11/32 to 6/16.

[–] jawa21@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 2 months ago

It can still happen, but usually at the customer's request/requirements. We actually use inches at a much smaller scale, but use decimals instead of fractions.

[–] flora_explora@beehaw.org 1 points 2 months ago

Fitting username :P

Although tbh they look kinda cute!