this post was submitted on 14 Jun 2025
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Science Memes

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494
There's no wrong way to stroke it (lemmynsfw.com)
submitted 6 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 13 points 6 days ago (2 children)

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] 16 points 6 days ago

Maybe their fur is like a sequin sweater

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)

No really, this is a real quality mole fur has

[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 days ago (5 children)

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] 19 points 6 days ago

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 days ago

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

[–] [email protected] 11 points 6 days ago (1 children)

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] 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days 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] 5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Good news, vertebrates are tori

[–] [email protected] 1 points 12 hours ago

they are however usually not hairy on the inside

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Unless they wear a whig.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 days 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.