this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2026
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Science Memes

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[–] Axolotl_cpp@feddit.it 124 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (4 children)

That's because the spicy is felt thru thermoreceptors that "feel" if there is any heat, it happened that capsaicin can bond with this receptor, making you feel the spicyness; That receptor is found in both your mouth and your butt, since we don't really digest capsaicin since it's not useful for us, it get in to the shit

Edit: just realized that i wrote this in a science meme sub

[–] AnarchistArtificer@slrpnk.net 28 points 4 days ago

I love the fact that you wrote this in a science meme sub. I like getting learning alongside my memes

(I'm a biochemist, so I didn't learn anything in this particular instance, but I frequently find my day brightened by helpful people like yourself, who take the time to explain stuff)

[–] Mora@pawb.social 31 points 4 days ago

I appreciate the explanations and "did you knows" that appear in science meme subs - so thank you for your answer. :)

[–] x00z@lemmy.world 6 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Why is there a capsaicin receptor in the butt?

[–] DonPiano@feddit.org 25 points 4 days ago (2 children)

It's a pain perceiver where capsaicin activates it.

Our senses run on chemicals, and that means sometimes chemicals activate these senses. Capsaicin is similar to a different chemical that our bodies use as signal, and binds to the receptor instead.

You could imagine it like a vending machine that's supposed to dispense soda if you put Euro coins in, but it'll equally dispense soda if you put other flat pieces of metal in it.

You could imagine it like a vending machine that's supposed to dispense soda if you put Euro coins in, but it'll equally dispense soda if you put other flat pieces of metal in it.

Superb explanation!

[–] Railcar8095@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Wait, so if I put a flat piece of metal in my butt, then I get euros? I love science!

[–] makkurokurosuke@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

Yes but thru your mouth

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 6 points 4 days ago

... bruh...

to keep us from doing stupid things with our butts.

[–] pewgar_seemsimandroid@lemmy.blahaj.zone 0 points 4 days ago (2 children)

idk why people calling communities "sublemmys" pisses me off, but it does.

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 12 points 4 days ago

But did they? Sub (forum) isn't exclusive to reddit.

[–] rants_unnecessarily@piefed.social 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

"Communities" is waaay too long and complicated compared to "sub"

[–] ElBarto@piefed.social 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Easy peasy:

Communities = commies

You're welcome.

[–] gegil@sopuli.xyz 46 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Because spicy is not a flavor, its a pain. Anus cant taste, but it can hurt.

[–] Camille@lemmy.ml 20 points 4 days ago

Sounds like an old proverb lmao

[–] stupidcasey@lemmy.world 32 points 4 days ago (2 children)

If you could taste all the flavors with your butthole it would still taste like shit when you shit, you would only taste food when you shove a cucumber up your ass and that is the time you are most willing to taste shit.

[–] dmention7@midwest.social 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

What if I put pizza in my butt?

[–] Iheartcheese@lemmy.world 10 points 4 days ago

I'll give you a dollar

[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

But you woukd finally get to enjoy the corn and peanuts a second time around

[–] SlurpingPus@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Nothing's stopping you from doing that now.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

“Winnie, what are you eating?”

“Honey.”

“Why is your honey brown?”

“It's the third time I'm eating it.”

[–] LuxSpark@lemmy.cafe 20 points 4 days ago

So, it can detect pain from an irritant, not taste.

[–] lengau@midwest.social 2 points 3 days ago

Pancakes don't contain a neurotoxin.

[–] Diddlydee@feddit.uk 13 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I can't say I've ever had this spicy shit after spicy food experience.

[–] Venat0r@lemmy.world 14 points 4 days ago (1 children)

sounds like you haven't had very hot spicy food...

[–] Diddlydee@feddit.uk 5 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (3 children)

I enjoy a phaal and a sambal oelek chili amongst my hot dishes, so no.

Do 100% of people really have a stingy ass after spicy food? I doubt it.

[–] MagicShel@lemmy.zip 7 points 4 days ago (2 children)

I once went to a little hole in the wall Thai restaurant on the north end of Toledo. I ordered Panang or the closest thing I could find on the menu, as is my wont. They asked how spicy I wanted it and, having had far too many Americanized "extra spicy" dishes, I said as spicy as they could.

Now, this food was really good. But half way through the bowl, and having already drained the solitary glass of water they deigned to deliver to my table, I saw God. Which is intense for an atheist.

I finished the whole thing. I'm not sure if I was trying to prove something to myself or to them. I never got a single drop of water after that first cup, but I ate every ice cube.

Another time, I was in Thailand at a fancy restaurant. Eating Thai in America is different from eating it in Thailand. Different ingredients, different styles. And on the table was a small bowl of teeny peppers. I took them to be similar to pickled jalapeños, so I put a few onto my plate to mix with my food.

They were not pickled. Or least by the time I could taste again, I detected no brine. I don't know what they were suspended in, but I can only assume it was secreted from the glands of a hell-beast, or perhaps squeezed out of an elemental ur-pepper.

My point is not to marvel at the myriad ways I've tried to kill myself with Thai food, but just to say I've never had a spicy shit in my life.

[–] yakko@feddit.uk 4 points 4 days ago

This was a fun read, thanks.

It could be some people digest capsaicin more than others. I've had my fair share of the (I want to say) second highest types of spicy. Your ghost peppers, your birds eyes, Thai red chillis, etc. Hardly anything over a million scoville. I get the afterburn from some of it. But one time, I got a Nashville chicken sandwich from a hole in the wall place that popped up during COVID. It was so hot I was running around the room for half an hour, and for the first time in my life, I felt the spice in my urethra when I peed afterwards. I'll never forget it.

[–] kiwifoxtrot@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

It really depends on the chili for me. Certain chilies can be very spicy but short lived, and others are medium but just destroy my guts for the next day or two. I think it might also have to do with the amount of oil in a dish?

[–] Ephera@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago

Capsaicin (the chemical that causes the heat sensation in chilis) is soluble in oil, so it can definitely play a role.

[–] fascicle@leminal.space 5 points 4 days ago

Once I got older yeah, even peed spice one time when the dude at the Thai restaurant warned me several times about a dish and I dismissed him because I had spicy Thai before. Turns out I didnt and the next morning I peed spice then shat lava.

My body can't take the heat anymore which sucks because I can't really taste spice anymore since covid, I mostly just feel it on my lips and throat which warns me to take it easy

[–] Venator@lemmy.nz 1 points 3 days ago

Oh probably just desensitised gradually enough or early enough to not notice/remember it then 😅

[–] emergencyfood@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I believe it's a European thing. I've cried after eating Andhra food (more spicy than most Indian styles) but my stomach doesn't seem to mind. European visitors get indigestion.

[–] Diddlydee@feddit.uk 1 points 4 days ago

I'm Northern Irish. We're pretty pale and historically spice averse.

[–] DeathsEmbrace@lemmy.world 12 points 4 days ago

That’s not flavour thats inflammation

[–] blackbrook@mander.xyz 9 points 4 days ago

Just put lots of hot sauce in your pancakes. Duh! Problem solved!

[–] JennyLaFae@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 4 days ago

You just have to dip your balls in maple syrup like the soy sauce tiktok trend

[–] TwistedTurtle@sh.itjust.works 7 points 4 days ago

A genie would have fun with this one

[–] konna@sopuli.xyz 7 points 4 days ago

Matthew here really eager to install tastebuds to his asshole

[–] undu@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 4 days ago

Demonstrably false, to feel the pancakes again you just need to make them spicier

[–] zo0@programming.dev 6 points 4 days ago

Local man devastated after not tasting his own shit.

If op had taste buds in his ass he probably wouldn't be posting anything.

[–] ArmchairAce1944@discuss.online 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

The skin on your lips is the same as the skin on your asshole. That's why.

[–] webp@mander.xyz 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Why don't we pick our assholes?

[–] kunaltyagi@programming.dev 3 points 4 days ago

You pick you lip? Learn to pick your nose

[–] ChicoSuave@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

Because evolution remove savory, bitter, sour, and sweet...

[–] neuromorph@lemmy.world 0 points 4 days ago

Because you breakdown all the flavinoids before it reaches your butt. The capsasine survives digestion and gets tasted again. However. If you butt chug syrup. You may taste it. Or maybe just carbonated drinks.