The article discusses the unexpected popularity of Tiktaalik, a 375-million-year-old fossil fish, in internet memes. The memes often depict a desire to reverse the fish's transition to land, blaming this evolutionary step for humanity's current woes.
Scientists are uncertain about the exact reasons behind Tiktaalik and early tetrapods' move to land, suggesting possibilities such as seeking more food, escaping aquatic predators, or finding safer breeding grounds.
Zina Deretsky's scientific illustration of Tiktaalik for the National Science Foundation became the basis for many memes. The memes reflect the current global difficulties and anxieties people face.