Science finally got to the bottom of the text-superimposed-over-image meme appeal, and it could not have happened sooner. To everyone’s surprise and delight, the humor in a meme has nothing to do with the content and everything to do with the font.

“Believe it or not, the human brain actually functions in fonts. For example, when we’re trying to instigate conflict, our thoughts manifest themselves in Papyrus, when we say something unintelligent it’s in Comic Sans, and when we are making a joke, it’s ALWAYS in Impact,” says Professor Marvin May, an internet scientist and adjunct faculty at the University of Southern California. “Oh, and Wingdings is when you’re drunk.”

This discovery is an exciting breakthrough for the internet community.

“It’s actually a huge relief,” says Greta Bing, a freshman. “Now that I know the truth about Impact, I don’t need to be funny.”

Professor May likens the phenomenon of arming the public with Impact to the personal camcorder’s effect on the porn industry. “That’s an excellent example of what happens when you let everyone take a crack at something that used to be done exclusively by people who knew what they were doing. Things get SO much more fun!”

We are entering a new age where anyone can make a meme about whatever they want, with complete disregard for the quality, and people will laugh because of Impact.

Thank you, internet science.