Why is a penguin’s 'death march' going viral? Meaning behind 2026’s 'Nihilist Penguin' meme that has the internet overthinking life

A viral clip of a penguin heading inland towards mountains, dubbed the 'Nihilist Penguin,' has resonated online as a symbol of burnout and rebellion. While the internet interprets this as existential angst, scientists explain the behavior as likely disorientation, illness, or instinctual error, a rare but documented occurrence in penguins.