The only source here is a Tom Gauld cartoon published in New Scientist, titled "Tom Gauld on arriving late to the party." It is a single-panel illustration, not a study or an article. Gauld is known for gently mocking academic life, and this title plays on the universal experience of turning up after the event has already peaked.
Read as a scientific metaphor, a late arrival might represent the researcher who misses a breakthrough, a conference session, or the moment a paper is published. The cartoon likely capitalises on the anxiety of falling behind in a fast-moving field. But because we only have the title, the precise visual joke remains unconfirmed from this source alone.
What can be said plainly: the piece is a humorous observation, not a technical contribution. It contributes to science culture by making the emotional side of research relatable, yet it should not be read as evidence for any claim about how science actually works. Where the source differs from typical Science section fare is in method—drawing instead of data.