#xkcd No. 3198
Date: 2026-1-23
Title: Double-Pronged Extension Cord
Alt text: 'Oh, and can I borrow 50 sacks of loose flour, a pile of lithium-ion batteries, a bucket of bleach, and a bucket of vinega--' 'NO!!!!!!'
https://xkcd.com/3198/
xkcd
![Description:
Cueball asks Ponytail for a dangerous extension cord. She lectures him on safety and lends him a normal one. He then reveals he needs it for a Demon Core experiment, causing her to scream in terror.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
Cueball: Do you have an extension cord with prongs at both ends? Can I borrow it?
Ponytail: NO!!!
Panel 2:
[Ponytail throws her arms up, shouting.]
Ponytail: No one should EVER buy or make those! They start fires, destroy equipment, and risk electrocuting you or grid workers!
Cueball (off-panel): Ok, ok, I get it.
Panel 3:
Cueball: Can I just borrow a regular cord, then?
[Ponytail hands a coiled cord to Cueball.]
Ponytail: Sure. Here.
Cueball: The prongs aren't important. I just thought they'd help anchor it to the wall.
Ponytail: Wait, what are you—
Panel 4:
Cueball: I need it to help hold up the top half of the reflector for this plutonium core that I'm—
[Cueball walks away with the cord. Ponytail turns in her chair, screaming.]
Ponytail: AAAAAAAA!!!!](/proxy/post_attachment/972559/a6da664dfe.png "Description:
Cueball asks Ponytail for a dangerous extension cord. She lectures him on safety and lends him a normal one. He then reveals he needs it for a Demon Core experiment, causing her to scream in terror.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
Cueball: Do you have an extension cord with prongs at both ends? Can I borrow it?
Ponytail: NO!!!
Panel 2:
[Ponytail throws her arms up, shouting.]
Ponytail: No one should EVER buy or make those! They start fires, destroy equipment, and risk electrocuting you or grid workers!
Cueball (off-panel): Ok, ok, I get it.
Panel 3:
Cueball: Can I just borrow a regular cord, then?
[Ponytail hands a coiled cord to Cueball.]
Ponytail: Sure. Here.
Cueball: The prongs aren't important. I just thought they'd help anchor it to the wall.
Ponytail: Wait, what are you—
Panel 4:
Cueball: I need it to help hold up the top half of the reflector for this plutonium core that I'm—
[Cueball walks away with the cord. Ponytail turns in her chair, screaming.]
Ponytail: AAAAAAAA!!!!")
#xkcd No. 3073
Date: 2025-4-7
Title: Tariffs
Alt text: [later] I don't get why our pizza slices have such terrible reviews; the geotextile-infused sauce gives the toppings incredible slope stability!
https://xkcd.com/3073/
#xkcd No. 3057
Date: 2025-2-28
Title: Excusing Yourself
Alt text: The most awkward part is when you have to pause to put on your shoes before you continue rolling out the door.
https://xkcd.com/3057/
![Description:
The comic is a four-panel progression showing stick figures at tables, depicting increasingly impolite ways to leave a social interaction.
Transcript:
WAYS TO LEAVE A SOCIAL INTERACTION:
LESS POLITE ->
Panel 1:
OH, GOSH, I CAN'T
BELIEVE HOW LATE
I'VE KEPT YOU UP!
I HAVE TO WAKE UP
EARLY, SO I SHOULD
REALLY GO SOON.
CAN I HELP TIDY UP?
Panel 2:
IT'S BEEN
GREAT, BUT
I'M TIRED
AND NEED
TO SLEEP.
Panel 3:
WE'RE ABOUT
DONE HAVING
FUN RIGHT?
EVERYONE
LOOKS BORED.
AND TIRED.
Panel 4:
[A stick figure kicks a leg]
KICK
BYE.
[A stick figure is shown crashing with chairs]
CRASH](/proxy/post_attachment/631578/fede172ede.png "Description:
The comic is a four-panel progression showing stick figures at tables, depicting increasingly impolite ways to leave a social interaction.
Transcript:
WAYS TO LEAVE A SOCIAL INTERACTION:
LESS POLITE ->
Panel 1:
OH, GOSH, I CAN'T
BELIEVE HOW LATE
I'VE KEPT YOU UP!
I HAVE TO WAKE UP
EARLY, SO I SHOULD
REALLY GO SOON.
CAN I HELP TIDY UP?
Panel 2:
IT'S BEEN
GREAT, BUT
I'M TIRED
AND NEED
TO SLEEP.
Panel 3:
WE'RE ABOUT
DONE HAVING
FUN RIGHT?
EVERYONE
LOOKS BORED.
AND TIRED.
Panel 4:
[A stick figure kicks a leg]
KICK
BYE.
[A stick figure is shown crashing with chairs]
CRASH")
#xkcd No. 3072
Date: 2025-4-4
Title: Stargazing 4
Alt text: We haven't actually seen a star fall in since we invented telescopes, but I have a list of ones I'm really hoping are next.
https://xkcd.com/3072/
#xkcd No. 3058
Date: 2025-3-3
Title: Tall Structures
Alt text: Briefly set a new record for tallest human-made structure by getting my knit sweater snagged on the skydiving plane door as I jumped and not noticing until I'd landed.
https://xkcd.com/3058/
#xkcd No. 3199
Date: 2026-1-26
Title: Early Arthropods
Alt text: 'Ugh, I'm never going to be like spiders. My descendants will all just be normal arthropods who mind their own busines and don't do anything weird.' --The ancestor of a bunch of eusocial insects
https://xkcd.com/3199/
![Description:
Three small, primitive sea creatures crawl along a prehistoric ocean floor in a three-panel comic, discussing their evolutionary future plans.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
[Three primitive, trilobite-like creatures crawl along the seabed. There are small plants and a fan-like structure in the background.]
Left Creature: NOW THAT WE'RE MULTICELLULAR, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? I'M GONNA EVOLVE LITTLE LEGS AND SWIM AROUND WITH THEM!
Middle Creature: I'M GONNA EVOLVE SHARP PINCERS AND USE THEM TO CRUNCH STUFF!
Right Creature: I'M GONNA EVOLVE GLANDS TO MAKE STRING FROM MY BUTT AND USE IT TO CONSTRUCT ELABORATE GEOMETRIC NETS HUNDREDS OF TIMES MY SIZE TO CATCH OTHER ANIMALS.
Panel 2:
[The three creatures continue crawling across the seafloor in silence.]
Panel 3:
Left Creature: DUDE.
Middle Creature: CAN YOU *PLEASE* JUST BE NORMAL ABOUT THIS?
Right Creature: WHAT??!](/proxy/post_attachment/975375/8b69b2f9a8.png "Description:
Three small, primitive sea creatures crawl along a prehistoric ocean floor in a three-panel comic, discussing their evolutionary future plans.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
[Three primitive, trilobite-like creatures crawl along the seabed. There are small plants and a fan-like structure in the background.]
Left Creature: NOW THAT WE'RE MULTICELLULAR, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS? I'M GONNA EVOLVE LITTLE LEGS AND SWIM AROUND WITH THEM!
Middle Creature: I'M GONNA EVOLVE SHARP PINCERS AND USE THEM TO CRUNCH STUFF!
Right Creature: I'M GONNA EVOLVE GLANDS TO MAKE STRING FROM MY BUTT AND USE IT TO CONSTRUCT ELABORATE GEOMETRIC NETS HUNDREDS OF TIMES MY SIZE TO CATCH OTHER ANIMALS.
Panel 2:
[The three creatures continue crawling across the seafloor in silence.]
Panel 3:
Left Creature: DUDE.
Middle Creature: CAN YOU *PLEASE* JUST BE NORMAL ABOUT THIS?
Right Creature: WHAT??!")
#xkcd No. 3048
Date: 2025-2-7
Title: Suspension Bridge
Alt text: As a first step, they can put in a secondary deck, to help drivers try it out and find out how fun the jumps are. After a while no one will use the old flat deck and they can remove it.
https://xkcd.com/3048/
#xkcd No. 3089
Date: 2025-5-14
Title: Modern
Alt text: Scholars are still debating whether the current period is post-postmodern or neo-contemporary.
https://xkcd.com/3089/
![Description: Single panel comic showing a timeline with different periods labeled using the word "Modern."
Transcript:
[A timeline is shown with tick marks. Major tick marks are labeled at 1850, 1900, 1950, and 2000. Brackets above the timeline label different historical periods:]
Bracket above 1850 extending to the right about 50 years: EARLY MODERN
Bracket above 1900 extending to the right about 50 years: MODERNIST
Bracket above 1950 extending to the right about 10 years: MID-CENTURY MODERN
Bracket above 1950 extending to the right about 50 years: POSTMODERN
Bracket above 2000 extending to the right about 10 years: MODERN
THE USE OF THE WORD "MODERN" TO REFER TO A BUNCH OF SPECIFIC HISTORICAL PERIODS IS A FUN PRANK BY HISTORIANS.](/proxy/post_attachment/710395/c37df0ff3b.png "Description: Single panel comic showing a timeline with different periods labeled using the word \"Modern.\"
Transcript:
[A timeline is shown with tick marks. Major tick marks are labeled at 1850, 1900, 1950, and 2000. Brackets above the timeline label different historical periods:]
Bracket above 1850 extending to the right about 50 years: EARLY MODERN
Bracket above 1900 extending to the right about 50 years: MODERNIST
Bracket above 1950 extending to the right about 10 years: MID-CENTURY MODERN
Bracket above 1950 extending to the right about 50 years: POSTMODERN
Bracket above 2000 extending to the right about 10 years: MODERN
THE USE OF THE WORD \"MODERN\" TO REFER TO A BUNCH OF SPECIFIC HISTORICAL PERIODS IS A FUN PRANK BY HISTORIANS.")
#xkcd No. 3060
Date: 2025-3-7
Title: Omniroll
Alt text: It seems wrong that Fruit by the Foot is only sold by weight or by number of rolls.
https://xkcd.com/3060/
![Description:
Single panel. Three stick figures stand around a table with a cylindrical food item. A complex cross-section diagram of the food roll is displayed on the wall.
Transcript:
OKAY, WE'VE ROLLED THE SPRING ROLL BURRITO IN BREADCRUMBS
AND FRIED IT. NOW WE'LL WRAP IT IN CABBAGE ROLL LEAVES.
[Diagram of a cross section of a layered food item]
WHAT ABOUT THE FRUIT ROLL-UP?
THAT GOES AROUND THE
CINNAMON ROLL LAYER.
A WIKIPEDIA OMNIROLL IS A CYLINDRICAL FOOD CONTAINING ONE LAYER
OF EVERY ITEM FROM THE WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE "LIST OF ROLLED FOODS."](/proxy/post_attachment/639860/aeebf8ebf8.png "Description:
Single panel. Three stick figures stand around a table with a cylindrical food item. A complex cross-section diagram of the food roll is displayed on the wall.
Transcript:
OKAY, WE'VE ROLLED THE SPRING ROLL BURRITO IN BREADCRUMBS
AND FRIED IT. NOW WE'LL WRAP IT IN CABBAGE ROLL LEAVES.
[Diagram of a cross section of a layered food item]
WHAT ABOUT THE FRUIT ROLL-UP?
THAT GOES AROUND THE
CINNAMON ROLL LAYER.
A WIKIPEDIA OMNIROLL IS A CYLINDRICAL FOOD CONTAINING ONE LAYER
OF EVERY ITEM FROM THE WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE \"LIST OF ROLLED FOODS.\"")
#xkcd No. 3059
Date: 2025-3-5
Title: Water Damage
Alt text: Your homeowner's insurance might cover it, but be sure to check the subductible.
https://xkcd.com/3059/
![Description:
Single-panel xkcd comic. Stick figures discuss water damage and a subduction zone. One figure shows a diagram of subduction and volcanos.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
THE CRUST UNDER YOUR
HOUSE SHOWS SIGNS OF
WATER DAMAGE. IS THERE A
SUBDUCTION ZONE NEARBY?
UH, I THINK THERE'S
ONE OFF THE COAST.
OOF. I WAS
AFRAID OF THAT.
Panel 2:
SUBDUCTING HYDROUS
MINERALS CARRY WATER
DOWN INTO THE MANTLE,
CAUSING MELTING IN THE
OVERLYING CRUST. IF YOU
LET THIS GO, YOU'LL HAVE
VOLCANOES EVERYWHERE.
[A simple diagram shows a cross-section of a subduction zone. A home is visible on the top of the continental crust.]
Panel 3:
IS THERE ANY SOLUTION?
GIANT LITHOSPHERIC
DEHUMIDIFIERS. BUT
THE INSTALLATION
WON'T BE CHEAP.
OH NO...](/proxy/post_attachment/637432/b76eb98c07.png "Description:
Single-panel xkcd comic. Stick figures discuss water damage and a subduction zone. One figure shows a diagram of subduction and volcanos.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
THE CRUST UNDER YOUR
HOUSE SHOWS SIGNS OF
WATER DAMAGE. IS THERE A
SUBDUCTION ZONE NEARBY?
UH, I THINK THERE'S
ONE OFF THE COAST.
OOF. I WAS
AFRAID OF THAT.
Panel 2:
SUBDUCTING HYDROUS
MINERALS CARRY WATER
DOWN INTO THE MANTLE,
CAUSING MELTING IN THE
OVERLYING CRUST. IF YOU
LET THIS GO, YOU'LL HAVE
VOLCANOES EVERYWHERE.
[A simple diagram shows a cross-section of a subduction zone. A home is visible on the top of the continental crust.]
Panel 3:
IS THERE ANY SOLUTION?
GIANT LITHOSPHERIC
DEHUMIDIFIERS. BUT
THE INSTALLATION
WON'T BE CHEAP.
OH NO...")
#xkcd No. 3049
Date: 2025-2-10
Title: Incoming Asteroid
Alt text: The bottom ones are also potentially bad news for any other planets in our solar system that have been counting on Earth having a stable orbit.
https://xkcd.com/3049/
#xkcd No. 3080
Date: 2025-4-23
Title: Tennis Balls
Alt text: After initial tests created a series of large holes in the wall of the lab, the higher-power Scanning Tunneling Tennis Ball Microscope project was quickly shut down.
https://xkcd.com/3080/
![Description: Comic shows 2 panels. Stick figures use a tennis ball machine to bonk another person for measurement. "Scanning Tennis Ball Microscope" is the joke.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
[Two stick figures stand near a tennis ball machine on a tripod, with tennis balls being shot into the distance.]
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
Panel 2:
OK, THERE'S DEFINITELY A PERSON OVER THERE. LET'S DO ONE MORE PASS TO TRY TO MEASURE THEIR HEIGHT.
[Same two stick figures stand near a tennis ball machine on a tripod. A series of "BONK" and "OW!" sounds are located on the right side.]
BONK
BONK
BONK
BONK
BONK
OW!
BONK
OW!
BONK
BONK
ELECTRONS ARE SMALL AND HARD TO WORK WITH, SO SOME SCIENTISTS HAVE DEVELOPED A SCANNING TENNIS BALL MICROSCOPE INSTEAD.](/proxy/post_attachment/689682/b5e944e9c5.png "Description: Comic shows 2 panels. Stick figures use a tennis ball machine to bonk another person for measurement. \"Scanning Tennis Ball Microscope\" is the joke.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
[Two stick figures stand near a tennis ball machine on a tripod, with tennis balls being shot into the distance.]
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
THUNK
Panel 2:
OK, THERE'S DEFINITELY A PERSON OVER THERE. LET'S DO ONE MORE PASS TO TRY TO MEASURE THEIR HEIGHT.
[Same two stick figures stand near a tennis ball machine on a tripod. A series of \"BONK\" and \"OW!\" sounds are located on the right side.]
BONK
BONK
BONK
BONK
BONK
OW!
BONK
OW!
BONK
BONK
ELECTRONS ARE SMALL AND HARD TO WORK WITH, SO SOME SCIENTISTS HAVE DEVELOPED A SCANNING TENNIS BALL MICROSCOPE INSTEAD.")
#xkcd No. 3070
Date: 2025-3-31
Title: Orogeny
Alt text: Most properties can only boast INDOOR heated floors.
https://xkcd.com/3070/
#xkcd No. 3061
Date: 2025-3-10
Title: Water Balloons
Alt text: Update: The physics department has recruited an astronomer who studies meteor fireballs.
https://xkcd.com/3061/
![Description:
A graph showing mass vs. lifetime. Stick figures throw water balloons. Labeled points are "Mesons," "Flying Water Balloons," and "Planets."
Transcript:
[Chart showing log-log plot of mass versus lifetime. The X axis is labelled "LIFETIME" and goes from 10^-20 s to 10^20 s. The Y axis is labelled "MASS" and goes from 10^-30 kg to 10^30 kg.]
[Near the bottom left, the point (10^-20 s, 10^-30 kg) is labelled "MESONS" in a dashed rounded box.]
[In the center, the point (1 second, 1 kg) is labelled "FLYING WATER BALLOONS" in a dashed rounded box. Stick figures are shown throwing water balloons around the Flying Water Balloons point. One figure is being hit with a water balloon and the word "SPLOOSH!" appears.]
[Near the top right, the point (10^10 s, 10^20 kg) is labelled "PLANETS" in a dashed rounded box.]
[Arrows goes from "MESONS" to "FLYING WATER BALLOONS" and "FLYING WATER BALLOONS" to "PLANETS"]
IN THE ANNUAL INTERDEPARTMENTAL WATER BALLOON FIGHT, MESON PARTICLE
PHYSICISTS AND PLANETARY SCIENTISTS ARE USUALLY EVENLY MATCHED,
SINCE THEY'RE BOTH EQUALLY FAR OUTSIDE THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE.](/proxy/post_attachment/643264/da4e338d46.png "Description:
A graph showing mass vs. lifetime. Stick figures throw water balloons. Labeled points are \"Mesons,\" \"Flying Water Balloons,\" and \"Planets.\"
Transcript:
[Chart showing log-log plot of mass versus lifetime. The X axis is labelled \"LIFETIME\" and goes from 10^-20 s to 10^20 s. The Y axis is labelled \"MASS\" and goes from 10^-30 kg to 10^30 kg.]
[Near the bottom left, the point (10^-20 s, 10^-30 kg) is labelled \"MESONS\" in a dashed rounded box.]
[In the center, the point (1 second, 1 kg) is labelled \"FLYING WATER BALLOONS\" in a dashed rounded box. Stick figures are shown throwing water balloons around the Flying Water Balloons point. One figure is being hit with a water balloon and the word \"SPLOOSH!\" appears.]
[Near the top right, the point (10^10 s, 10^20 kg) is labelled \"PLANETS\" in a dashed rounded box.]
[Arrows goes from \"MESONS\" to \"FLYING WATER BALLOONS\" and \"FLYING WATER BALLOONS\" to \"PLANETS\"]
IN THE ANNUAL INTERDEPARTMENTAL WATER BALLOON FIGHT, MESON PARTICLE
PHYSICISTS AND PLANETARY SCIENTISTS ARE USUALLY EVENLY MATCHED,
SINCE THEY'RE BOTH EQUALLY FAR OUTSIDE THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE.")
#xkcd No. 3062
Date: 2025-3-12
Title: Off By One
Alt text: It does come at the small cost of a LOT more off-by-40-or-50 errors.
https://xkcd.com/3062/
#xkcd No. 3200
Date: 2026-1-28
Title: Chemical Formula
Alt text: Some of the atoms in the molecule are very weakly bound.
https://xkcd.com/3200/
![Description:
A wide panel displays a chemical formula written in a single line. It lists elements starting with Carbon and Hydrogen, then alphabetically, with subscripts indicating the total count of atoms.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
[A long chemical formula using scientific notation for subscripts runs across the panel. The elements are ordered by the Hill system (C, H first) then alphabetically.]
C_{10^{76}}H_{10^{80}}Ac_{10^{67}}Ag_{10^{69}}Al_{10^{75}}Am_{10^{26}}Ar_{10^{75}}As_{10^{70}}At_{10^{47}}Au_{10^{69}}B_{10^{71}}Ba_{10^{70}}Be...
Caption: THE APPROXIMATE CHEMICAL FORMULA FOR THE UNIVERSE](/proxy/post_attachment/977503/4d9b2cda66.png "Description:
A wide panel displays a chemical formula written in a single line. It lists elements starting with Carbon and Hydrogen, then alphabetically, with subscripts indicating the total count of atoms.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
[A long chemical formula using scientific notation for subscripts runs across the panel. The elements are ordered by the Hill system (C, H first) then alphabetically.]
C_{10^{76}}H_{10^{80}}Ac_{10^{67}}Ag_{10^{69}}Al_{10^{75}}Am_{10^{26}}Ar_{10^{75}}As_{10^{70}}At_{10^{47}}Au_{10^{69}}B_{10^{71}}Ba_{10^{70}}Be...
Caption: THE APPROXIMATE CHEMICAL FORMULA FOR THE UNIVERSE")
#xkcd No. 3202
Date: 2026-2-2
Title: Groundhog Day Meaning
Alt text: Originally, the ceremony used a variety of rodents and mustelids, but over time most people agreed it made sense to standardize on a specific individual ground squirrel in Pennsylvania.
https://xkcd.com/3202/
#xkcd No. 3063
Date: 2025-3-14
Title: Planet Definitions
Alt text: Under the 'has cleared its orbital neighborhood' and 'fuses hydrogen into helium' definitions, thanks to human activities Earth technically no longer qualifies as a planet but DOES count as a star.
https://xkcd.com/3063/
![Description:
A table compares different planetary definitions. It includes columns for definition, number of planets, and solar system representation. Uses stylized planet icons.
Transcript:
DEFINITION
# OF PLANETS
SOLAR SYSTEM
TRADITIONALIST:
PLUTO IS A PLANET
9
[Planet icons]
MODERN: PLUTO IS
NOT A PLANET
8
[Planet icons]
EXPANSIVE: DWARF
PLANETS ARE PLANETS
17+
[Planet icons]
ULTRATRADITIONALIST:
ONLY THE CLASSICAL
PLANETS ARE PLANETS
5
[Planet icons]
CONDESCENDING: ONLY GIANT
PLANETS ARE PLANETS; THE
REST ARE BIG ASTEROIDS.
4
[Planet icons]
SIMPLISTIC: ANYTHING
GRAVITATIONALLY
ROUND IS A PLANET
37+
[Planet icons]
GROUNDED: ONLY OBJECTS
A SPACESHIP HAS LANDED
ON ARE PLANETS
10
[Planet icons]
REGOLITHIC: ANYTHING
COVERED IN DIRT AND ICE
AND STUFF IS A PLANET
∞
[Planet icons]
LUNAR: YOU CAN'T
BE A PLANET IF YOU
DON'T HAVE A MOON
12+
[Planet icons]
SOLIPSISTIC: EARTH IS
THE ONLY PLANET
1
[Planet icons]
JUDGEMENTAL: ONLY
THE PRETTIEST ONES
ARE PLANETS
6
[Planet icons]
EMPIRICIST: ONLY WORLDS
THAT I, AUTHOR OF THIS
TABLE, HAVE PERSONALLY
SEEN ARE PLANETS
12
[Planet icons]
MARINE BIOLOGIST: ONLY
OBJECTS WITH OCEANS
ARE PLANETS
6+
[Planet icons]
MARITIME: ONLY OBJECTS
WITH SURFACE OCEANS
ARE PLANETS
2
[Planet icons]
UNIVERSALIST: THEY'RE
ALL PLANETS
∞
[Planet icons]
EXISTENTIALIST: WHAT
IF SPACE ITSELF IS A
PLANET???
DUUDE
[Planet icons]
SPITEFUL: ONLY PLUTO
IS A PLANET
1
[Planet icons]](/proxy/post_attachment/667709/a34c9b2d21.png "Description:
A table compares different planetary definitions. It includes columns for definition, number of planets, and solar system representation. Uses stylized planet icons.
Transcript:
DEFINITION
# OF PLANETS
SOLAR SYSTEM
TRADITIONALIST:
PLUTO IS A PLANET
9
[Planet icons]
MODERN: PLUTO IS
NOT A PLANET
8
[Planet icons]
EXPANSIVE: DWARF
PLANETS ARE PLANETS
17+
[Planet icons]
ULTRATRADITIONALIST:
ONLY THE CLASSICAL
PLANETS ARE PLANETS
5
[Planet icons]
CONDESCENDING: ONLY GIANT
PLANETS ARE PLANETS; THE
REST ARE BIG ASTEROIDS.
4
[Planet icons]
SIMPLISTIC: ANYTHING
GRAVITATIONALLY
ROUND IS A PLANET
37+
[Planet icons]
GROUNDED: ONLY OBJECTS
A SPACESHIP HAS LANDED
ON ARE PLANETS
10
[Planet icons]
REGOLITHIC: ANYTHING
COVERED IN DIRT AND ICE
AND STUFF IS A PLANET
∞
[Planet icons]
LUNAR: YOU CAN'T
BE A PLANET IF YOU
DON'T HAVE A MOON
12+
[Planet icons]
SOLIPSISTIC: EARTH IS
THE ONLY PLANET
1
[Planet icons]
JUDGEMENTAL: ONLY
THE PRETTIEST ONES
ARE PLANETS
6
[Planet icons]
EMPIRICIST: ONLY WORLDS
THAT I, AUTHOR OF THIS
TABLE, HAVE PERSONALLY
SEEN ARE PLANETS
12
[Planet icons]
MARINE BIOLOGIST: ONLY
OBJECTS WITH OCEANS
ARE PLANETS
6+
[Planet icons]
MARITIME: ONLY OBJECTS
WITH SURFACE OCEANS
ARE PLANETS
2
[Planet icons]
UNIVERSALIST: THEY'RE
ALL PLANETS
∞
[Planet icons]
EXISTENTIALIST: WHAT
IF SPACE ITSELF IS A
PLANET???
DUUDE
[Planet icons]
SPITEFUL: ONLY PLUTO
IS A PLANET
1
[Planet icons]")
Edited 1y ago
#xkcd No. 3065
Date: 2025-3-19
Title: Square Units
Alt text: The biggest I've seen in a published source in the wild is an 80-fold error in a reported distance, which I think came from a series of at least three unit conversions and area/length misinterpretations.
https://xkcd.com/3065/
#xkcd No. 3051
Date: 2025-2-14
Title: Hardwood
Alt text: They may technically have been softwoods at some point, but they definitely aren't now.
https://xkcd.com/3051/
#xkcd No. 3091
Date: 2025-5-19
Title: Renormalization
Alt text: Applying renormalization to bullies successfully transformed Pete & Pete's Endless Mike into Finite Mike.
https://xkcd.com/3091/
#xkcd No. 3203
Date: 2026-2-4
Title: Binary Star
Alt text: The discovery of a fully typographical star system comes with a big asterisk.
https://xkcd.com/3203/
![Description:
A diagram on a black background shows a solid white circle. A drawn five-pointed star shape orbits it along a dashed elliptical path.
Transcript:
Panel 1: [A diagram on a black background. A solid white circle sits slightly off-center. A dashed line traces a large elliptical orbit around it. A simple five-pointed star icon is positioned on the orbital path to the right.]
Caption: SPACE NEWS: ASTRONOMERS HAVE FOUND THE FIRST KNOWN SYSTEM WITH A MAIN-SEQUENCE STAR ORBITED BY A FIVE-POINTED ONE.](/proxy/post_attachment/984369/3fefd56ccb.png "Description:
A diagram on a black background shows a solid white circle. A drawn five-pointed star shape orbits it along a dashed elliptical path.
Transcript:
Panel 1: [A diagram on a black background. A solid white circle sits slightly off-center. A dashed line traces a large elliptical orbit around it. A simple five-pointed star icon is positioned on the orbital path to the right.]
Caption: SPACE NEWS: ASTRONOMERS HAVE FOUND THE FIRST KNOWN SYSTEM WITH A MAIN-SEQUENCE STAR ORBITED BY A FIVE-POINTED ONE.")
#xkcd No. 3068
Date: 2025-3-26
Title: Rock Identification
Alt text: 'Is it worth anything?' 'I dunno, is the answer to that question worth another $5?'
https://xkcd.com/3068/
#xkcd No. 3204
Date: 2026-2-6
Title: Dinosaurs And Non-Dinosaurs
Alt text: Staplers are actually in Pseudosuchia, making them more closely related to crocodiles than to dinosaurs.
https://xkcd.com/3204/
![Description:
A 2x2 matrix categorizes silhouettes based on two axes: "Are Dinosaurs" vs "Are Not" and "Seem Like Dinosaurs" vs "Don't Seem Like." It contrasts prehistoric beasts, birds, and random objects.
Transcript:
[The image displays a 2x2 grid chart with column and row headers.]
**Column Headers:** ARE DINOSAURS, ARE NOT DINOSAURS
**Row Headers:** SEEM LIKE DINOSAURS, DON'T SEEM LIKE DINOSAURS
**Top-Left Quadrant**
*(Intersection: Are Dinosaurs / Seem Like Dinosaurs)*
[Silhouettes of classic prehistoric dinosaurs: A Stegosaurus, a Triceratops, a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a large Sauropod (long-neck), and a smaller Raptor.]
**Top-Right Quadrant**
*(Intersection: Are Not Dinosaurs / Seem Like Dinosaurs)*
[Silhouettes of prehistoric reptiles often mistaken for dinosaurs: A large marine reptile (Mosasaur), a standing Pterosaur (Azhdarchid), a flying Pteranodon, a long-necked Plesiosaur, and a sail-backed Dimetrodon.]
**Bottom-Left Quadrant**
*(Intersection: Are Dinosaurs / Don't Seem Like Dinosaurs)*
[Silhouettes of modern birds (which are scientifically classified as avian dinosaurs): A penguin, a heron, an ostrich, a pigeon, and a flying seagull.]
**Bottom-Right Quadrant**
*(Intersection: Are Not Dinosaurs / Don't Seem Like Dinosaurs)*
[Silhouettes of random objects and beings: A squirrel, a stapler, a pineapple, a human stick figure, and a bicycle.]](/proxy/post_attachment/986022/c8a1d817ea.png "Description:
A 2x2 matrix categorizes silhouettes based on two axes: \"Are Dinosaurs\" vs \"Are Not\" and \"Seem Like Dinosaurs\" vs \"Don't Seem Like.\" It contrasts prehistoric beasts, birds, and random objects.
Transcript:
[The image displays a 2x2 grid chart with column and row headers.]
**Column Headers:** ARE DINOSAURS, ARE NOT DINOSAURS
**Row Headers:** SEEM LIKE DINOSAURS, DON'T SEEM LIKE DINOSAURS
**Top-Left Quadrant**
*(Intersection: Are Dinosaurs / Seem Like Dinosaurs)*
[Silhouettes of classic prehistoric dinosaurs: A Stegosaurus, a Triceratops, a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a large Sauropod (long-neck), and a smaller Raptor.]
**Top-Right Quadrant**
*(Intersection: Are Not Dinosaurs / Seem Like Dinosaurs)*
[Silhouettes of prehistoric reptiles often mistaken for dinosaurs: A large marine reptile (Mosasaur), a standing Pterosaur (Azhdarchid), a flying Pteranodon, a long-necked Plesiosaur, and a sail-backed Dimetrodon.]
**Bottom-Left Quadrant**
*(Intersection: Are Dinosaurs / Don't Seem Like Dinosaurs)*
[Silhouettes of modern birds (which are scientifically classified as avian dinosaurs): A penguin, a heron, an ostrich, a pigeon, and a flying seagull.]
**Bottom-Right Quadrant**
*(Intersection: Are Not Dinosaurs / Don't Seem Like Dinosaurs)*
[Silhouettes of random objects and beings: A squirrel, a stapler, a pineapple, a human stick figure, and a bicycle.]")