#xkcd No. 2905
Date: 2024-3-11
Title: Supergroup
Alt text: I love their cover of 1,200 Balloons, Dalmatians, and Miles.
https://xkcd.com/2905/
xkcd
#xkcd No. 2996
Date: 2024-10-9
Title: CIDABM
Alt text: There's a heated debate over whether the big island of Tierra del Fuego should qualify for membership.
https://xkcd.com/2996/
#xkcd No. 2906
Date: 2024-3-13
Title: Earth
Alt text: Just think of all the countless petty squabbles and misunderstandings, of all the fervent hatreds, over so insignificant a thing as the direction and duration of a rocket engine firing.
https://xkcd.com/2906/
#xkcd No. 2907
Date: 2024-3-15
Title: Schwa
Alt text: Doug's cousin, the one from London, runs a Bumble love cult.
https://xkcd.com/2907/
#xkcd No. 2904
Date: 2024-3-8
Title: Physics vs. Magic
Alt text: 'At the stroke of midnight, your brother will be hurtling sideways at an altitude of 150 meters' is a regular physics prediction about your nonmagical trebuchet, whereas 'you are cursed to build a brother-launching trebuchet' falls out of the Lagrangian.
https://xkcd.com/2904/
#xkcd No. 3139
Date: 2025-9-8
Title: Chess Variant
Alt text: The draw-by-repetition rule does a good job of keeping players from sliding a tile back and forth repeatedly, but the tiles definitely introduce some weird en passant and castling edge cases.
https://xkcd.com/3139/
![Description:
A chessboard is depicted as a sliding tile puzzle. A rectangular block of squares has been slid downwards, displacing several chess pieces.
Transcript:
[The image shows a chessboard modified to resemble a sliding tile puzzle. A 2x3 block of squares has been slid down one square, creating a gap and misaligning the pieces. The game pieces are on the board in a configuration resembling the start of a game, but altered by the sliding section.]
Caption: SLIDING NUMBER PUZZLE CHESS](/proxy/post_attachment/849227/32877d1d4f.png "Description:
A chessboard is depicted as a sliding tile puzzle. A rectangular block of squares has been slid downwards, displacing several chess pieces.
Transcript:
[The image shows a chessboard modified to resemble a sliding tile puzzle. A 2x3 block of squares has been slid down one square, creating a gap and misaligning the pieces. The game pieces are on the board in a configuration resembling the start of a game, but altered by the sliding section.]
Caption: SLIDING NUMBER PUZZLE CHESS")
#xkcd No. 3138
Date: 2025-9-5
Title: Dimensional Lumber Tape Measure
Alt text: A person with two watches is never sure what time it is, especially if I got them one of the watches.
https://xkcd.com/3138/
![Description:
An advertisement for a "Dimensional Lumber Tape Measure," showing a diagram of a 2x4's actual size and a comparison of two rulers' markings.
Transcript:
Title: DIMENSIONAL LUMBER TAPE MEASURE
[The comic is a single panel, laid out like an advertisement.]
Text: DIMENSIONAL LUMBER SIZES ARE TRICKY. A "2x4" IS ACTUALLY 1½" BY 3½", AND A "1x8" IS ¾" BY 7¼".
[A diagram shows a piece of lumber labeled "2x4" with its actual dimensions marked as 1½" high and 3½" wide.]
Text: IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE INTO CARPENTRY OR WOODWORKING, GET THEM OUR DIMENSIONAL LUMBER TAPE MEASURE.
[Two tape measure cases are shown. One is for a standard 12-foot tape. The other is for a 12-foot* tape, with an asterisk.]
Label: NORMAL TAPE MEASURE:
[A ruler with standard, evenly spaced inch markings from 1 to 9 is shown.]
Label: DIMENSIONAL LUMBER TAPE MEASURE:
[A second ruler is shown below the first for comparison. Its numbered markings are spaced farther apart.]
Text: DON'T TELL THEM YOU GOT IT—JUST LEAVE IT IN THEIR TOOLBOX. THEY'LL APPRECIATE THE SURPRISE WHEN ALL THEIR MEASUREMENTS WORK OUT](/proxy/post_attachment/847591/e8e94c91ea.png "Description:
An advertisement for a \"Dimensional Lumber Tape Measure,\" showing a diagram of a 2x4's actual size and a comparison of two rulers' markings.
Transcript:
Title: DIMENSIONAL LUMBER TAPE MEASURE
[The comic is a single panel, laid out like an advertisement.]
Text: DIMENSIONAL LUMBER SIZES ARE TRICKY. A \"2x4\" IS ACTUALLY 1½\" BY 3½\", AND A \"1x8\" IS ¾\" BY 7¼\".
[A diagram shows a piece of lumber labeled \"2x4\" with its actual dimensions marked as 1½\" high and 3½\" wide.]
Text: IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE INTO CARPENTRY OR WOODWORKING, GET THEM OUR DIMENSIONAL LUMBER TAPE MEASURE.
[Two tape measure cases are shown. One is for a standard 12-foot tape. The other is for a 12-foot* tape, with an asterisk.]
Label: NORMAL TAPE MEASURE:
[A ruler with standard, evenly spaced inch markings from 1 to 9 is shown.]
Label: DIMENSIONAL LUMBER TAPE MEASURE:
[A second ruler is shown below the first for comparison. Its numbered markings are spaced farther apart.]
Text: DON'T TELL THEM YOU GOT IT—JUST LEAVE IT IN THEIR TOOLBOX. THEY'LL APPRECIATE THE SURPRISE WHEN ALL THEIR MEASUREMENTS WORK OUT")
#xkcd No. 3137
Date: 2025-9-3
Title: Cursed Number
Alt text: Another group of mathematicians is working to put an upper bound on the number, although everyone keeps begging them to stop.
https://xkcd.com/3137/
![Description:
A representative from the Math Dept, standing at a lectern, presents to two people. A screen behind them shows an equation with a skull symbol.
Transcript:
[The comic shows a single panel above a caption.]
Panel:
[Three figures are at what appears to be a press conference. One stands behind a lectern labeled "MATH DEPT". Behind them, a projector screen displays a formula.]
On screen: [A skull and crossbones symbol] > 2.6×10²¹
Caption:
GOOD NEWS: MATHEMATICIANS HAVE PUT A NEW LOWER BOUND ON THE CURSED NUMBER THAT DESTROYS THE MINDS OF ALL WHO PERCEIVE IT!
IT'S AT LEAST 22 DIGITS, WHICH MEANS IT'S UNLIKELY TO BE SEEN BY ANY HUMAN NO MATTER HOW MANY RANDOM NUMBERS THEY LOOK AT.
THEY SAY IT'S ONCE AGAIN SAFE TO VIEW LARGE RANDOM NUMBERS WITHOUT EYE PROTECTION.](/proxy/post_attachment/847595/bdd4580f16.png "Description:
A representative from the Math Dept, standing at a lectern, presents to two people. A screen behind them shows an equation with a skull symbol.
Transcript:
[The comic shows a single panel above a caption.]
Panel:
[Three figures are at what appears to be a press conference. One stands behind a lectern labeled \"MATH DEPT\". Behind them, a projector screen displays a formula.]
On screen: [A skull and crossbones symbol] > 2.6×10²¹
Caption:
GOOD NEWS: MATHEMATICIANS HAVE PUT A NEW LOWER BOUND ON THE CURSED NUMBER THAT DESTROYS THE MINDS OF ALL WHO PERCEIVE IT!
IT'S AT LEAST 22 DIGITS, WHICH MEANS IT'S UNLIKELY TO BE SEEN BY ANY HUMAN NO MATTER HOW MANY RANDOM NUMBERS THEY LOOK AT.
THEY SAY IT'S ONCE AGAIN SAFE TO VIEW LARGE RANDOM NUMBERS WITHOUT EYE PROTECTION.")
#xkcd No. 2908
Date: 2024-3-18
Title: Moon Armor Index
Alt text: Astronomers are a little unsure of the applicability of this index, but NASA's Planetary Protection Officer is all in favor.
https://xkcd.com/2908/
#xkcd No. 2909
Date: 2024-3-20
Title: Moon Landing Mission Profiles
Alt text: If you pick a low enough orbit, it gives you a lot of freedom to use a lightweight launch vehicle such as a stepladder.
https://xkcd.com/2909/
#xkcd No. 3140
Date: 2025-9-10
Title: Biology Department
Alt text: Welcome to the Linguistics Department - It has been [2] [DAYS] since someone noticed that the Biology Department sign has a one-day-long singular/plural disagreement after it resets.
https://xkcd.com/3140/
![Description:
A large sign with a digital number display stands on a lawn in front of a two-story university building.
Transcript:
[A sign in front of the Biology Department building reads:]
WELCOME TO THE
BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
IT HAS BEEN [3] DAYS SINCE WE DISCOVERED SOMETHING EXISTENTIALLY HORRIFYING ABOUT BUGS THAT MAKES YOU QUESTION YOUR WHOLE REALITY](/proxy/post_attachment/851063/ba93b187d8.png "Description:
A large sign with a digital number display stands on a lawn in front of a two-story university building.
Transcript:
[A sign in front of the Biology Department building reads:]
WELCOME TO THE
BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
IT HAS BEEN [3] DAYS SINCE WE DISCOVERED SOMETHING EXISTENTIALLY HORRIFYING ABOUT BUGS THAT MAKES YOU QUESTION YOUR WHOLE REALITY")
#xkcd No. 2941
Date: 2024-6-3
Title: Cell Organelles
Alt text: It's believed that Golgi was originally an independent organism who was eventually absorbed into our cells, where he began work on his Apparatus.
https://xkcd.com/2941/
#xkcd No. 2913
Date: 2024-3-29
Title: Periodic Table Regions
Alt text: Cesium-133, let it be. Cesium-134, let it be even more.
https://xkcd.com/2913/
#xkcd No. 2914
Date: 2024-4-1
Title: Eclipse Coolness
Alt text: A partial eclipse is like a cool sunset. A total eclipse is like someone broke the sky.
https://xkcd.com/2914/
#xkcd No. 2912
Date: 2024-3-27
Title: Cursive Letters
Alt text: 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓬𝓪𝓹𝓲𝓽𝓪𝓵 𝓛 𝓲𝓼 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓫𝓪𝓫𝓵𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓯𝓾𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮, 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓵𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓬𝓪𝓼𝓮 𝓺 𝓲𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝓼𝓸 𝓪 𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻.
https://xkcd.com/2912/
#xkcd No. 2915
Date: 2024-4-3
Title: Eclipse Clouds
Alt text: The rare compound solar-lunar-nephelogical eclipse
https://xkcd.com/2915/
#xkcd No. 2917
Date: 2024-4-8
Title: Types of Eclipse Photo
Alt text: The most rare, top-tier eclipse photo would be the Solar Earth Eclipse, but the Apollo 12 crew's attempt to capture it was marred by camera shake. They said it looked spectacular, though.
https://xkcd.com/2917/
#xkcd No. 2919
Date: 2024-4-12
Title: Sitting in a Tree
Alt text: First comes blood / Then we perish / Then comes Death in his Eternity Carriage.
https://xkcd.com/2919/
#xkcd No. 2920
Date: 2024-4-15
Title: Survey Marker
Alt text: Fun fact: The standard North American NAD83 coordinate system is misaligned from the actual Earth, off-center by about 7 feet. Someone knows where I am, and I'm in the wrong place.
https://xkcd.com/2920/
#xkcd No. 2921
Date: 2024-4-18
Title: Eclipse Path Maps
Alt text: Okay, this eclipse will only be visible from the Arctic in February 2063, when the sun is below the horizon, BUT if we get lucky and a gigantic chasm opens in the Earth in just the right spot...
https://xkcd.com/2921/
#xkcd No. 2925
Date: 2024-4-26
Title: Earth Formation Site
Alt text: It's not far from the sign marking the exact latitude and longitude of the Earth's core.
https://xkcd.com/2925/
#xkcd No. 2924
Date: 2024-4-24
Title: Pendulum Types
Alt text: The creepy fingers that grow from a vibrating cornstarch-water mix can be modeled as a chain of inverted vertical pendulums (DOI:10.1039/c4sm00265b) and are believed to be the fingers of Maxwell's Demon trying to push through into our universe.
https://xkcd.com/2924/
#xkcd No. 2926
Date: 2024-4-29
Title: Doppler Effect
Alt text: The Doppler effect is a mysterious wavelength-shifting phenomenon which seems to primarily affect sirens, which is why the 🚨 emoji is red.
https://xkcd.com/2926/
#xkcd No. 2930
Date: 2024-5-8
Title: Google Solar Cycle
Alt text: From Google Trends, it looks like the lag between people Googling cocktail recipes and 'hangover cure' is 14 hours.
https://xkcd.com/2930/
#xkcd No. 2933
Date: 2024-5-15
Title: Elementary Physics Paths
Alt text: ==COSMOLOGY==> 'Uhhh ... how sure are we that everything is made of these?'
https://xkcd.com/2933/
