#xkcd No. 3035
Date: 2025-1-8
Title: Trimix
Alt text: You don't want the nitrogen percentage to be too high or you run the risk of eutrophication.
https://xkcd.com/3035/
xkcd
#xkcd No. 3029
Date: 2024-12-25
Title: Sun Avoidance
Alt text: C'mon, ESA Solar Orbiter team, just give the Parker probe a LITTLE nudge at aphelion. Crash it into the sun. Fulfill the dream of Icarus. It is your destiny.
https://xkcd.com/3029/
#xkcd No. 3041
Date: 2025-1-22
Title: Unit Circle
Alt text: They're continuing to search for a square with the same area as the circle, as efforts to construct one have run into difficulties.
https://xkcd.com/3041/
#xkcd No. 3039
Date: 2025-1-17
Title: Human Altitude
Alt text: I wonder what surviving human held the record before balloons (excluding edge cases like jumping gaps on a mountain bridge). Probably it was someone falling from a cliff into snow or water, but maybe it involved something weird like a gunpowder explosion or volcano.
https://xkcd.com/3039/
#xkcd No. 3030
Date: 2024-12-27
Title: Lasering Incidents
Alt text: I still don't know how the police found my compound where I ran an illegal searchlight depot/covert blimp airfield/fireworks testing range.
https://xkcd.com/3030/
#xkcd No. 3043
Date: 2025-1-27
Title: Muons
Alt text: Update: I've been banned from the physics department for the way I pronounce "Doppler effect."
https://xkcd.com/3043/
#xkcd No. 3053
Date: 2025-2-19
Title: KM3NeT
Alt text: Unfortunately, KM3NeT led to the discovery of the Pauli anglerfish, which emits Cherenkov radiation to prey on neutrino researchers.
https://xkcd.com/3053/
![Description:
Single panel xkcd comic. Three stick figures stand by a projector screen showing underwater telescope modules. Text explains Cherenkov radiation.
Transcript:
THE KM3NET DEEP-WATER TELESCOPE
DETECTS THE FLASHES OF CHERENKOV
LIGHT FROM NEUTRINO INTERACTIONS.
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU
AREN'T JUST SEEING
BIOLUMINESCENT FISH?
CHERENKOV RADIATION IS
ONLY EMITTED WHEN THINGS
EXCEED THE LOCAL SPEED
OF LIGHT, SO IT CAN'T BE
PRODUCED BY UNDER-C LIFE.
[Projector screen displays a diagram of a telescope module underwater]](/proxy/post_attachment/621531/40daf9b914.png "Description:
Single panel xkcd comic. Three stick figures stand by a projector screen showing underwater telescope modules. Text explains Cherenkov radiation.
Transcript:
THE KM3NET DEEP-WATER TELESCOPE
DETECTS THE FLASHES OF CHERENKOV
LIGHT FROM NEUTRINO INTERACTIONS.
HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU
AREN'T JUST SEEING
BIOLUMINESCENT FISH?
CHERENKOV RADIATION IS
ONLY EMITTED WHEN THINGS
EXCEED THE LOCAL SPEED
OF LIGHT, SO IT CAN'T BE
PRODUCED BY UNDER-C LIFE.
[Projector screen displays a diagram of a telescope module underwater]")
#xkcd No. 3066
Date: 2025-3-21
Title: Cosmic Distance Calibration
Alt text: This is the biggest breakthrough since astronomers noticed that the little crosshairs around red giant stars starting to burn helium are all the same size.
https://xkcd.com/3066/
![Description: A single-panel xkcd comic. A stick figure with a ponytail holds a pointer in front of a framed image of space. A magnified inset shows data.
Transcript:
[Image of a framed photo of a galaxy with tiny labels on the stars. A larger circle shows one of the labels magnified to read "M106 0-06 DISTANCE: 23.6163 MLY". A stick figure stands at a podium and points toward the image.]
COSMOLOGY NEWS: NEW TELESCOPES
ARE FINALLY POWERFUL ENOUGH TO
READ THE LITTLE LABELS NEXT TO STARS
SHOWING HOW FAR AWAY THEY ARE.](/proxy/post_attachment/655312/431586ab4f.png "Description: A single-panel xkcd comic. A stick figure with a ponytail holds a pointer in front of a framed image of space. A magnified inset shows data.
Transcript:
[Image of a framed photo of a galaxy with tiny labels on the stars. A larger circle shows one of the labels magnified to read \"M106 0-06 DISTANCE: 23.6163 MLY\". A stick figure stands at a podium and points toward the image.]
COSMOLOGY NEWS: NEW TELESCOPES
ARE FINALLY POWERFUL ENOUGH TO
READ THE LITTLE LABELS NEXT TO STARS
SHOWING HOW FAR AWAY THEY ARE.")
#xkcd No. 3044
Date: 2025-1-29
Title: Humidifier Review
Alt text: They should add a little sticker that certifies that the humidifier supports water conservation, but in the sense of energy conservation or momentum conservation.
https://xkcd.com/3044/
Sorry, last one, I promise.
Built another @botkit bot, if you tag @tmnt w/ some text it will generate a TMNT logo for you using an API on a @glitchdotcom site:
https://tmnt-logo.glitch.me/.
Relevant XKCD
Bot Source Code
Glitch Logo Generator Source Code
#xkcd No. 3045
Date: 2025-1-31
Title: AlphaMove
Alt text: It struggles a little with complex positions, like when there are an even number of moves and it has to round down, but when run against itself it's capable of finding some novelties. At one point I saw six knights on the board at once; Stockfish rarely exceeds four.
https://xkcd.com/3045/
#xkcd No. 3054
Date: 2025-2-21
Title: Scream Cipher
Alt text: AAAAAA A ÃA̧AȂA̦ ǍÅÂÃĀÁȂ AAAAAAA!
https://xkcd.com/3054/
#xkcd No. 3046
Date: 2025-2-3
Title: Stromatolites
Alt text: If only my ancestors had been fortunate enough to marry into the branch of the bacteria family that could photosynthesize, like all my little green cousins here.
https://xkcd.com/3046/
#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. 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.")