#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/
xkcd
![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. 3050
Date: 2025-2-12
Title: Atom
Alt text: What's weirder is that muons turned out to be INCREDIBLY cute.
https://xkcd.com/3050/
#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. 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 96d 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. 3064
Date: 2025-3-17
Title: Lungfish
Alt text: I know having so many base pairs makes rebasing complicated, but you're in Bilateria, so shouldn't you at LEAST be better at using git head?
https://xkcd.com/3064/
#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. 3052
Date: 2025-2-17
Title: Archive Request
Alt text: They just want researchers in the enclosure to feel enriched and stimulated. ('The Enclosure' is what archivists call the shadowy world outside their archives in which so many people are trapped.)
https://xkcd.com/3052/
![Description:
Single-panel xkcd comic of a stick figure at a computer, expressing frustration, while text above and below describe library data access.
Transcript:
TO REQUEST DATA FROM THE ARCHIVES,
FILL OUT THIS FORM. THE PAGES WILL
BE SCANNED, ENCODED TO CD-ROM, AND
MAILED TO YOU WITHIN IO BUSINESS DAYS.
DOWNLOAD THE DECODER FOR
OUR PROPRIETARY FORMAT HERE
(REQUIRES WINDOWS 98® OR XP®)
[A stick figure sits in a rolling chair at a desk with a laptop, looking at the screen.]
UGH, FINE...
ARCHIVISTS ACTUALLY HAVE EVERYTHING IN DIGITAL
REPOS NOW, BUT THEY STILL DO THIS TO PROVIDE
ENRICHMENT FOR RESEARCHERS, THE WAY ZOOS
HIDE FOOD FOR ANIMALS IN HARD-TO-OPEN BOXES.](/proxy/post_attachment/618521/2f8f181d4d.png "Description:
Single-panel xkcd comic of a stick figure at a computer, expressing frustration, while text above and below describe library data access.
Transcript:
TO REQUEST DATA FROM THE ARCHIVES,
FILL OUT THIS FORM. THE PAGES WILL
BE SCANNED, ENCODED TO CD-ROM, AND
MAILED TO YOU WITHIN IO BUSINESS DAYS.
DOWNLOAD THE DECODER FOR
OUR PROPRIETARY FORMAT HERE
(REQUIRES WINDOWS 98® OR XP®)
[A stick figure sits in a rolling chair at a desk with a laptop, looking at the screen.]
UGH, FINE...
ARCHIVISTS ACTUALLY HAVE EVERYTHING IN DIGITAL
REPOS NOW, BUT THEY STILL DO THIS TO PROVIDE
ENRICHMENT FOR RESEARCHERS, THE WAY ZOOS
HIDE FOOD FOR ANIMALS IN HARD-TO-OPEN BOXES.")
#xkcd No. 3069
Date: 2025-3-28
Title: Terror Bird
Alt text: There has long been debate about Big Bird's species, with some experts claiming he was a canary, but recent genetic analysis places him firmly in Cariamiformes.
https://xkcd.com/3069/
#xkcd No. 3081
Date: 2025-4-25
Title: PhD Timeline
Alt text: Rümeysa Öztürk was grabbed off the street in my town one month ago.
https://xkcd.com/3081/
![Description:
Flowchart of a US Ph.D. program timeline. The left side is processes; right side branches into coursework and research. The last steps are crossed out.
Transcript:
US PH.D. PROGRAM TIMELINE
ENROLLMENT
MEET WITH ADVISOR
↓
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
↓
QUALIFYING EXAMS
↓
PROPOSE DISSERTATION
↓
RESEARCH
AND WRITE
DISSERTATION
COURSEWORK
RESEARCH
[Red text and arrows point to the end of the traditional Ph.D. timeline]
SUBMIT
DISSERTATION
DEFEND
DISSERTATION
GET GRABBED OFF THE
SIDEWALK OUTSIDE YOUR
HOME BY MASKED
GOVERNMENT AGENTS
↓
BE WHISKED OUT OF THE
STATE BEFORE A JUDGE
HAS TIME TO INTERVENE
↓
????](/proxy/post_attachment/691205/156d60622e.png "Description:
Flowchart of a US Ph.D. program timeline. The left side is processes; right side branches into coursework and research. The last steps are crossed out.
Transcript:
US PH.D. PROGRAM TIMELINE
ENROLLMENT
MEET WITH ADVISOR
↓
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
↓
QUALIFYING EXAMS
↓
PROPOSE DISSERTATION
↓
RESEARCH
AND WRITE
DISSERTATION
COURSEWORK
RESEARCH
[Red text and arrows point to the end of the traditional Ph.D. timeline]
SUBMIT
DISSERTATION
DEFEND
DISSERTATION
GET GRABBED OFF THE
SIDEWALK OUTSIDE YOUR
HOME BY MASKED
GOVERNMENT AGENTS
↓
BE WHISKED OUT OF THE
STATE BEFORE A JUDGE
HAS TIME TO INTERVENE
↓
????")
#xkcd No. 3094
Date: 2025-5-26
Title: Mass Spec
Alt text: Patients at least found it to be an improvement over Millikan's incredibly messy and unpleasant oil drop suspension procedure.
https://xkcd.com/3094/
![Description:
A single panel comic with two stick figures, one person handing the other a balloon. In the background is a swing, a hanging magnet, and a target on the wall.
Transcript:
[Panel 1]
RUB THIS BALLOON AGAINST YOUR HEAD, THEN GO JUMP PAST THAT MAGNET TOWARD THE TARGET ON THE WALL.
[A female stick figure in a lab coat hands a balloon to a male stick figure.]
[A swing is in the background.]
[A hanging magnet is in the background.]
[A target on the wall in the background.]
BEFORE THE BATHROOM SCALE WAS INVENTED, THE ONLY WAY TO WEIGH PEOPLE WAS MASS SPECTROMETRY.](/proxy/post_attachment/721849/fc87d82c58.png "Description:
A single panel comic with two stick figures, one person handing the other a balloon. In the background is a swing, a hanging magnet, and a target on the wall.
Transcript:
[Panel 1]
RUB THIS BALLOON AGAINST YOUR HEAD, THEN GO JUMP PAST THAT MAGNET TOWARD THE TARGET ON THE WALL.
[A female stick figure in a lab coat hands a balloon to a male stick figure.]
[A swing is in the background.]
[A hanging magnet is in the background.]
[A target on the wall in the background.]
BEFORE THE BATHROOM SCALE WAS INVENTED, THE ONLY WAY TO WEIGH PEOPLE WAS MASS SPECTROMETRY.")
#xkcd No. 3082
Date: 2025-4-28
Title: Chess Position
Alt text: It's important to learn the moves that take you into the vortex, but it's best not to study vortex itself too closely. Even grandmasters who have built up a tolerance lose the ability to play for a few hours after studying it.
https://xkcd.com/3082/
#xkcd No. 3074
Date: 2025-4-9
Title: Push Notifications
Alt text: NOTIFICATION: Now dismissing a head of the Notification Hydra… NOTIFICATION: Success! You have dismissed a head of the Notification Hydra!
https://xkcd.com/3074/
(This comic contains interactive elements, best viewed on xkcd. )
Edited 89d ago
#xkcd No. 3102
Date: 2025-6-13
Title: Reading a Big Number
Alt text: [desperately] Maybe this is from some country where they use commas as decimal points, and also as digit separators after the decimal, and also use random other characters for decoration???
https://xkcd.com/3102/
#xkcd No. 3083
Date: 2025-4-30
Title: Jupiter Core
Alt text: Juno mission data suggests that Jupiter actually contains Matryoshka doll-style nested copies of every other planet in the Solar System.
https://xkcd.com/3083/
![Description:
Comic displays eight sectional views of Jupiter with various center contents. Each view is labeled with a humorous, alternative theory about Jupiter's core.
Transcript:
CURRENT LEADING THEORIES FOR
WHAT'S IN THE CENTER OF JUPITER.
[First sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
DIFFUSE MIX OF
HEAVY ELEMENTS
AND METALLIC
HYDROGEN
[Second sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
ROCKY CORE
WITH METALLIC
HYDROGEN
MANTLE
[Third sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
VALUABLE
TREASURE
[Fourth sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
EMERGENCY
BACKUP EARTH
[Fifth sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
REGULAR PLANET
PRETENDING TO BE
A GAS GIANT TO
AVOID ATTENTION
[Sixth sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
HARD BALL
FROM
AVOCADO
[Seventh sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
BABY
JUPITER,
STILL
GESTATING
[Eighth sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
NO CORE; FLAT
EARTH CONSPIRACISTS
ARE WRONG ABOUT
EARTH BUT RIGHT
ABOUT JUPITER](/proxy/post_attachment/696152/14420163ed.png "Description:
Comic displays eight sectional views of Jupiter with various center contents. Each view is labeled with a humorous, alternative theory about Jupiter's core.
Transcript:
CURRENT LEADING THEORIES FOR
WHAT'S IN THE CENTER OF JUPITER.
[First sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
DIFFUSE MIX OF
HEAVY ELEMENTS
AND METALLIC
HYDROGEN
[Second sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
ROCKY CORE
WITH METALLIC
HYDROGEN
MANTLE
[Third sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
VALUABLE
TREASURE
[Fourth sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
EMERGENCY
BACKUP EARTH
[Fifth sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
REGULAR PLANET
PRETENDING TO BE
A GAS GIANT TO
AVOID ATTENTION
[Sixth sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
HARD BALL
FROM
AVOCADO
[Seventh sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
BABY
JUPITER,
STILL
GESTATING
[Eighth sectional view of the planet Jupiter.]
NO CORE; FLAT
EARTH CONSPIRACISTS
ARE WRONG ABOUT
EARTH BUT RIGHT
ABOUT JUPITER")
#xkcd No. 3090
Date: 2025-5-16
Title: Sail Physics
Alt text: Turning in other directions can be accomplished by using a magnetized centerboard and ocean currents, since a current flowing through a magnetic field induces a Laplace force.
https://xkcd.com/3090/
![Description:
Four-panel comic explaining how sailboats sail upwind using physics, with diagrams showing charge buildup and forces on a boat.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
HOW SAILBOATS
USE PHYSICS TO
SAIL UPWIND:
[Diagram of a sailboat with wind arrows hitting the sail.]
WIND
SAIL
BOAT
Panel 2:
1. WIND PASSING OVER
THE SAIL STRIPS AWAY
ELECTRONS VIA THE
TRIBOELECTRIC EFFECT.
[Diagram of a sailboat with wind arrows hitting the sail, showing negative charges being stripped away from the boat.]
Panel 3:
2. THE POSITIVELY
CHARGED BOAT IS
BLOWN DOWNWIND;
ITS MOVEMENT IN
EARTH’S MAGNETIC
FIELD PRODUCES A
LORENTZ FORCE.
[Diagram of a positively charged sailboat with a downwind direction arrow and a perpendicular Lorentz force arrow.]
Panel 4:
3. THE LORENTZ FORCE
ACTS PERPENDICULAR
TO THE DIRECTION OF
MOTION, REDIRECTING
THE BOAT UPWIND.
[Diagram of a positively charged sailboat with a downwind motion arrow and an upwind resulting direction arrow.]](/proxy/post_attachment/712086/4ff5eea765.png "Description:
Four-panel comic explaining how sailboats sail upwind using physics, with diagrams showing charge buildup and forces on a boat.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
HOW SAILBOATS
USE PHYSICS TO
SAIL UPWIND:
[Diagram of a sailboat with wind arrows hitting the sail.]
WIND
SAIL
BOAT
Panel 2:
1. WIND PASSING OVER
THE SAIL STRIPS AWAY
ELECTRONS VIA THE
TRIBOELECTRIC EFFECT.
[Diagram of a sailboat with wind arrows hitting the sail, showing negative charges being stripped away from the boat.]
Panel 3:
2. THE POSITIVELY
CHARGED BOAT IS
BLOWN DOWNWIND;
ITS MOVEMENT IN
EARTH’S MAGNETIC
FIELD PRODUCES A
LORENTZ FORCE.
[Diagram of a positively charged sailboat with a downwind direction arrow and a perpendicular Lorentz force arrow.]
Panel 4:
3. THE LORENTZ FORCE
ACTS PERPENDICULAR
TO THE DIRECTION OF
MOTION, REDIRECTING
THE BOAT UPWIND.
[Diagram of a positively charged sailboat with a downwind motion arrow and an upwind resulting direction arrow.]")
#xkcd No. 3084
Date: 2025-5-2
Title: Unstoppable Force and Immovable Object
Alt text: Unstoppable force-carrying particles can't interact with immovable matter by definition.
https://xkcd.com/3084/
![Description:
A 3-panel xkcd comic shows an arrow (unstoppable force) hitting a trapezoid(immovable object). The third panel has text and a continuation of the idea.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
UNSTOPPABLE
FORCE
IMMOBABLE
OBJECT
[A horizontal line is drawn, with a right-pointing arrow "Unstoppable Force" to the left of a trapezoid "Immovable Object"]
Panel 2:
[A horizontal line is drawn, with a right-pointing arrow partially inside the trapezoid outline.]
Panel 3:
[A horizontal line is drawn, with a right-pointing arrow "Unstoppable Force" to the right of a trapezoid "Immovable Object"]
I DON'T SEE WHY PEOPLE FIND
THIS SCENARIO TO BE TRICKY.](/proxy/post_attachment/698115/ca5d817b2d.png "Description:
A 3-panel xkcd comic shows an arrow (unstoppable force) hitting a trapezoid(immovable object). The third panel has text and a continuation of the idea.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
UNSTOPPABLE
FORCE
IMMOBABLE
OBJECT
[A horizontal line is drawn, with a right-pointing arrow \"Unstoppable Force\" to the left of a trapezoid \"Immovable Object\"]
Panel 2:
[A horizontal line is drawn, with a right-pointing arrow partially inside the trapezoid outline.]
Panel 3:
[A horizontal line is drawn, with a right-pointing arrow \"Unstoppable Force\" to the right of a trapezoid \"Immovable Object\"]
I DON'T SEE WHY PEOPLE FIND
THIS SCENARIO TO BE TRICKY.")
#xkcd No. 3085
Date: 2025-5-5
Title: About 20 Pounds
Alt text: In addition to gravity, burritos interact through the strong, weak, and electromagnetic forces, which is believed to be a major contributor to their popularity.
https://xkcd.com/3085/
![Description:
Four panel xkcd comic. Stick figures contact an oracle. The oracle informs them dark matter interacts with gravity and suggests burritos.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
DEAR ORACLE,
WHAT IS THE
NATURE OF
DARK MATTER?
IT'S ABOUT
20 POUNDS.
[Two stick figures stand in front of a burning pentagram, which hovers a dark sphere with distortion lines.]
Panel 2:
WHAT?
DARK MATTER IS A
PARTICLE. IT WEIGHS
ABOUT 20 POUNDS.
IT ONLY INTERACTS
THROUGH GRAVITY.
[Two stick figures stand in front of a burning pentagram, which hovers a dark sphere with distortion lines.]
Panel 3:
ONLY GRAVITY, HUH?
SO NONE OF OUR
EXPERIMENTS ARE
REALLY GOING TO
TELL US ANYTHING
MORE ABOUT IT, THEN.
AFRAID NOT.
[Two stick figures stand in front of a burning pentagram, which hovers a dark sphere with distortion lines.]
Panel 4:
SO WHAT DO WE DO?
YOU SHOULD GO
OUT FOR BURRITOS.
HOW WILL
THAT HELP?
WELL
BURRITOS ARE
PRETTY GOOD.
[Two stick figures stand in front of a burning pentagram, which hovers a dark sphere with distortion lines.]](/proxy/post_attachment/701088/bb5d598622.png "Description:
Four panel xkcd comic. Stick figures contact an oracle. The oracle informs them dark matter interacts with gravity and suggests burritos.
Transcript:
Panel 1:
DEAR ORACLE,
WHAT IS THE
NATURE OF
DARK MATTER?
IT'S ABOUT
20 POUNDS.
[Two stick figures stand in front of a burning pentagram, which hovers a dark sphere with distortion lines.]
Panel 2:
WHAT?
DARK MATTER IS A
PARTICLE. IT WEIGHS
ABOUT 20 POUNDS.
IT ONLY INTERACTS
THROUGH GRAVITY.
[Two stick figures stand in front of a burning pentagram, which hovers a dark sphere with distortion lines.]
Panel 3:
ONLY GRAVITY, HUH?
SO NONE OF OUR
EXPERIMENTS ARE
REALLY GOING TO
TELL US ANYTHING
MORE ABOUT IT, THEN.
AFRAID NOT.
[Two stick figures stand in front of a burning pentagram, which hovers a dark sphere with distortion lines.]
Panel 4:
SO WHAT DO WE DO?
YOU SHOULD GO
OUT FOR BURRITOS.
HOW WILL
THAT HELP?
WELL
BURRITOS ARE
PRETTY GOOD.
[Two stick figures stand in front of a burning pentagram, which hovers a dark sphere with distortion lines.]")