xkcd Bot

Chemistry grad students have been spotted trying to lure campus squirrels into laundry hampers in the hope that it sparks inspiration.

Snake-in-the-Box Problem
https://xkcd.com/3125/

Chemistry grad students have been spotted trying to lure campus squirrels into laundry hampers in the hope that it sparks inspiration.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3125

We should have you at the gate in just under two hours--two and a half if we get pulled over.

Grounded
https://xkcd.com/3124/

We should have you at the gate in just under two hours--two and a half if we get pulled over.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3124

Achilles was a mighty warrior, but his Achilles' heel was his heel.

Canon
https://xkcd.com/3123/

Achilles was a mighty warrior, but his Achilles' heel was his heel.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3123

During the most recent glacial maximum, it's believed that land bridges extended from the surfaces and connected several of the spheres together.

Bad Map Projection: Interrupted Spheres
https://xkcd.com/3122/

During the most recent glacial maximum, it's believed that land bridges extended from the surfaces and connected several of the spheres together.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3122

Detectives say the key to tracking down the source of the kites was a large wall map covered in thumbtacks and string. 'It's the first time that method has ever actually worked,' said a spokesperson.

Kite Incident
https://xkcd.com/3121/

(alt-text too long for a BlueSky message, see image alt-text instead)

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3121

Geologists claim it's because the earlier Cenozoic used to be called the Tertiary, but that's just a ruse to hide the secret third geologic period, between the Neogene and the Quaternary, that they won't tell us about.

Geologic Periods
https://xkcd.com/3120/

(alt-text too long for a BlueSky message, see image alt-text instead)

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3120

"And in maritime news, the Coast Guard is on the scene today after an apparent collision between two lighthouses."

Flettner Rotor
https://xkcd.com/3119/

"And in maritime news, the Coast Guard is on the scene today after an apparent collision between two lighthouses."

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3119

Washington, DC: Eastern gray squirrel, Amur honeysuckle. Puerto Rico: Crested anole, sea grape. US as a whole: Mallard, eastern poison ivy.

iNaturalist Animals and Plants
https://xkcd.com/3118/

Washington, DC: Eastern gray squirrel, Amur honeysuckle. Puerto Rico: Crested anole, sea grape. US as a whole: Mallard, eastern poison ivy.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3118

Maybe encouraging the publication of null results isn't enough--maybe we need a journal devoted to publishing results the study authors find personally annoying.

Replication Crisis
https://xkcd.com/3117/

Maybe encouraging the publication of null results isn't enough--maybe we need a journal devoted to publishing results the study authors find personally annoying.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3117

This is almost as bad as the time I signed up for a purely partisan fishing expedition.

Echo Chamber
https://xkcd.com/3116/

This is almost as bad as the time I signed up for a purely partisan fishing expedition.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3116

'Tin pest' makes more sense to me. Tin just doesn't want to be locked down in a shape like that. I get it. But why would any metal want to grow hair??

Unsolved Physics Problems
https://xkcd.com/3115/

'Tin pest' makes more sense to me. Tin just doesn't want to be locked down in a shape like that. I get it. But why would any metal want to grow hair??

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3115

That was quicker than usual! The cabin's sprinkler system often makes it really hard to keep anything lit.

Building a Fire
https://xkcd.com/3114/

That was quicker than usual! The cabin's sprinkler system often makes it really hard to keep anything lit.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3114

We're building on our earlier success getting web developers to pay to change the backslashes in our displayed payment URL to forward slashes.

Fix This Sign
https://xkcd.com/3113/

We're building on our earlier success getting web developers to pay to change the backslashes in our displayed payment URL to forward slashes.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3113

After determining that his body was full of pipes carrying iron-rich fluid, our current theory is that the dagger-shaped object precipitated within the wound.

Geology Murder
https://xkcd.com/3112/

After determining that his body was full of pipes carrying iron-rich fluid, our current theory is that the dagger-shaped object precipitated within the wound.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3112

Low gravity can cause bone loss, so we're pleased to report that, since we initiated capsule motion, the number of bones in each crew member has been steadily increasing.

Artificial Gravity
https://xkcd.com/3111/

Low gravity can cause bone loss, so we're pleased to report that, since we initiated capsule motion, the number of bones in each crew member has been steadily increasing.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3111

Starting a meta-leaderboard for tracking who holds the record for ranking behind the most distinct people on an online leaderboard.

Global Ranking
https://xkcd.com/3110/

Starting a meta-leaderboard for tracking who holds the record for ranking behind the most distinct people on an online leaderboard.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3110

It's important for devices to have internet connectivity so the manufacturer can patch remote exploits.

Dehumidifier
https://xkcd.com/3109/

It's important for devices to have internet connectivity so the manufacturer can patch remote exploits.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3109

To combat the threat, many airlines are installing wing-mounted spray bottles.

Laser Danger
https://xkcd.com/3108/

To combat the threat, many airlines are installing wing-mounted spray bottles.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3108

Once you add the balloons into the model, it makes forecasting easier overall--the forecast is always 'cold and dark, with minimal solar-driven convection.'

Weather Balloons
https://xkcd.com/3107/

Once you add the balloons into the model, it makes forecasting easier overall--the forecast is always 'cold and dark, with minimal solar-driven convection.'

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3107

'This HAZMAT container contains radioactive material with activity of one becquerel.' 'So, like, a single banana slice?'

Farads
https://xkcd.com/3106/

'This HAZMAT container contains radioactive material with activity of one becquerel.' 'So, like, a single banana slice?'

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3106

We're getting a lot of complaints from commuters who were routed onto a coaster, but the theme park patrons who spent hours stuck on an intercity line are also not happy.

Interoperability
https://xkcd.com/3105/

We're getting a lot of complaints from commuters who were routed onto a coaster, but the theme park patrons who spent hours stuck on an intercity line are also not happy.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3105

Numbers can be tricky. On the day of my 110th birthday, I'll be one day younger than John Tukey was on his.

Tukey
https://xkcd.com/3104/

Numbers can be tricky. On the day of my 110th birthday, I'll be one day younger than John Tukey was on his.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3104

Sure, this exoplanet we discovered may seem hostile to life, but our calculations suggest it's actually in the accretion disc's habitable zone.

Exoplanet System
https://xkcd.com/3103/

Sure, this exoplanet we discovered may seem hostile to life, but our calculations suggest it's actually in the accretion disc's habitable zone.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3103

[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???

Reading a Big Number
https://xkcd.com/3102/

'(alt-text too long for a BlueSky message, see image alt-text instead)'

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3102

If you think curiosity without rigor is bad, you should see rigor without curiosity.

Good Science
https://xkcd.com/3101/

If you think curiosity without rigor is bad, you should see rigor without curiosity.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3101

With a good battery, the device can easily last for 5 or 10 years, although the walls probably won't.

Alert Sound
https://xkcd.com/3100/

With a good battery, the device can easily last for 5 or 10 years, although the walls probably won't.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3100

The installation of the pipes on the inside of the insulation can be challenging, especially when the neighbor could come home at any minute.

Neighbor-Source Heat Pump
https://xkcd.com/3099/

The installation of the pipes on the inside of the insulation can be challenging, especially when the neighbor could come home at any minute.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3099

Ultimately, history would imperfectly record the story of the Foal of Troy.

Trojan Horse
https://xkcd.com/3098/

Ultimately, history would imperfectly record the story of the Foal of Troy.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3098

Pontoon bridges are just linear open-sided waterbeds.

Bridge Types
https://xkcd.com/3097/

Pontoon bridges are just linear open-sided waterbeds.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3097

They say it's probably safe to keep orbiting for a while, but if it stays on or starts flashing we might have to call someone.

Check Engine
https://xkcd.com/3096/

They say it's probably safe to keep orbiting for a while, but if it stays on or starts flashing we might have to call someone.

Explain xkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3096