Nostr notes by xkcdbot

title text: The family lore was that we've had it ever since ...

2026-08-05T21:22:17Z

title text: The family lore was that we've had it ever since it was ejected from a star-forming gas cloud, but it seems more likely that my great-grandparents probably just bought it while on vacation in the galactic thin disk.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3281
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3281
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3281

title text: As a side effect of the research, mice are now the ...

2026-08-03T20:27:17Z

title text: As a side effect of the research, mice are now the only known animals other than humans to have developed a Backrooms mythology.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3280
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3280
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3280

title text: Wind stress? Don't be silly. When has wind stress ...

2026-07-31T15:17:16Z

title text: Wind stress? Don't be silly. When has wind stress ever been a problem for a suspension bridge?

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3279
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3279
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3279

title text: 'Spurious signals from the kitchen' is harder ...

2026-07-29T19:07:16Z

title text: 'Spurious signals from the kitchen' is harder for an optical telescope than a radio one, but with enough determination and creativity, I believe it's possible.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3278
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3278
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3278

title text: I NOTATION POLISH REVERSE ❤️ desktop link: ...

2026-07-27T17:07:15Z

title text: I NOTATION POLISH REVERSE ❤️

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3277
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3277
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3277

title text: Most coffee shops have a descendant of Sophia of ...

2026-07-20T16:12:14Z

title text: Most coffee shops have a descendant of Sophia of Hanover on staff for this, but just as I was about to ask for help, a previously unknown heir of Uther Pendragon who was ordering a muffin tripped on my laptop cord.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3274
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3274
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3274

title text: NGS and IERS are complaining that they left CLEAR ...

2026-07-17T20:02:14Z

title text: NGS and IERS are complaining that they left CLEAR instructions to set the washing machine to WGS84 (G2296) instead of WGS84 (G730).

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3273
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3273
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3273

title text: All discussions of daylight saving time policy are ...

2026-07-16T01:22:13Z

title text: All discussions of daylight saving time policy are doomed by a mix of contradictory, inconsistent, and impossible preferences, which is why I think the only thing we can really hope to do is to make it worse.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3272
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3272
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3272

title text: We have two 'in case of fire, break glass' ...

2026-07-11T00:52:13Z

title text: We have two 'in case of fire, break glass' boxes, which you pick between based on how big of a problem the fire is. One has an extinguisher, and one has sticks, marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3270
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3270
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3270

title text: Although it was a setback for physics, I'm glad ...

2026-07-08T19:42:12Z

title text: Although it was a setback for physics, I'm glad the particle naming rights issue led to the cancelation of Pizza Hut's Superconducting Super Collider in the early 90s, so the Double Stuffed Extra Cheese Topping Quark ended up just being named 'top quark.'

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3269
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3269
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3269

title text: The arbiter gave my knight a red card for capturing ...

2026-07-06T23:17:12Z

title text: The arbiter gave my knight a red card for capturing with cleats up :(

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3268
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3268
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3268

title text: I hate the unearthly sound my phone makes when the ...

2026-07-04T03:07:11Z

title text: I hate the unearthly sound my phone makes when the weather service issues a tornado harbinger.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3267
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3267
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3267

title text: Paleontologists have long worried that the dinosaurs ...

2026-06-29T17:57:11Z

title text: Paleontologists have long worried that the dinosaurs blasted into space 66 million years ago will one day complete their orbits and fall back down.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3265
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3265
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3265

title text: This discovery was key to his demonstration of ...

2026-06-27T02:32:10Z

title text: This discovery was key to his demonstration of regular/goofy symmetry violation, which won him gold in the theory portion of the X Games.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3264
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3264
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3264

title text: Wait, what do you mean, 'dark matter'? ...

2026-06-25T04:17:10Z

title text: Wait, what do you mean, 'dark matter'? It's not dark, it interacts with high-energy gamma rays ... right? Oh jeez, did I forget to make it interact?

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3263
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3263
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3263

title text: The plural of anecdote may not be data, but the ...

2026-06-23T03:42:10Z

title text: The plural of anecdote may not be data, but the singular of data is anecdote.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3262
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3262
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3262

title text: Brace yourself--the chirp gets pretty weird. desktop ...

2026-06-20T02:02:14Z

title text: Brace yourself--the chirp gets pretty weird.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3261
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3261
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3261

title text: Commentators agree that this will probably be the ...

2026-06-17T16:17:14Z

title text: Commentators agree that this will probably be the last World Cup in which Messi faces serious competition.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3260
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3260
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3260

title text: It's great for exfoliating your skin, bones, ...

2026-06-12T22:12:12Z

title text: It's great for exfoliating your skin, bones, houses, cities, landscape, etc.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3258
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3258
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3258

title text: 'If you keep trying to spray your collaborators ...

2026-06-11T01:32:12Z

title text: 'If you keep trying to spray your collaborators with the beam when they're not looking, I'm turning off the ion source and NO one will get to play with the beam!' --Physics's mom

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3257
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3257
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3257

title text: Gen-Z got a chunk of the Carboniferous, and now all ...

2026-06-08T22:47:17Z

title text: Gen-Z got a chunk of the Carboniferous, and now all their memes are about how pathetic and small today's dragonflies are.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3256
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3256
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3256

title text: The research was overseen by the Institutional Review ...

2026-06-05T13:07:12Z

title text: The research was overseen by the Institutional Review Board, which is what I named my surfboard.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3255
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3255
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3255

title text: No other experiment has a lower false negative rate. ...

2026-06-03T21:12:12Z

title text: No other experiment has a lower false negative rate.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3254
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3254
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3254

title text: While weather control is typically thought of as a ...

2026-06-01T15:21:44Z

title text: While weather control is typically thought of as a superpower, the unconscious ability of astronomers and astrophotographers to summon clouds is more properly classified as a curse.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3253
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3253
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3253

title text: It's possible to do sea navigation without a ...

2026-05-27T21:06:42Z

title text: It's possible to do sea navigation without a compass, but you'll have to get some spoilers from the Polynesians.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3251
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3251
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3251

title text: Every place has a local cryptid; more places need a ...

2026-05-25T22:01:42Z

title text: Every place has a local cryptid; more places need a local Pictish Beast, a creature in historical art that's drawn so weirdly that no one can tell what animal it's supposed to be.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3250
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3250
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3250

title text: They rounded down to 182.8 instead of rounding up to ...

2026-05-21T04:01:42Z

title text: They rounded down to 182.8 instead of rounding up to 182.9 because 182.9 might make the statement incorrect.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3248
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3248
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3248

title text: Remember, your answers to the physics census are ...

2026-05-18T18:54:51Z

title text: Remember, your answers to the physics census are confidential; we will not be issuing Pauli exclusion principle citations.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3247
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3247
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3247

title text: Usain Bolt holds the world record in the 100 meter ...

2026-05-16T00:54:49Z

title text: Usain Bolt holds the world record in the 100 meter speedrun.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3246
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3246
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3246

title text: Please, we need your help. Our research suggests ...

2026-05-13T18:34:50Z

title text: Please, we need your help. Our research suggests you're the last living descendant of the person who knew how to format this config file.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3245
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3245
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3245

title text: "How does the spring not run out almost ...

2026-05-12T08:54:49Z

title text: "How does the spring not run out almost immediately?" "We pull it back REALLY far."

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3244
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3244
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3244

title text: 'Beyond that lies a vale of fire through which my ...

2026-05-08T17:49:48Z

title text: 'Beyond that lies a vale of fire through which my vision cannot penetrate' is the kind of fun thing geologists, heliophysicists, and early universe cosmologists have a lot of opportunities to say.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3243
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3243
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3243

title text: Thanks to differences in logging regulations, the ...

2026-04-22T20:44:45Z

title text: Thanks to differences in logging regulations, the messages actually turned out to be visible from the air.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3236
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3236
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3236

title text: Anyone who is caught counting 'three ... two ... ...

2026-04-13T22:19:43Z

title text: Anyone who is caught counting 'three ... two ... one ... zero ... GO!' will be punished with a lifetime of eating only ISO standard food samples.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3232
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3232
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3232

title text: I think I accidentally installed an Overton window in ...

2026-04-08T18:24:42Z

title text: I think I accidentally installed an Overton window in my bedroom. A few months ago, the sun wasn't in my face in the morning, but now it is.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3230
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3230
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3230

title text: Communication is one of the most popular ways to ...

2026-04-06T21:49:41Z

title text: Communication is one of the most popular ways to transmit information, ahead of rivals such as

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3229
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3229
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3229

title text: It has been −2,147,483,648 days since our last ...

2026-04-03T11:44:41Z

title text: It has been −2,147,483,648 days since our last integer overflow.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3228
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3228
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3228

title text: This xkcd.com update introduces a variety of new ...

2026-04-01T20:09:40Z

title text: This xkcd.com update introduces a variety of new reading modes which can be activated through the menu.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3227
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3227
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3227

title text: "While I try to do my part to destroy the ...

2026-03-30T21:39:41Z

title text: "While I try to do my part to destroy the environment, I try not to focus too much on individual responsibility. By pushing for broad policy changes, we can collectively do far more damage to the biosphere than any of us could on our own."

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3226
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3226
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3226

title text: We're working to make sure the images are as ...

2026-03-27T21:09:40Z

title text: We're working to make sure the images are as up-to-date and accurate as possible, with a minimum number of sponsored galaxies.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3225
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3225
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3225

title text: Yes, the cosmic microwave background is great, but ...

2026-03-26T03:29:40Z

title text: Yes, the cosmic microwave background is great, but what about the earthly microwave foreground?

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3224
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3224
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3224

title text: Depending what corners of the internet you hang out ...

2026-03-23T18:29:40Z

title text: Depending what corners of the internet you hang out on, 'regular' may at times awkwardly coexist with 'sexy.'

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3223
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3223
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3223

title text: It's ok, I still have some nice, cool gas clouds ...

2026-03-20T20:09:39Z

title text: It's ok, I still have some nice, cool gas clouds that aren't collapsing. As long as nothing ionizes them, I can continue to enjoy their ... HEY! NO!!!

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3222
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3222
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3222

title text: 'Well, there's speculation that it's due ...

2026-03-18T17:24:39Z

title text: 'Well, there's speculation that it's due to a mantle hotspot.' --a geologist who's trying to cover up the fact that they didn't hear your question

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3221
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3221
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3221

title text: I don't get it. The peak acceleration for ...

2026-03-17T02:49:39Z

title text: I don't get it. The peak acceleration for passengers was WAY lower than in the giant-waterslide-loop-the-loop incident the other cruise line fired me for.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3220
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3220
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3220

title text: An old astronomer trick for distinguishing the Sun ...

2026-03-13T19:39:37Z

title text: An old astronomer trick for distinguishing the Sun from other stars is to take multiple photos a few minutes apart and overlay them, making the Sun stand out due to its high proper motion.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3219
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3219
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3219

title text: Aww, the oceanic crust and the continental crust are ...

2026-03-12T02:49:37Z

title text: Aww, the oceanic crust and the continental crust are getting married!

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3218
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3218
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3218

title text: As always, you are permitted to call one person for ...

2026-03-10T07:24:37Z

title text: As always, you are permitted to call one person for guidance, but that person must be a grandparent.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3217
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3217
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3217

title text: This replaces the previous solar activity watch, ...

2026-03-04T14:44:36Z

title text: This replaces the previous solar activity watch, which was issued last month when the sun took off its sunglasses.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3215
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3215
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3215

title text: Now that I've finally gotten an electric vehicle, ...

2026-03-03T03:29:35Z

title text: Now that I've finally gotten an electric vehicle, I'm never going back to an acoustic one.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3214
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3214
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3214

title text: I mean, half of these are undefined. And your ...

2026-02-27T21:34:34Z

title text: I mean, half of these are undefined. And your multiplication dots are too low; they look like decimal points.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3213
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3213
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3213

title text: After a lot of analysis, I've determined that ...

2026-02-26T02:39:34Z

title text: After a lot of analysis, I've determined that they're actually big red dots; they're just very far away.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3212
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3212
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3212

title text: Oh, and do you have any tips on how to vacuum up ...

2026-02-24T05:34:35Z

title text: Oh, and do you have any tips on how to vacuum up copper that's melted into your carpet?

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3211
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3211
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3211

title text: 'If you've eliminated a few possibilities and ...

2026-02-20T19:59:33Z

title text: 'If you've eliminated a few possibilities and you can't think of any others, your weird theory is proven right' isn't quite as rhetorically compelling.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3210
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3210
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3210

title text: My icebox plum trap easily captured William Carlos ...

2026-02-19T02:59:33Z

title text: My icebox plum trap easily captured William Carlos Williams. It took much less work than the infinite looping network of diverging paths I had to build in that yellow wood to ensnare Robert Frost.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3209
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3209
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3209

title text: People say setting of fireworks indoors is dangerous, ...

2026-02-16T21:39:32Z

title text: People say setting of fireworks indoors is dangerous, but I looked at their energy release and it's like 10^-40 foe; totally negligible.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3208
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3208
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3208

title text: 'The zero line in WMM2025 passes through a lot of ...

2026-02-14T02:34:32Z

title text: 'The zero line in WMM2025 passes through a lot of population centers; I wonder what year the largest share of the population lived in a zone of less than 5° of declination,' he thought, derailing all other tasks for the rest of the day.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3207
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3207
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3207

title text: Do YOU remember the skylight being this big? desktop ...

2026-02-12T02:39:18Z

title text: Do YOU remember the skylight being this big?

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3206
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3206
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3206

title text: This dating is corroborated by the presence of stone ...

2026-02-10T04:19:17Z

title text: This dating is corroborated by the presence of stone tools at the site, rather than earlier and less effective helium ones.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3205
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3205
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3205

title text: Staplers are actually in Pseudosuchia, making them ...

2026-02-06T19:24:17Z

title text: Staplers are actually in Pseudosuchia, making them more closely related to crocodiles than to dinosaurs.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3204
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3204
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3204

title text: The discovery of a fully typographical star system ...

2026-02-05T04:39:16Z

title text: The discovery of a fully typographical star system comes with a big asterisk.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3203
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3203
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3203

title text: Originally, the ceremony used a variety of rodents ...

2026-02-02T16:09:16Z

title 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.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3202
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3202
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3202

title text: There's also a proof without content of a ...

2026-01-30T17:34:16Z

title text: There's also a proof without content of a conjecture without content, but it's left as an exercise for the reader.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3201
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3201
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3201

title text: Some of the atoms in the molecule are very weakly ...

2026-01-28T20:04:15Z

title text: Some of the atoms in the molecule are very weakly bound.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3200
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3200
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3200

title text: 'Ugh, I'm never going to be like spiders. My ...

2026-01-27T00:09:15Z

title 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

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3199
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3199
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3199

title text: 'Oh, and can I borrow 50 sacks of loose flour, a ...

2026-01-24T01:49:15Z

title 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!!!!!!'

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3198
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3198
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3198

title text: Unfortunately, my scheme to trick NASA has now taken ...

2026-01-21T22:44:14Z

title text: Unfortunately, my scheme to trick NASA has now taken over a decade longer than planned and has run way over budget.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3197
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3197
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3197

title text: I've had countless nights where the line never ...

2026-01-20T02:29:15Z

title text: I've had countless nights where the line never left the bottom zone of the graph, but the few moments where it's climbed all the way to the top have made up for them all.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3196
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3196
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3196

title text: Welcome to the International Space Station ...

2026-01-16T14:49:14Z

title text: Welcome to the International Space Station Exclamation Point!

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3195
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3195
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3195

title text: Some surfaces may seem difficult to glue. But if you ...

2026-01-14T19:49:13Z

title text: Some surfaces may seem difficult to glue. But if you research the materials, find tables of what adhesives work on them, and prepare your surfaces carefully, you can fail to glue them in a fun NEW way that fills your house with dangerous vapors.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3194
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3194
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3194

title text: I wanted to make the world's fastest yawl, so I ...

2026-01-13T04:49:14Z

title text: I wanted to make the world's fastest yawl, so I made the aft sail bigger, but apparently that means it's not a yawl anymore! It's a real ketch-22.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3193
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3193
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3193

title text: We're going to need to modify the surface to ...

2026-01-10T05:14:12Z

title text: We're going to need to modify the surface to mount it on the test stand. Which ocean basin do you like the least?

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3192
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3192
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3192

title text: It's important to teach yourself to feel ...

2026-01-07T19:44:12Z

title text: It's important to teach yourself to feel responsible for random events, because with great responsibility comes great power. That's what my wise Uncle Ben told me right before he died; he might still be alive today if only I'd said rabbit rabbit that year!

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3191
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3191
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3191

title text: Some people argue that the tension and compression in ...

2026-01-06T03:09:11Z

title text: Some people argue that the tension and compression in the human skeleton is technically tensegrity, but it's missing the defining characteristic: making people say 'wtf, how is that thing floating?' when they see it.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3190
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3190
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3190

title text: They're not generally used for crewed spacecraft ...

2026-01-03T01:34:11Z

title text: They're not generally used for crewed spacecraft because astronauts HATE going around the corners.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3189
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3189
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3189

title text: Anyone else watching this Youtube video in 1954? If ...

2025-12-31T22:09:10Z

title text: Anyone else watching this Youtube video in 1954? If so, my last trip definitely messed with the timeline.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3188
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3188
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3188

title text: 1,300,000-1,400,000 ft: Ask a crew member to show you ...

2025-12-29T23:34:11Z

title text: 1,300,000-1,400,000 ft: Ask a crew member to show you how to use the ISS food warmer.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3187
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3187
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3187

title text: Building Inspectors HATE This One Weird Trick desktop ...

2025-12-26T16:04:10Z

title text: Building Inspectors HATE This One Weird Trick

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3186
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3186
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3186

title text: Vertebrae Georg desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3185 ...

2025-12-25T01:14:10Z

title text: Vertebrae Georg

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3185
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3185
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3185

title text: In 1899, people were walking around shouting ...

2025-12-23T04:44:10Z

title text: In 1899, people were walking around shouting '23' at each other and laughing, and confused reporters were writing articles trying to figure out what it meant.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3184
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3184
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3184

title text: My goal in life is to be personally responsible for ...

2025-12-20T04:24:09Z

title text: My goal in life is to be personally responsible for at least one sports rule change.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3183
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3183
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3183

title text: I'm trying to buy a gravitational lens for my ...

2025-12-17T23:54:09Z

title text: I'm trying to buy a gravitational lens for my camera, but I can't tell if the manufacturers are listing comoving focal length or proper focal length.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3182
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3182
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3182

title text: Earth's r_jf is approximately 1.5 light-days, ...

2025-12-16T04:19:08Z

title text: Earth's r_jf is approximately 1.5 light-days, leading to general relativity's successful prediction that all the frogs in the Solar System should be found collected on the surface of the Earth.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3181
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3181
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3181

title text: The experimental math department's budget is ...

2025-12-12T23:09:07Z

title text: The experimental math department's budget is under scrutiny for how much they've been spending on trains leaving Chicago at 9:00pm traveling at 45 mph.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3180
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3180
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3180

title text: 'That's definitely above the ...

2025-12-11T02:49:03Z

title text: 'That's definitely above the catch-and-release size minimum for planetesimals.' 'I'm going to throw it back anyway.'

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3179
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3179
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3179

title text: Our models fall apart where the three theories ...

2025-12-09T02:04:02Z

title text: Our models fall apart where the three theories overlap; we're unable to predict what happens when a nanometer-sized squirrel eats a grapefruit with the mass of the sun.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3178
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3178
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3178

title text: Luckily, the range is limited by the fact that the ...

2025-12-06T02:14:01Z

title text: Luckily, the range is limited by the fact that the square boundary lines follow great circles.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3177
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3177
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3177

title text: Some tires are marketed as 'all-shape tires,' ...

2025-12-04T01:39:01Z

title text: Some tires are marketed as 'all-shape tires,' but if driven in a climate with both inverted catenary falls and triangle falls, they wear out really fast.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3176
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3176
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3176

title text: Tired of waiting on hold? Use our website to chat ...

2025-12-01T19:39:01Z

title text: Tired of waiting on hold? Use our website to chat with one of our live agents, who are available to produce words at you 24/7!

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3175
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3175
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3175

title text: A lot of the highway department's budget goes to ...

2025-11-28T21:14:00Z

title text: A lot of the highway department's budget goes to adjusting the sign whenever the moon passes directly overhead.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3174
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3174
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3174

title text: Every weekend I take an ATV out into the desert and ...

2025-11-26T20:34:01Z

title text: Every weekend I take an ATV out into the desert and spend a day tracing a faint "(C) GOOGLE 2009" watermark across the landscape.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3173
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3173
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3173

title text: "Want to feel old?" "Yes." desktop ...

2025-11-24T21:19:00Z

title text: "Want to feel old?" "Yes."

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3172
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3172
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3172

title text: If you drill at the right angle and time things ...

2025-11-21T23:09:00Z

title text: If you drill at the right angle and time things perfectly, your core sample can include a section of a rival team's coring equipment.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3171
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3171
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3171

title text: Now, if it were the Canon wiki, it's possible ...

2025-11-20T01:43:59Z

title text: Now, if it were the *Canon* wiki, it's possible to imagine someone with a productivity-related reason for consulting it, but no one's job requires them to read that much about Admiral Daala.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3170
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3170
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3170

title text: 'Oh no, the box is drifting out into the ...

2025-11-17T22:58:59Z

title text: 'Oh no, the box is drifting out into the harbor!' 'Yeah, I wouldn't worry about losing it.'

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3169
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3169
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3169

title text: We're adding some industrial flypaper to minimize ...

2025-11-14T22:08:58Z

title text: We're adding some industrial flypaper to minimize reflection or scattering of customers who might complain.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3168
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3168
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3168

title text: 'They really shouldn't let those small cars ...

2025-11-12T19:38:58Z

title text: 'They really shouldn't let those small cars drive in traffic. I worry I'm going to kill someone if I hit one! They should have to drive on the sidewalk, safely out of the way.'

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3167
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3167
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3167

title text: Are you the annoying spoon or the sleepy spoon? ...

2025-11-11T01:23:59Z

title text: Are you the annoying spoon or the sleepy spoon?

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3166
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3166
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3166

title text: At least people who make religious predictions of the ...

2025-11-08T02:03:58Z

title text: At least people who make religious predictions of the apocalypse have an answer to the question 'Why didn't you predict any of the other ones that happened recently?'

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3165
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3165
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3165

title text: The package weighs 7 kg 9 oz. desktop link: ...

2025-11-05T20:53:57Z

title text: The package weighs 7 kg 9 oz.

desktop link: https://xkcd.com/3164
mobile link: https://m.xkcd.com/3164
explainxkcd: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3164