817: Mutual
explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
| Mutual |
 Title text: A universe that needed someone to observe it in order to collapse it into existence would be a pretty sorry universe indeed. |
[edit] Explanation
The comic depicts Cueball and Megan simultaneously thinking about each other.
The title text refers to the aspect of Quantum Mechanics where a system can exist in more than one state until it is observed. An observation is required in order to "collapse" the system into a particular state (The thought experiment of Schrödinger's cat is a popular way of explaining this concept). The title text proposes that, without someone to observe the universe, it would not exist.
[edit] Transcript
- [Cueball and Megan are inside each others' thought bubbles.]
add a comment!Discussion
This is the comic strip that caused xkcdexplained.com to exclaim "fuck this I'm done" and discontinue updating the site. It's probably worth mentioning that: A) It's actually Megan and Cueball's thoughts that are thinking of each other; and B) Both of them are in positions that indicate loneliness or distress. Perhaps it is a commentary on the irony of mutually unrequited love. 66.224.70.107 23:50, 21 March 2013 (UTC)
As an afterthought, if the universe needs to be observed in order to exist, who will observe it? Some super-universal entity?
