https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=130.76.187.36 2026-06-05T21:33:42Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.30.0 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3255:_Planetary_Science&diff=414319 2026-06-05T19:29:14Z

<p>130.76.187.36: /* Transcript */ astro</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 3255<br /> | date = June 5, 2026<br /> | title = Planetary Science<br /> | image = planetary_science_2x.png<br /> | imagesize = 277x388px<br /> | noexpand = true<br /> | titletext = The research was overseen by the Institutional Review Board, which is what I named my surfboard.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|This comic was found on a planet with internet on it!}}<br /> This comic is presented as a scientific article in which astronomers claim to have discovered &quot;signs of liquid water on the surface of a terrestrial planet in the habitable zone&quot; -- however, as the accompanying photos (four people on a beach, of whom two are sitting under an umbrella and one is making sand castles) show, the planet in question is Earth. This would not be considered a noteworthy discovery.{{cn}} Finding other planets that have liquid water is a notable result, as water is necessary to support life, so a planet with water could possibly have life on it. However, we already know about life on Earth existing, so this article is hardly useful or practical.<br /> <br /> There is value in using Earth as an example of a planet in a habitable zone, such as [https://www.nasa.gov/universe/atacama-rover-astrobiology-drilling-studies-arads/ testing life-detection experiments in remote inhospitable environments] or [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-would-we-know-theres-life-on-earth-this-bold-experiment-found-out/ as a proxy for future astronomical observations], but not in-situ photographic investigation. Maybe the astronomers should have brought their {{w|spectrometer}} on vacation.<br /> <br /> An {{w|institutional review board}} is a committee of researchers which ensures that research carried out at their institution is ethical. In the title text, this is referenced to be the literal name of a {{w|surfboard}}, which is a board used for the recreational activity of {{w|surfing}}, not serious academic activities. Presumably one of the researchers used this as an excuse to post their pictures of a surfing holiday. Of course, 'the Institutional Review Board' is a very strange name for a surfboard,{{Citation needed}} and its only purpose would be for this (somewhat bad) excuse.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> {{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br /> :[A journal entry is shown, with 3 sections of blurred text, and 2 pictures - On on the top-right showing Jill and Kidball playing at the beach - Jill running, Cueball building a sandcastle, while Cueball and Megan under an umbrella watching them, and another at the bottom-left showing the sea running alongside the beach.]<br /> :[Title of journal article:] Evidence of liquid water on the surface of a terrestrial planet in the habitable zone<br /> :[caption below text:] Planetary science journals have asked astronomers to please stop submitting their vacation photos.<br /> {{comic discussion}}&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring children]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Kidball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Jill]]<br /> [[Category:Scientific research]]<br /> [[Category:Astronomy]]</div>

130.76.187.36 https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3255:_Planetary_Science&diff=414318 2026-06-05T19:28:47Z

<p>130.76.187.36: /* Transcript */ research</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 3255<br /> | date = June 5, 2026<br /> | title = Planetary Science<br /> | image = planetary_science_2x.png<br /> | imagesize = 277x388px<br /> | noexpand = true<br /> | titletext = The research was overseen by the Institutional Review Board, which is what I named my surfboard.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|This comic was found on a planet with internet on it!}}<br /> This comic is presented as a scientific article in which astronomers claim to have discovered &quot;signs of liquid water on the surface of a terrestrial planet in the habitable zone&quot; -- however, as the accompanying photos (four people on a beach, of whom two are sitting under an umbrella and one is making sand castles) show, the planet in question is Earth. This would not be considered a noteworthy discovery.{{cn}} Finding other planets that have liquid water is a notable result, as water is necessary to support life, so a planet with water could possibly have life on it. However, we already know about life on Earth existing, so this article is hardly useful or practical.<br /> <br /> There is value in using Earth as an example of a planet in a habitable zone, such as [https://www.nasa.gov/universe/atacama-rover-astrobiology-drilling-studies-arads/ testing life-detection experiments in remote inhospitable environments] or [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-would-we-know-theres-life-on-earth-this-bold-experiment-found-out/ as a proxy for future astronomical observations], but not in-situ photographic investigation. Maybe the astronomers should have brought their {{w|spectrometer}} on vacation.<br /> <br /> An {{w|institutional review board}} is a committee of researchers which ensures that research carried out at their institution is ethical. In the title text, this is referenced to be the literal name of a {{w|surfboard}}, which is a board used for the recreational activity of {{w|surfing}}, not serious academic activities. Presumably one of the researchers used this as an excuse to post their pictures of a surfing holiday. Of course, 'the Institutional Review Board' is a very strange name for a surfboard,{{Citation needed}} and its only purpose would be for this (somewhat bad) excuse.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> {{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br /> :[A journal entry is shown, with 3 sections of blurred text, and 2 pictures - On on the top-right showing Jill and Kidball playing at the beach - Jill running, Cueball building a sandcastle, while Cueball and Megan under an umbrella watching them, and another at the bottom-left showing the sea running alongside the beach.]<br /> :[Title of journal article:] Evidence of liquid water on the surface of a terrestrial planet in the habitable zone<br /> :[caption below text:] Planetary science journals have asked astronomers to please stop submitting their vacation photos.<br /> {{comic discussion}}&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring children]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Kidball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Jill]]<br /> [[Category:Scientific research]]</div>

130.76.187.36