2783: Ruling Out

2023-05-31T20:17:00Z

172.69.134.139: /* Explanation */ oops, there is a tiny proportion of AGNs which may not be solitary quasars

{{comic
| number = 2783
| date = May 31, 2023
| title = Ruling Out
| image = ruling_out_2x.png
| imagesize = 295x396px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = We were able to replicate and confirm prior authors' detection of a moon orbiting the Earth with high confidence.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a TECTONICALLY-ACTIVE BOT WITH SUBSURFACE OCEANS - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

Most science studies are intended to discover new things. In astronomy, the goal is often to find different types of objects in space, or learn host astronomical objects are formed and behave.

But often from studying things that exist, we also learn about limits in the kinds of things that 'can' exist; when this happens, we say that we've ruled out these other phenomena.

Cueball lists a number of obviously impossible{{fact}} objects.

* "Earthlike stars": A play on "Earth-like planets" which scientists are very interested in finding. The Earth is not a star, hence stars cannot be Earthlike.
* "Exoplanets in our solar system": Exoplanets are by definition not in our solar system.{{fact}}
* "Habitable zone quasars": while not certain by any means, habitable zones around {{w|quasar}}s, have absolutely '''not''' been ruled out.[https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-4357/ab1b2f/meta][https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/2364/1/012057/meta]
* "Stars with subsurface oceans": Because the temperatures inside stars are higher than that which can support the existence of liquids as we understand them, stars cannot have subsurface oceans.
* "Tectonically active black holes": Black holes do not have tectonic plates, so they cannot be tectonically active. There are theories that neutron stars can exhibit tectonic-like movements, but the physics of the 'inside' of a black hole is thought to be so much different.

The joke is that you don't actually have to study anything to come to these almost patently obvious conclusions. The counter-proposals would need far more effort to even justify them as valid theories, by common understanding, and greater still to try to observe any supporting proof.

Some studies are also done to confirm the results of previous studies, to ensure that the conclusions were not mistaken or a fluke. The title text describes a study that was done to confirm the existence of a moon orbiting Earth, although this has been obvious for all of recorded history.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}

Talk:2344: 26-Second Pulse

2020-08-11T03:10:57Z

172.69.134.139: timing of comics

The transcript is calling the character "Hairbun," and while apparently Hairbun has several different renditions, one thing common to them all is that she has a single bun. This character has two buns, as can be seen in the second panel. Probably should not be conflated with a character that has a single bun. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.172|108.162.237.172]] 01:13, 11 August 2020 (UTC)
: I think it's [[Science Girl]]? Definitely not Hairbun. [[Special:Contributions/172.69.35.31|172.69.35.31]] 01:20, 11 August 2020 (UTC)

Is this pulse a real phenomenon? A cursory google search turned up nil.
Future me: Yes it's real I was just using poor google-fu. https://phys.org/pdf214488694.pdf
::(Could future future you learn to properly indent and sign comments? Just as courtesy.) [[Special:Contributions/162.158.159.18|162.158.159.18]] 01:47, 11 August 2020 (UTC)

XKCD seems to be posted later and later. I mean, it was always somewhat Tuesdayish (I'm in Australia) but now I don't seem to see it until Tuesday afternoons... Am I imagining this, or are the posts getting to be much later than they used to be? [[Special:Contributions/172.69.134.139|172.69.134.139]] 03:10, 11 August 2020 (UTC)

explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

2783: Ruling Out

Talk:2344: 26-Second Pulse