https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2401%3A4900%3A1CB9%3A7EEC%3AC596%3A20DB%3A3652%3A4451%2F64explain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-04-15T16:30:51ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3196&diff=40399531962026-01-20T06:18:47Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3196:_Aurora_Coolness&diff=4039943196: Aurora Coolness2026-01-20T06:17:46Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div><noinclude>{{comic<br />
| number = 3196<br />
| date = January 19, 2026<br />
| title = Aurora Coolness<br />
| image = aurora_coolness_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 740x496px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by CHARGING PARTICLES. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic is similar to [[2914: Eclipse Coolness]], in which the occurrence of truly-interesting ("cool") events is reported as a function of time. In the case of the eclipse, the graph reports that most of the interesting stuff happens within a few minutes (at or near totality), with the rest of the event reported as boring. The graph in this comic reports that truly interesting events during an aurora are fairly frequent and are not predictable. Both the caption and the title text encourage the viewer of an aurora to be patient with the 'boring' stuff, as more exciting events could happen with little or no notice. The caption gives general advice, while the title text reports Randall's own experiences.<br />
<br />
Randall has previously ([[2233: Aurora Meaning]]) established that auroras are "cool" when they occur at subpolar latitudes, including the latitude of eastern Massachusetts, where Randall resides.<br />
<br />
The comic was published at around the time when low-latitude auroras were [https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast particularly anticipated] to be visible, and may even have been displaying themselves to Randall in the immediate run-up to publication — unless, as indicated by the comic (and title text) it was mainly the anticipation of this that was exciting, with any eventual brief sighting merely being icing upon the proverbial cake.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
:[A graph of “aurora coolness” over many hours. The coolness starts at “visible glow on the horizon, color only visible in photos” and gradually moves up and down to “spectacular ribbons of color spanning the sky and illuminating the landscape”, which is is labeled “5 or 10 minutes”, then gradually goes back down, almost getting all the way up, and eventually ending back at “visible glow on the horizon, color only visible in photos”.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Line graphs]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3196:_Aurora_Coolness&diff=4039923196: Aurora Coolness2026-01-20T06:14:25Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly><center>[[File:Osama bin Laden portrait.jpg]]</center></includeonly><noinclude>{{comic<br />
| number = 3196<br />
| date = January 19, 2026<br />
| title = Aurora Coolness<br />
| image = aurora_coolness_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 740x496px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by CHARGING PARTICLES. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic is similar to [[2914: Eclipse Coolness]], in which the occurrence of truly-interesting ("cool") events is reported as a function of time. In the case of the eclipse, the graph reports that most of the interesting stuff happens within a few minutes (at or near totality), with the rest of the event reported as boring. The graph in this comic reports that truly interesting events during an aurora are fairly frequent and are not predictable. Both the caption and the title text encourage the viewer of an aurora to be patient with the 'boring' stuff, as more exciting events could happen with little or no notice. The caption gives general advice, while the title text reports Randall's own experiences.<br />
<br />
Randall has previously ([[2233: Aurora Meaning]]) established that auroras are "cool" when they occur at subpolar latitudes, including the latitude of eastern Massachusetts, where Randall resides.<br />
<br />
The comic was published at around the time when low-latitude auroras were [https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast particularly anticipated] to be visible, and may even have been displaying themselves to Randall in the immediate run-up to publication — unless, as indicated by the comic (and title text) it was mainly the anticipation of this that was exciting, with any eventual brief sighting merely being icing upon the proverbial cake.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
:[A graph of “aurora coolness” over many hours. The coolness starts at “visible glow on the horizon, color only visible in photos” and gradually moves up and down to “spectacular ribbons of color spanning the sky and illuminating the landscape”, which is is labeled “5 or 10 minutes”, then gradually goes back down, almost getting all the way up, and eventually ending back at “visible glow on the horizon, color only visible in photos”.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Line graphs]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3196:_Aurora_Coolness&diff=4039903196: Aurora Coolness2026-01-20T06:09:50Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3196<br />
| date = January 19, 2026<br />
| title = Aurora Coolness<br />
| image = aurora_coolness_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 740x496px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by CHARGING PARTICLES. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic is similar to [[2914: Eclipse Coolness]], in which the occurrence of truly-interesting ("cool") events is reported as a function of time. In the case of the eclipse, the graph reports that most of the interesting stuff happens within a few minutes (at or near totality), with the rest of the event reported as boring. The graph in this comic reports that truly interesting events during an aurora are fairly frequent and are not predictable. Both the caption and the title text encourage the viewer of an aurora to be patient with the 'boring' stuff, as more exciting events could happen with little or no notice. The caption gives general advice, while the title text reports Randall's own experiences.<br />
<br />
Randall has previously ([[2233: Aurora Meaning]]) established that auroras are "cool" when they occur at subpolar latitudes, including the latitude of eastern Massachusetts, where Randall resides.<br />
<br />
The comic was published at around the time when low-latitude auroras were [https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast particularly anticipated] to be visible, and may even have been displaying themselves to Randall in the immediate run-up to publication — unless, as indicated by the comic (and title text) it was mainly the anticipation of this that was exciting, with any eventual brief sighting merely being icing upon the proverbial cake.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
:[A graph of “aurora coolness” over many hours. The coolness starts at “visible glow on the horizon, color only visible in photos” and gradually moves up and down to “spectacular ribbons of color spanning the sky and illuminating the landscape”, which is is labeled “5 or 10 minutes”, then gradually goes back down, almost getting all the way up, and eventually ending back at “visible glow on the horizon, color only visible in photos”.]<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Line graphs]]<br />
</noinclude><br />
<includeonly><br />
<div style="position:fixed;top:0px">[[File:Osama bin Laden portrait.jpg]]<br />
</includeonly></div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3195:_International_Station&diff=4039123195: International Station2026-01-19T15:32:57Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3195<br />
| date = January 16, 2026<br />
| title = International Station<br />
| image = international_station_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 265x250px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = Welcome to the International Space Station Exclamation Point!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a BOT APOSTROPHE S SPACE TRANSLATION SPACE ERROR PERIOD. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This comic plays on different meanings of the word 'space': firstly as the invisible character between words, and secondly as in the void between astronomical bodies. In this case, it is claimed that the word 'space' was never meant to be part of the name of the {{w|International Space Station}}, but was included as a word due to a transcription error.<br />
<br />
The presumption is therefore that someone thought it necessary to say the name as "International [space] Station," perhaps to quash any misconception that the intended name might be "InternationalStation" (however capitalised). Someone else would have written this down as "International Space Station". The resulting accidental name was then accepted, due to it being apt or inconvenient to change.<br />
<br />
The title text furthers the joke by transcribing the exclamation mark at the end of the phrase. (This is similar to [[3143: Question Mark]]); there were also multiple examples of strings with punctuation (literal and otherwise) and spelling easy to misconvey in [[1963: Namespace Land Rush]], though none of them used either spaces or "space"s.) The word 'point' can sometimes be used to refer to a specific location within a wider space, such as a {{w|Meeting point|muster point}}. The "International Space Station Exclamation Point", then, may sound like it refers to a named location in the International Space Station (the "Exclamation Point") that is specifically intended for making exclamations (such as the one in the title text).<br />
<br />
Similar problems to these can occur when customers order signboards. They sometimes come with unintended quotation marks, because the customer writes the signage text with quotation marks, with the expectation that the signmaker will ignore them. Or they may give the order verbally, resulting in similar problems as seen in the comic, or [https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2008/nov/01/5 even more comprehensive failures].<br />
<br />
The ISS made the news on 15 January 2026, the day prior to the release of this comic, due to the {{w|List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_the_International_Space_Station#2026|early return of some crewmembers to Earth for medical reasons}}.<br />
<br />
While the ISS had other names during its design, such as Space Station Freedom or Alpha, it does not appear that NASA or Roscosmos literally originally referred to it as just International Station. The Russian name for it is "Международная Kосмическая Cтанция" (MKC) or "Mezhdunaródnaya Kosmícheskaya Stántsiya", which translates as "International Space Station" using the cosmic, non-punctuation meaning of "space".<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail is talking to Cueball. They seem to be floating in a weightless environment, surrounded by a wrench, a book, two sheets of paper and some debris.]<br />
:Ponytail: You know, NASA and Roscosmos actually originally named it the '''''International Station''''', but a translation issue led someone to accidentally transcribe the formatting.<br />
<br />
<includeonly><div style="position:fixed;top:0px">[[File:Osama bin Laden portrait.jpg]]</div></includeonly><br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3195:_International_Station&diff=4039103195: International Station2026-01-19T15:29:36Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3195<br />
| date = January 16, 2026<br />
| title = International Station<br />
| image = international_station_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 265x250px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = Welcome to the International Space Station Exclamation Point!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a BOT APOSTROPHE S SPACE TRANSLATION SPACE ERROR PERIOD. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This comic plays on different meanings of the word 'space': firstly as the invisible character between words, and secondly as in the void between astronomical bodies. In this case, it is claimed that the word 'space' was never meant to be part of the name of the {{w|International Space Station}}, but was included as a word due to a transcription error.<br />
<br />
The presumption is therefore that someone thought it necessary to say the name as "International [space] Station," perhaps to quash any misconception that the intended name might be "InternationalStation" (however capitalised). Someone else would have written this down as "International Space Station". The resulting accidental name was then accepted, due to it being apt or inconvenient to change.<br />
<br />
The title text furthers the joke by transcribing the exclamation mark at the end of the phrase. (This is similar to [[3143: Question Mark]]); there were also multiple examples of strings with punctuation (literal and otherwise) and spelling easy to misconvey in [[1963: Namespace Land Rush]], though none of them used either spaces or "space"s.) The word 'point' can sometimes be used to refer to a specific location within a wider space, such as a {{w|Meeting point|muster point}}. The "International Space Station Exclamation Point", then, may sound like it refers to a named location in the International Space Station (the "Exclamation Point") that is specifically intended for making exclamations (such as the one in the title text).<br />
<br />
Similar problems to these can occur when customers order signboards. They sometimes come with unintended quotation marks, because the customer writes the signage text with quotation marks, with the expectation that the signmaker will ignore them. Or they may give the order verbally, resulting in similar problems as seen in the comic, or [https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2008/nov/01/5 even more comprehensive failures].<br />
<br />
The ISS made the news on 15 January 2026, the day prior to the release of this comic, due to the {{w|List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_the_International_Space_Station#2026|early return of some crewmembers to Earth for medical reasons}}.<br />
<br />
While the ISS had other names during its design, such as Space Station Freedom or Alpha, it does not appear that NASA or Roscosmos literally originally referred to it as just International Station. The Russian name for it is "Международная Kосмическая Cтанция" (MKC) or "Mezhdunaródnaya Kosmícheskaya Stántsiya", which translates as "International Space Station" using the cosmic, non-punctuation meaning of "space".<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail is talking to Cueball. They seem to be floating in a weightless environment, surrounded by a wrench, a book, two sheets of paper and some debris.]<br />
:Ponytail: You know, NASA and Roscosmos actually originally named it the '''''International Station''''', but a translation issue led someone to accidentally transcribe the formatting.<br />
<br />
<includeonly><div style="position:fixed;">[[File:Osama bin Laden portrait.jpg]]</div></includeonly><br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3195:_International_Station&diff=4039083195: International Station2026-01-19T15:28:09Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3195<br />
| date = January 16, 2026<br />
| title = International Station<br />
| image = international_station_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 265x250px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = Welcome to the International Space Station Exclamation Point!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a BOT APOSTROPHE S SPACE TRANSLATION SPACE ERROR PERIOD. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This comic plays on different meanings of the word 'space': firstly as the invisible character between words, and secondly as in the void between astronomical bodies. In this case, it is claimed that the word 'space' was never meant to be part of the name of the {{w|International Space Station}}, but was included as a word due to a transcription error.<br />
<br />
The presumption is therefore that someone thought it necessary to say the name as "International [space] Station," perhaps to quash any misconception that the intended name might be "InternationalStation" (however capitalised). Someone else would have written this down as "International Space Station". The resulting accidental name was then accepted, due to it being apt or inconvenient to change.<br />
<br />
The title text furthers the joke by transcribing the exclamation mark at the end of the phrase. (This is similar to [[3143: Question Mark]]); there were also multiple examples of strings with punctuation (literal and otherwise) and spelling easy to misconvey in [[1963: Namespace Land Rush]], though none of them used either spaces or "space"s.) The word 'point' can sometimes be used to refer to a specific location within a wider space, such as a {{w|Meeting point|muster point}}. The "International Space Station Exclamation Point", then, may sound like it refers to a named location in the International Space Station (the "Exclamation Point") that is specifically intended for making exclamations (such as the one in the title text).<br />
<br />
Similar problems to these can occur when customers order signboards. They sometimes come with unintended quotation marks, because the customer writes the signage text with quotation marks, with the expectation that the signmaker will ignore them. Or they may give the order verbally, resulting in similar problems as seen in the comic, or [https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2008/nov/01/5 even more comprehensive failures].<br />
<br />
The ISS made the news on 15 January 2026, the day prior to the release of this comic, due to the {{w|List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_the_International_Space_Station#2026|early return of some crewmembers to Earth for medical reasons}}.<br />
<br />
While the ISS had other names during its design, such as Space Station Freedom or Alpha, it does not appear that NASA or Roscosmos literally originally referred to it as just International Station. The Russian name for it is "Международная Kосмическая Cтанция" (MKC) or "Mezhdunaródnaya Kosmícheskaya Stántsiya", which translates as "International Space Station" using the cosmic, non-punctuation meaning of "space".<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail is talking to Cueball. They seem to be floating in a weightless environment, surrounded by a wrench, a book, two sheets of paper and some debris.]<br />
:Ponytail: You know, NASA and Roscosmos actually originally named it the '''''International Station''''', but a translation issue led someone to accidentally transcribe the formatting.<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]<br />
<includeonly><div style="position:fixed;">[[File:Osama bin Laden portrait.jpg]]</div></includeonly></div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3195:_International_Station&diff=4039073195: International Station2026-01-19T15:27:51Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3195<br />
| date = January 16, 2026<br />
| title = International Station<br />
| image = international_station_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 265x250px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = Welcome to the International Space Station Exclamation Point!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a BOT APOSTROPHE S SPACE TRANSLATION SPACE ERROR PERIOD. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This comic plays on different meanings of the word 'space': firstly as the invisible character between words, and secondly as in the void between astronomical bodies. In this case, it is claimed that the word 'space' was never meant to be part of the name of the {{w|International Space Station}}, but was included as a word due to a transcription error.<br />
<br />
The presumption is therefore that someone thought it necessary to say the name as "International [space] Station," perhaps to quash any misconception that the intended name might be "InternationalStation" (however capitalised). Someone else would have written this down as "International Space Station". The resulting accidental name was then accepted, due to it being apt or inconvenient to change.<br />
<br />
The title text furthers the joke by transcribing the exclamation mark at the end of the phrase. (This is similar to [[3143: Question Mark]]); there were also multiple examples of strings with punctuation (literal and otherwise) and spelling easy to misconvey in [[1963: Namespace Land Rush]], though none of them used either spaces or "space"s.) The word 'point' can sometimes be used to refer to a specific location within a wider space, such as a {{w|Meeting point|muster point}}. The "International Space Station Exclamation Point", then, may sound like it refers to a named location in the International Space Station (the "Exclamation Point") that is specifically intended for making exclamations (such as the one in the title text).<br />
<br />
Similar problems to these can occur when customers order signboards. They sometimes come with unintended quotation marks, because the customer writes the signage text with quotation marks, with the expectation that the signmaker will ignore them. Or they may give the order verbally, resulting in similar problems as seen in the comic, or [https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2008/nov/01/5 even more comprehensive failures].<br />
<br />
The ISS made the news on 15 January 2026, the day prior to the release of this comic, due to the {{w|List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_the_International_Space_Station#2026|early return of some crewmembers to Earth for medical reasons}}.<br />
<br />
While the ISS had other names during its design, such as Space Station Freedom or Alpha, it does not appear that NASA or Roscosmos literally originally referred to it as just International Station. The Russian name for it is "Международная Kосмическая Cтанция" (MKC) or "Mezhdunaródnaya Kosmícheskaya Stántsiya", which translates as "International Space Station" using the cosmic, non-punctuation meaning of "space".<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail is talking to Cueball. They seem to be floating in a weightless environment, surrounded by a wrench, a book, two sheets of paper and some debris.]<br />
:Ponytail: You know, NASA and Roscosmos actually originally named it the '''''International Station''''', but a translation issue led someone to accidentally transcribe the formatting.<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]<br />
<includeonly><div style="position:fixed;">[[File:Osama bin Laden portrait.jpg</div></includeonly></div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3195:_International_Station&diff=4038363195: International Station2026-01-17T07:26:29Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div><noinclude><div style="position:fixed;">[[File:Osama bin Laden portrait.jpg|link=]]</div></noinclude><noinclude>{{comic<br />
| number = 3195<br />
| date = January 16, 2026<br />
| title = International Station<br />
| image = international_station_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 265x250px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = Welcome to the International Space Station Exclamation Point!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a BOT APOSTROPHE S SPACE TRANSLATION SPACE ERROR PERIOD. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This joke makes fun of the parity between 'space', as in the invisible character between words, and 'space', as in the void between astronomical bodies. In this case, it is said that the word 'space' was never meant to be there at all, but it was included as a word due to a formatting error.<br />
<br />
The presumption is therefore that it was thought necessary to squash any misconception that the compound word "InternationalStation" (however capitalised) was the intended name, but that it led to a different error; albeit one that ended up acceptibly apt, or at least left unresolved.<br />
<br />
The title text furthers the joke by transcribing the exclamation mark at the end of the phrase, similar to [[3143: Question Mark]]. There were also multiple examples of strings, with punctuation (literal and otherwise) and spelling easy to misconvey in [[1963: Namespace Land Rush]], though none of them used either spaces or "space"s. The full name of "International Space Station Exclamation Point" may also sound like it refers to a location in the International Space Station by the name of "Exclamation Point".<br />
<br />
The ISS made the news on 15 January 2026, the day prior to the release of this comic, due to the {{w|List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_the_International_Space_Station#2026|unprecedented evacuation of its crew to Earth for medical reasons}}.<br />
<br />
In a similar vein, when customers order signboards, they sometime come with unintended quotation marks. The customer writes the signage text with quotation marks, with the expectation that the signmaker would ignore them.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail is talking to Cueball. They seem to be floating in space, surrounded by a wrench, a book, two sheets of paper and some debris.]<br />
:Ponytail: You know, NASA and Roscosmos actually originally named it the '''''International Station''''', but a translation issue led someone to accidentally transcribe the formatting.<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3195:_International_Station&diff=4038243195: International Station2026-01-17T03:52:25Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[[File:Osama bin Laden portrait.jpg|link=]]</includeonly><noinclude>{{comic<br />
| number = 3195<br />
| date = January 16, 2026<br />
| title = International Station<br />
| image = international_station_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 265x250px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = Welcome to the International Space Station Exclamation Point!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a BOT APOSTROPHE S SPACE TRANSLATION SPACE ERROR PERIOD. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This joke makes fun of the parity between 'space', as in the invisible character between words, and 'space', as in the void between astronomical bodies. In this case, it is said that the word 'space' was never meant to be there at all, but it was included as a word due to a formatting error.<br />
<br />
The presumption is therefore that it was thought necessary to squash any misconception that the compound word "InternationalStation" (however capitalised) was the intended name, but that it led to a different error; albeit one that ended up acceptibly apt, or at least left unresolved.<br />
<br />
The title text furthers the joke by transcribing the exclamation mark at the end of the phrase, similar to [[3143: Question Mark]]. There were also multiple examples of strings, with punctuation (literal and otherwise) and spelling easy to misconvey in [[1963: Namespace Land Rush]], though none of them used either spaces or "space"s. The full name of "International Space Station Exclamation Point" may also sound like it refers to a location in the International Space Station by the name of "Exclamation Point".<br />
<br />
The ISS made the news on 15 January 2026, the day prior to the release of this comic, due to the {{w|List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_the_International_Space_Station#2026|unprecedented evacuation of its crew to Earth for medical reasons}}.<br />
<br />
In a similar vein, when customers order signboards, they sometime come with unintended quotation marks. The customer writes the signage text with quotation marks, with the expectation that the signmaker would ignore them.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Ponytail is talking to Cueball. They seem to be floating in space, surrounded by a wrench, a book, two sheets of paper and some debris.]<br />
:Ponytail: You know, NASA and Roscosmos actually originally named it the '''''International Station''''', but a translation issue led someone to accidentally transcribe the formatting.<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3194:_16_Part_Epoxy&diff=4037223194: 16 Part Epoxy2026-01-16T06:24:57Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>{{comic<br />
| number = 3194<br />
| date = January 14, 2026<br />
| title = 16 Part Epoxy<br />
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 511x595px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a gorilla glue gorilla. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy}} — substances used as adhesives, sealants, and coatings, named for a particular {{w|Epoxide|chemical substructure}} that's key to these substances turning from liquids to solids. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, usually two, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or proportionately different widths to maintain the correct mixing ratio) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the separate chemicals by depressing both syringes at once, onto the initial surface or into a container. The user then thoroughly mixes the components, as quickly as possible. The mixture is spread evenly (or as necessary) over the surface(s) to be joined or protected, and if there are multiple parts they are quickly positioned. The combined epoxy quickly cures, usually within a few minutes. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logic of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.<br />
<br />
The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g. {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side-effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Resin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.<br />
|-<br />
|Hardener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.<br />
|-<br />
|Filler<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.<br />
<br />
Some epoxies are sold as products known as 'fillers', used to repair and cover cracks, holes, and imperfections.<br />
|-<br />
|Softener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.<br />
|-<br />
|Rosin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually a different kind of resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin (a kind of '{{w|Flux (metallurgy)|flux}}') is one of two parts that make up rosin-core solder, used in electronic work, where the rosin is located in the center (the "core") of the solder. When heated hot enough to melt, it {{w|Soldering#Flux|cleans corrosion and oxides from the surfaces}} of the metal parts to be joined, creating bare metal surfaces that can be 'wet' by the solder. In rosin-core solder, the two substances are touching rather than kept completely separate, since they're both in solid form, and don't react with each other even when they're heated to melt them. In this respect they differ from common combination epoxy chemicals that will be both liquids that cure together on contact even at room temperature. Rosin is also frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or cellos to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia". <br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing them when they bond to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it mostly only really useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} This may be a reference to {{w|cyanoacrylate|cyanoacrylate adhesives}} ("super glues"), which famously bond quite aggressively to skin while often failing to bond the target materials. <br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
|{{Maybe|Not effective as epoxy}}<br />
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable{{acn}}. Poor finish, where an intended smooth uniform surface cracks or discolors, can be a frustrating problem when applying epoxy mixtures to visible surfaces, especially when the problem only appears some time after you've congratulated yourself on a job well done.<br />
|-<br />
|Placebo<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}. Using this term to describe a type of polymer suggests it would make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).<br />
|-<br />
|Minced duct tape<br />
|{{Maybe|Not intentionally}}<br />
|{{w|Duct tape}} is widely used as a way to join and/cover things, sometimes in contexts where an epoxy might provide a more high-quality solution. [[Randall]] is pretending that having very small pieces of tape in the mix would add to the epoxy's ability to hold things together. In reality, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not fare well for the adhesive.<br />
|-<br />
|Acetone fragrance<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragrance is an odd reason for adding it to any product. It ''would'' give the epoxy a familiar "chemical smell" that people associate with industrial compounds.<br />
|-<br />
|Powdered bar magnets<br />
|{{Maybe|Yes, but not in resin}}<br />
|This might still work if the pieces could somehow be aligned correctly, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, capable of attracting the other tiny magnets, and thus resisting tension forces. However, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet, since the magnetic force would be weaker than those that held the original bar together. The micro-magnets would tend to clump together, which might strengthen the glue, but wouldn't help it to bond to surfaces very much unless the surfaces themselves were strongly magnetic.<br />
|-<br />
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}<br />
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin". It also resembles the kind of thing often seen in ingredients lists for common household products such as soaps and cleaners, which are fairly meaningless to the average person buying them.<br />
|-<br />
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}<br />
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item, but {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (possibly deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.<br />
|-<br />
|Salt and pepper to taste<br />
|{{Maybe|Not for taste, but salt can be useful}}<br />
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor, and "salt and pepper to taste" is a phrase found in many food recipes. But the taste of your epoxy should not be your concern. Do not eat epoxy. However, salt or sand or other fine grains are sometimes recommended to add a bit of grit to an adhesive. Generally glues or epoxies need the bonded materials to be firmly held together while the glue cures. But when first pressed together, any excess glue is squeezed out and can cause the surfaces to slip around and need to be re-aligned. Any extra friction in the epoxy can help alleviate that.<br />
|-<br />
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
|{{No}}{{Citation Needed}}<br />
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would dilute and possibly weaken it. Insofar as Gorilla Glue gorillas exist, they are depicted as ordinary gorillas who just happen to carry glue everywhere. Extracting and consuming the blood of a creature or person in an attempt to inherit some of the qualities of the 'donor' is a kind of {{w|sympathetic magic}}, so this may be suggesting that including this will give the epoxy 'the strength of a gorilla', commonly considered a powerful animal.<br />
<br />
Blood has been [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/blood-glue historically used in glue], though not typically that of gorillas.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
|{{No|Probably not}}<br />
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress and leaving you in a fix. This is similar to "Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else" above.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Standard 16-Part Epoxy<br />
<br />
[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]<br />
<br />
Resin<br />
<br />
Hardener<br />
<br />
Filler<br />
<br />
Softener<br />
<br />
Rosin<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
<br />
Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
<br />
Placebo<br />
<br />
Minced duct tape<br />
<br />
Acetone Fragrance<br />
<br />
Powdered bar magnets<br />
<br />
Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3194:_16_Part_Epoxy&diff=4037093194: 16 Part Epoxy2026-01-15T21:06:31Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png|left]][[File:Wiki-fellatio.png|right]]</div><div style="display:none"></includeonly>{{comic<br />
| number = 3194<br />
| date = January 14, 2026<br />
| title = 16 Part Epoxy<br />
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 511x595px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot that likes the taste of salty glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, substances used as adhesives, sealants, and coatings. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logic of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.<br />
<br />
The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g. {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side-effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Resin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.<br />
|-<br />
|Hardener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.<br />
|-<br />
|Filler<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.<br />
<br />
Some epoxies are sold as products known as 'fillers', used to repair and cover cracks, holes, and imperfections.<br />
|-<br />
|Softener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.<br />
|-<br />
|Rosin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or cellos to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing them when they bond to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it mostly only really useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.{{acn}}<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}<br />
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable{{acn}}. Poor finish can be a frustrating problem when applying such mixtures to visible surfaces, especially when the problem only appears some time after you've congratulated yourself on a job well-done.<br />
|-<br />
|Placebo<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}. Using this term to describe a type of polymer suggests it would make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).<br />
|-<br />
|Minced duct tape<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.<br />
|-<br />
|Acetone fragrance<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragrance is an odd reason for adding it to any product. <br />
|-<br />
|Powdered bar magnets<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|This might still work if the pieces could somehow be aligned correctly, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, capable of attracting the other tiny magnets, and thus resisting tension forces. However, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet, since the magnetic force would be weaker than those that held the original bar together. In any case, it's much more likely that each piece would end up randomly orientated, and therefore as likely to repel as attract each other.<br />
|-<br />
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}<br />
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin". It also resembles the kind of thing often seen in ingredients lists for common household products such as soaps and cleaners, which are fairly meaningless to the average person buying them.<br />
|-<br />
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}<br />
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item, but {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (possibly deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.<br />
|-<br />
|Salt and pepper to taste<br />
|{{Maybe|Not for taste, but salt can be useful}}<br />
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. But the taste of your epoxy should not be your concern. Do not eat epoxy. But salt or sand or other fine grains are sometimes recommended to add a bit of grit to an adhesive. Generally glues or epoxies need the bonded materials to be firmly held together while the glue cures. But when first pressed together, any excess glue is squeezed out and can cause the surfaces to slip around and need to be re-aligned. Any extra friction in the epoxy can help alleviate that.<br />
|-<br />
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would not be any more efficacious than any other gorilla's blood, because they're depicted as regular gorillas that just happen to carry glue everywhere. Extracting and consuming the blood of a creature or person in an attempt to inherit some of the qualities of the 'donor' is a common trope, so this may be suggesting that including this will give the epoxy 'the strength of a gorilla', commonly considered a powerful animal.<br />
<br />
Blood has been [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/blood-glue historically used in glue], though not typically that of gorillas.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress and leaving you in a fix.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Standard 16-Part Epoxy<br />
<br />
[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]<br />
<br />
Resin<br />
<br />
Hardener<br />
<br />
Filler<br />
<br />
Softener<br />
<br />
Rosin<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
<br />
Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
<br />
Placebo<br />
<br />
Minced duct tape<br />
<br />
Acetone Fragrance<br />
<br />
Powdered bar magnets<br />
<br />
Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3194:_16_Part_Epoxy&diff=4036843194: 16 Part Epoxy2026-01-15T16:26:14Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly><div style="position:fixed">[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png]]</div><div style="display:none"></includeonly>{{comic<br />
| number = 3194<br />
| date = January 14, 2026<br />
| title = 16 Part Epoxy<br />
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 511x595px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot that likes the taste of salty glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, substances used as adhesives, sealants, and coatings. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logic of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.<br />
<br />
The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g. {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side-effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Resin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.<br />
|-<br />
|Hardener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.<br />
|-<br />
|Filler<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.<br />
<br />
Some epoxies are sold as products known as 'fillers', used to repair and cover cracks, holes, and imperfections.<br />
|-<br />
|Softener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.<br />
|-<br />
|Rosin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or cellos to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing them when they bond to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it mostly only really useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.{{acn}}<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}<br />
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable{{acn}}. Poor finish can be a frustrating problem when applying such mixtures to visible surfaces, especially when the problem only appears some time after you've congratulated yourself on a job well-done.<br />
|-<br />
|Placebo<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}. Using this term to describe a type of polymer suggests it would make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).<br />
|-<br />
|Minced duct tape<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.<br />
|-<br />
|Acetone fragrance<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragrance is an odd reason for adding it to any product. <br />
|-<br />
|Powdered bar magnets<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|This might still work if the pieces could somehow be aligned correctly, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, capable of attracting the other tiny magnets, and thus resisting tension forces. However, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet, since the magnetic force would be weaker than those that held the original bar together. In any case, it's much more likely that each piece would end up randomly orientated, and therefore as likely to repel as attract each other.<br />
|-<br />
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}<br />
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin". It also resembles the kind of thing often seen in ingredients lists for common household products such as soaps and cleaners, which are fairly meaningless to the average person buying them.<br />
|-<br />
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}<br />
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item, but {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (possibly deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.<br />
|-<br />
|Salt and pepper to taste<br />
|{{Maybe|Not for taste, but salt can be useful}}<br />
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. But the taste of your epoxy should not be your concern. Do not eat epoxy. But salt or sand or other fine grains are sometimes recommended to add a bit of grit to an adhesive. Generally glues or epoxies need the bonded materials to be firmly held together while the glue cures. But when first pressed together, any excess glue is squeezed out and can cause the surfaces to slip around and need to be re-aligned. Any extra friction in the epoxy can help alleviate that.<br />
|-<br />
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would not be any more efficacious than any other gorilla's blood, because they're depicted as regular gorillas that just happen to carry glue everywhere. Extracting and consuming the blood of a creature or person in an attempt to inherit some of the qualities of the 'donor' is a common trope, so this may be suggesting that including this will give the epoxy 'the strength of a gorilla', commonly considered a powerful animal.<br />
<br />
Blood has been [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/blood-glue historically used in glue], though not typically that of gorillas.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress and leaving you in a fix.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Standard 16-Part Epoxy<br />
<br />
[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]<br />
<br />
Resin<br />
<br />
Hardener<br />
<br />
Filler<br />
<br />
Softener<br />
<br />
Rosin<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
<br />
Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
<br />
Placebo<br />
<br />
Minced duct tape<br />
<br />
Acetone Fragrance<br />
<br />
Powdered bar magnets<br />
<br />
Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3194:_16_Part_Epoxy&diff=4036773194: 16 Part Epoxy2026-01-15T14:59:26Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: </p>
<hr />
<div><includeonly>[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png]]<div style="display:none"></includeonly>{{comic<br />
| number = 3194<br />
| date = January 14, 2026<br />
| title = 16 Part Epoxy<br />
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 511x595px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot that likes the taste of salty glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, substances used as adhesives, sealants, and coatings. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logic of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.<br />
<br />
The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g. {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side-effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Resin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.<br />
|-<br />
|Hardener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.<br />
|-<br />
|Filler<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.<br />
<br />
Some epoxies are sold as products known as 'fillers', used to repair and cover cracks, holes, and imperfections.<br />
|-<br />
|Softener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.<br />
|-<br />
|Rosin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or cellos to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing them when they bond to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it mostly only really useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.{{acn}}<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}<br />
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable{{acn}}. Poor finish can be a frustrating problem when applying such mixtures to visible surfaces, especially when the problem only appears some time after you've congratulated yourself on a job well-done.<br />
|-<br />
|Placebo<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}. Using this term to describe a type of polymer suggests it would make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).<br />
|-<br />
|Minced duct tape<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.<br />
|-<br />
|Acetone fragrance<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragrance is an odd reason for adding it to any product. <br />
|-<br />
|Powdered bar magnets<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|This might still work if the pieces could somehow be aligned correctly, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, capable of attracting the other tiny magnets, and thus resisting tension forces. However, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet, since the magnetic force would be weaker than those that held the original bar together. In any case, it's much more likely that each piece would end up randomly orientated, and therefore as likely to repel as attract each other.<br />
|-<br />
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}<br />
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin". It also resembles the kind of thing often seen in ingredients lists for common household products such as soaps and cleaners, which are fairly meaningless to the average person buying them.<br />
|-<br />
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}<br />
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item, but {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (possibly deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.<br />
|-<br />
|Salt and pepper to taste<br />
|{{Maybe|Not for taste, but salt can be useful}}<br />
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. But the taste of your epoxy should not be your concern. Do not eat epoxy. But salt or sand or other fine grains are sometimes recommended to add a bit of grit to an adhesive. Generally glues or epoxies need the bonded materials to be firmly held together while the glue cures. But when first pressed together, any excess glue is squeezed out and can cause the surfaces to slip around and need to be re-aligned. Any extra friction in the epoxy can help alleviate that.<br />
|-<br />
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would not be any more efficacious than any other gorilla's blood, because they're depicted as regular gorillas that just happen to carry glue everywhere. Extracting and consuming the blood of a creature or person in an attempt to inherit some of the qualities of the 'donor' is a common trope, so this may be suggesting that including this will give the epoxy 'the strength of a gorilla', commonly considered a powerful animal.<br />
<br />
Blood has been [https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/blood-glue historically used in glue], though not typically that of gorillas.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress and leaving you in a fix.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Standard 16-Part Epoxy<br />
<br />
[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]<br />
<br />
Resin<br />
<br />
Hardener<br />
<br />
Filler<br />
<br />
Softener<br />
<br />
Rosin<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
<br />
Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
<br />
Placebo<br />
<br />
Minced duct tape<br />
<br />
Acetone Fragrance<br />
<br />
Powdered bar magnets<br />
<br />
Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3194:_16_Part_Epoxy&diff=4036583194: 16 Part Epoxy2026-01-15T11:12:42Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: </p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:TheBeginning.png]]<span style="display:none;">{{comic<br />
| number = 3194<br />
| date = January 14, 2026<br />
| title = 16 Part Epoxy<br />
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 511x595px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot that likes the taste of salty glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, substances used as adhesives, sealants, and coatings. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logic of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.<br />
<br />
The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g., {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side-effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Resin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.<br />
|-<br />
|Hardener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.<br />
|-<br />
|Filler<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.<br />
|-<br />
|Softener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.<br />
|-<br />
|Rosin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or fiddles to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing them when they bond to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it mostly only really useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}<br />
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable{{acn}}. Poor finish can be a frustrating problem when applying such mixtures to visible surfaces, especially when the problem only appears some time after you've congratulated yourself on a job well-done.<br />
|-<br />
|Placebo<br />
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}, but Randall is using this term to describe the type of polymer. This makes no sense, because the polymer would need to make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).<br />
|-<br />
|Minced duct tape<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.<br />
|-<br />
|Acetone fragrance<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragance is an odd reason for adding it to any product. <br />
|-<br />
|Powdered bar magnets<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|While this would still work, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet due to the random orientation of each piece.<br />
|-<br />
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}<br />
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin".<br />
|-<br />
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}<br />
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item. But {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.<br />
|-<br />
|Salt and pepper to taste<br />
|{{Maybe|Not for taste, but salt can be useful}}<br />
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. But the taste of your epoxy should not be your concern. Do not eat epoxy. But salt or sand or other fine grains are sometimes recommended to add a bit of grit to an adhesive. Generally glues or epoxies need the bonded materials to be firmly held together while the glue cures. But when first pressed together, any excess glue is squeezed out and can cause the surfaces to slip around and need to be re-aligned. Any extra friction in the epoxy can help alleviate that.<br />
|-<br />
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would not be any more efficacious than any other gorilla's blood, because they're depicted as regular gorillas that just happen to carry glue everywhere.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress and leaving you in a fix.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Standard 16-Part Epoxy<br />
<br />
[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]<br />
<br />
Resin<br />
<br />
Hardener<br />
<br />
Filler<br />
<br />
Softener<br />
<br />
Rosin<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
<br />
Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
<br />
Placebo<br />
<br />
Minced duct tape<br />
<br />
Acetone Fragrance<br />
<br />
Powdered bar magnets<br />
<br />
Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3194:_16_Part_Epoxy&diff=4036353194: 16 Part Epoxy2026-01-15T05:47:10Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: </p>
<hr />
<div><span style="position:fixed;">[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png]] </span><div style="transform:rotateX(180deg)"><br />
{{comic<br />
| number = 3194<br />
| date = January 14, 2026<br />
| title = 16 Part Epoxy<br />
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 511x595px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot covered in various types of glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, a substance used for attaching other materials. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logical of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.<br />
<br />
The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g., {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Resin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.<br />
|-<br />
|Hardener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.<br />
|-<br />
|Filler<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.<br />
|-<br />
|Softener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.<br />
|-<br />
|Rosin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or fiddles to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing it when it bonds to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it more useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}<br />
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable {{acn}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Placebo<br />
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}, but Randall is using this term to describe the type of polymer. This makes no sense, because the polymer would need to make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).<br />
|-<br />
|Minced duct tape<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.<br />
|-<br />
|Acetone fragrance<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragance is an odd reason for adding it to any product. <br />
|-<br />
|Powdered bar magnets<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|While this would still work, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet due to the random orientation of each piece.<br />
|-<br />
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}<br />
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin".<br />
|-<br />
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}<br />
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item. But {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.<br />
|-<br />
|Salt and pepper to taste<br />
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. Using this would have no effect on the polymer.<br />
|-<br />
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would have no effect because they're depicted as just regular gorillas that happen to carry glue everywhere.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Standard 16-Part Epoxy<br />
<br />
[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]<br />
<br />
Resin<br />
<br />
Hardener<br />
<br />
Filler<br />
<br />
Softener<br />
<br />
Rosin<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
<br />
Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
<br />
Placebo<br />
<br />
Minced duct tape<br />
<br />
Acetone Fragrance<br />
<br />
Powdered bar magnets<br />
<br />
Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3194:_16_Part_Epoxy&diff=4036333194: 16 Part Epoxy2026-01-15T05:39:10Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:91E2:29BB:EEC4:705D: </p>
<hr />
<div><span style="position:fixed;">[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png]]</span><div style="transform:rotateX(180deg)"><br />
{{comic<br />
| number = 3194<br />
| date = January 14, 2026<br />
| title = 16 Part Epoxy<br />
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 511x595px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot covered in various types of glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, a substance used for attaching other materials. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logical of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.<br />
<br />
The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g., {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Resin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.<br />
|-<br />
|Hardener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.<br />
|-<br />
|Filler<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.<br />
|-<br />
|Softener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.<br />
|-<br />
|Rosin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or fiddles to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing it when it bonds to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it more useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}<br />
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable {{acn}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Placebo<br />
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}, but Randall is using this term to describe the type of polymer. This makes no sense, because the polymer would need to make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).<br />
|-<br />
|Minced duct tape<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.<br />
|-<br />
|Acetone fragrance<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragance is an odd reason for adding it to any product. <br />
|-<br />
|Powdered bar magnets<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|While this would still work, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet due to the random orientation of each piece.<br />
|-<br />
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}<br />
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin".<br />
|-<br />
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}<br />
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item. But {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.<br />
|-<br />
|Salt and pepper to taste<br />
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. Using this would have no effect on the polymer.<br />
|-<br />
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would have no effect because they're depicted as just regular gorillas that happen to carry glue everywhere.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Standard 16-Part Epoxy<br />
<br />
[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]<br />
<br />
Resin<br />
<br />
Hardener<br />
<br />
Filler<br />
<br />
Softener<br />
<br />
Rosin<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
<br />
Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
<br />
Placebo<br />
<br />
Minced duct tape<br />
<br />
Acetone Fragrance<br />
<br />
Powdered bar magnets<br />
<br />
Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:91E2:29BB:EEC4:705Dhttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3194:_16_Part_Epoxy&diff=4036313194: 16 Part Epoxy2026-01-15T05:33:10Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:91E2:29BB:EEC4:705D: </p>
<hr />
<div><div style="transform:rotateX(180deg)"><br />
{{comic<br />
| number = 3194<br />
| date = January 14, 2026<br />
| title = 16 Part Epoxy<br />
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 511x595px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot covered in various types of glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, a substance used for attaching other materials. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logical of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.<br />
<br />
The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g., {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Resin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.<br />
|-<br />
|Hardener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.<br />
|-<br />
|Filler<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.<br />
|-<br />
|Softener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.<br />
|-<br />
|Rosin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or fiddles to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing it when it bonds to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it more useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}<br />
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable {{acn}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Placebo<br />
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}, but Randall is using this term to describe the type of polymer. This makes no sense, because the polymer would need to make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).<br />
|-<br />
|Minced duct tape<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.<br />
|-<br />
|Acetone fragrance<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragance is an odd reason for adding it to any product. <br />
|-<br />
|Powdered bar magnets<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|While this would still work, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet due to the random orientation of each piece.<br />
|-<br />
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}<br />
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin".<br />
|-<br />
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}<br />
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item. But {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.<br />
|-<br />
|Salt and pepper to taste<br />
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. Using this would have no effect on the polymer.<br />
|-<br />
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would have no effect because they're depicted as just regular gorillas that happen to carry glue everywhere.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Standard 16-Part Epoxy<br />
<br />
[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]<br />
<br />
Resin<br />
<br />
Hardener<br />
<br />
Filler<br />
<br />
Softener<br />
<br />
Rosin<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
<br />
Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
<br />
Placebo<br />
<br />
Minced duct tape<br />
<br />
Acetone Fragrance<br />
<br />
Powdered bar magnets<br />
<br />
Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:91E2:29BB:EEC4:705Dhttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3194:_16_Part_Epoxy&diff=4036293194: 16 Part Epoxy2026-01-15T05:28:56Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:91E2:29BB:EEC4:705D: Undo revision 403622 by 76.187.17.7 (talk) it ain't botched nigga</p>
<hr />
<div><div style="position:fixed;transform:rotateX(180deg)"><br />
{{comic<br />
| number = 3194<br />
| date = January 14, 2026<br />
| title = 16 Part Epoxy<br />
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 511x595px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot covered in various types of glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, a substance used for attaching other materials. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logical of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.<br />
<br />
The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g., {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Resin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.<br />
|-<br />
|Hardener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.<br />
|-<br />
|Filler<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.<br />
|-<br />
|Softener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.<br />
|-<br />
|Rosin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or fiddles to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing it when it bonds to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it more useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}<br />
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable {{acn}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Placebo<br />
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}, but Randall is using this term to describe the type of polymer. This makes no sense, because the polymer would need to make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).<br />
|-<br />
|Minced duct tape<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.<br />
|-<br />
|Acetone fragrance<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Acetone is a volatile solvent used in a number of glues and paints (incl. nail polish), but it weakens epoxy and can even be used to remove uncured epoxy. It has a strong, distinctive, very unpleasant smell, and is actually toxic, meaning that fragance is an odd reason for adding it to any product. <br />
|-<br />
|Powdered bar magnets<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|While this would still work, as each tiny piece of magnet would still be a magnet in its own right, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet due to the random orientation of each piece.<br />
|-<br />
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Not in epoxy}}<br />
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant. The cadence of the constructed word may also be a reference to the television episode {{w|Lucy Does a TV Commercial}} and its memorable product "Vitameatavegamin".<br />
|-<br />
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Maybe|Unclear}}<br />
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item. But {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.<br />
|-<br />
|Salt and pepper to taste<br />
|{{No|Not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. Using this would have no effect on the polymer.<br />
|-<br />
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would have no effect because they're depicted as just regular gorillas that happen to carry glue everywhere.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Another common annoyance when using an adhesive is that each glue type only forms an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Standard 16-Part Epoxy<br />
<br />
[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]<br />
<br />
Resin<br />
<br />
Hardener<br />
<br />
Filler<br />
<br />
Softener<br />
<br />
Rosin<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
<br />
Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
<br />
Placebo<br />
<br />
Minced duct tape<br />
<br />
Acetone Fragrance<br />
<br />
Powdered bar magnets<br />
<br />
Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:91E2:29BB:EEC4:705Dhttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3194:_16_Part_Epoxy&diff=4036203194: 16 Part Epoxy2026-01-15T03:44:05Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: </p>
<hr />
<div><div style="position:fixed;transform:rotateX(180deg)"><br />
{{comic<br />
| number = 3194<br />
| date = January 14, 2026<br />
| title = 16 Part Epoxy<br />
| image = 16_part_epoxy_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 511x595px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by a bot covered in various types of glue. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
This comic refers to {{w|Epoxy|epoxy}}, a substance used for attaching other materials. Many types of epoxy are multi-part, where the components, such as resin and a hardener, are stored separately. For ease of use, this can be in parallel syringes (of equal volume, or suitably different where a mixing ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 might be desired) such that the user simultaneously squeezes out the isolated chemicals by depressing both syringes at once. They are then mixed together on the target surface, so that the combined epoxy quickly cures into the desired solid, binding whatever surfaces upon which it is applied and then brought into contact with. This comic presents a fictitious 16-part epoxy, with the same apparent logical of parallel deposition in mind, with many components that are implausible or make fun of common problems people have when using epoxy in real life.<br />
<br />
The title text references how not all epoxies and glues work on every material, and that applying them on some can require special techniques or products. Some industrial or industrial-grade adhesives contain solvents (e.g., {{w|tetrachloroethylene}}, which is used in E6000 glue) that release harmful vapors as they cure. If used improperly, this can result in the release of chemical vapors in an enclosed space along other dangerous side effects, while also not working as a glue as intended.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Explanation<br />
|-<br />
|Resin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A liquid which turns into a polymer when mixed with a hardener.<br />
|-<br />
|Hardener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A thick liquid which is mixed with resin to create a durable polymer which is commonly used as a glue.<br />
|-<br />
|Filler<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|An optional addition to the hardener and resin which changes the properties of the polymer.<br />
|-<br />
|Softener<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A substance which is added to polymer to soften the polymer and increase its impact resistance.<br />
|-<br />
|Rosin<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|While this looks like a joke entry, this is actually an alternative to resin which is extracted naturally rather than synthesized from other chemicals. Rosin is frequently applied to the bows of string instruments like violins or fiddles to improve the sound, as immortalized in the famous song "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|One key annoyance with sticky substances is the difficulty of removing it when it bonds to skin. In this case, the polymer bonds solely to skin instead of anything else, making it more useful for a practical joke. Some epoxies are specifically designed for gluing skin, usually for medical purposes, but none are known to bond to skin exclusively.{{acn}} The most common kinds are moisture-activated, which means they will not easily bond to fully dried surfaces, where often most non-skin surfaces are dry.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that will crack and turn white over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
|{{No|Not effective as epoxy}}<br />
|'Crackle effect' is a real thing for crafters, and can be created by mixing paint and glue, but is not recommended if you want two surfaces to adhere, since most paint is made to be non-adherent in order to be durable {{acn}}.<br />
|-<br />
|Placebo<br />
|{{Maybe|Yes, but not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|The {{w|placebo effect}} happens when somebody is told that something has a certain effect, when in reality there is no effect. This is commonly used in medical studies to determine whether a medication actually does something as opposed to simply having a {{w|psychosomatic effect}}, but Randall is using this term to describe the type of polymer. This makes no sense, because the polymer would need to make someone believe it is gluing things together without actually doing anything, which is highly unlikely. Alternatively, this could refer to a component or filler that claims to serve a specific purpose while having no true benefit, causing the perception of benefit to the consumer (presumably causing better reviews).<br />
|-<br />
|Minced duct tape<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Randall is pretending that having very small pieces of sticky {{w|duct tape}} would make a good adhesive. In fact, cutting duct tape into small pieces would weaken it and make it ''less'' effective at sticking things together. In the UK, the word 'minced' can also mean 'made worthless', which would also not augur well for the adhesive.<br />
|-<br />
|Acetone fragrance<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|The fragrance of acetone is very similar to that of nail polish remover and comes from a natural solvent within it. Most people consider this scent incredibly unpleasant. This would also be worthless in an epoxy set, as the fragrance would have no effect on adhesiveness while making it smell worse.<br />
|-<br />
|Powdered bar magnets<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|While this would still work, as each tiny piece of magnet would still become a magnet in its own right, it would be much worse than a normal bar magnet due to the random orientation of each piece.<br />
|-<br />
|Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|This appears to be a reference to {{w|ethylene-vinyl acetate|Poly (ethylene-vinyl acetate)}}, some formulations of which can be used as the adhesive in hot-glue guns. Vinyl acetate is an ester, so the inclusion of that term is redundant.<br />
|-<br />
|2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|This sounds almost exactly the same as the above item. But {{w|2-Polyprenyl-6-hydroxyphenol methylase|a name with a "2-" prefix}} generally indicates that the initial bit of the name is a {{w|functional group}} attached to the ''second'' position along a chemical chain (often being the carbon-carbon 'spine' of a molecule, in large-molecule organic chemistry), rather than attached to its end. Because the molecule name is (deliberately) malformed, it's hard to tell what is supposed to be attached to the second carbon of what subunit.<br />
|-<br />
|Salt and pepper to taste<br />
|{{Maybe|Yes, but not in the field of adhesives}}<br />
|Salt and pepper are two incredibly popular condiments which are used to enhance a dish's flavor. Using this would have no effect on the polymer.<br />
|-<br />
|Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|{{w|Gorilla Glue}} is a popular brand of superglue which uses {{w|gorillas}} as its mascot. In this case, the blood of the gorillas would be extracted and placed in the polymer, which would have no effect because they're depicted as just regular gorillas that happen to carry glue everywhere.<br />
|-<br />
|Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Another common annoyance when using a polymer is that some types do not form an adhesive bond with certain materials. In this case, the polymer would bond with every material except for the one you were using, causing great distress.<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
Standard 16-Part Epoxy<br />
<br />
[An epoxy applicator with a single push bar and sixteen differently-colored chambers, each labeled]<br />
<br />
Resin<br />
<br />
Hardener<br />
<br />
Filler<br />
<br />
Softener<br />
<br />
Rosin<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds permanently to skin and nothing else<br />
<br />
Stuff that will turn white and crack over a few days, for decorative appearance<br />
<br />
Placebo<br />
<br />
Minced duct tape<br />
<br />
Acetone Fragrance<br />
<br />
Powdered bar magnets<br />
<br />
Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
2-Polyethylvinylesteracetate<br />
<br />
Salt and pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Blood sample from the Gorilla Glue gorillas<br />
<br />
Stuff that bonds to every known material except yours<br />
<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics with color]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3193:_Sailing_Rigs&diff=4034143193: Sailing Rigs2026-01-13T13:43:13Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div><div style="transform: rotateY(180deg);position:fixed;top:0;left:0">{{comic<br />
| number = 3193<br />
| date = January 12, 2026<br />
| title = Sailing Rigs<br />
| image = sailing_rigs_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 508x822px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by the birds flying in my kite. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This comic shows the side profiles of a variety of different sailing boat/ship rigs, not all of which are real.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Description <!-- What it looks like --><br />
!Explanation <!-- How it works or why it's funny --><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Lateen}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A single triangular sail.<br />
|The triangular sail was affixed to a long yard or crossbar, mounted at its middle to the top of the mast and angled to extend aft far above the mast and forward down nearly to the deck. The sail, its free corner secured near the stern, was capable of taking the wind on either side, and, by enabling the vessel to tack into the wind, the lateen immensely increased the potential of the sailing ship. [https://www.britannica.com/technology/lateen-sail.] <!-- It doesn't say this in the Wikipedia --><br />
|-<br />
|{{W|Bermuda rig|Bermuda rigged sloop}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A front and rear triangular sail share a mast.<br />
|{{w|Sloop}}<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Ketch}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A sailboat with two masts, where the main mast is taller than the aft mast, and the aft mast is forward of the rudder post<br />
|Similar to a Yawl<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Gaff rig|Gaff rigged sloop}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A front triangular sail shares mast with rear quadrilateral sail.<br />
|A sloop is a sailboat with one mast, typically with two sails mounted on the mast, one ahead and one behind. A Gaff Rig is a sailing rig where one sail is four-sided and controlled by a spar (the gaff) at its top, which is hoisted at an angle to the mast. [https://nauticalknowhow.mysailingcourse.com/glossary/gaff-rig/]<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Yawl}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|Two triangular sails share a front mast, and a much smaller aft mast holds a small aft sail.<br />
|A Yawls is sailboat with two masts, where the front mast has two sails (One in front of the mast and one behind, known as {{w|fore-and-aft rigging}}, and the aft mast is mounted aft of the rudder post, leading the aft sail to typically be small. Similar to a Ketch.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Schooner}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A sailboat with two or more masts, where all have {{w|fore-and-aft rigging}}, and where the front mast is typically smaller than the main mast<br />
|-<br />
|Ketch-rigged gaff<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|The first fictional rig. Resembles a gaff, with the aft sail reduced and two triangular sails mounted above. The resulting shape resembles a vertical ketch.<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Kloop-rigged sketch<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Four or five sails mounted in a nonsensical configuration, with elements from the schooner, ketch, and gaff<br />
| A mixture of the names of {{w|ketch}} and {{w|sloop}}, poking fun at the unfamiliar and odd-sounding names of some rigs. Adding to the absurdity, the kloop-rigged sketch is neither a sloop nor a ketch. However it is technically a {{w|Sketch (drawing)|sketch}}, as "sketch" can mean "drawing"<br />
|-<br />
|Bunkbed rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|A gaff-rigged sloop mounted on top of a second hull.<br />
|The name refers to a {{w|bunkbed}}, where a bed is mounted directly above another, and applies this idea to a ship, mounting a hull directly above another. While {{w|Multihull|boats with multiple hulls}} do exist, these are always mounted side-by-side to guarentee stability. Mounting a hull above another would be a terrible idea, as the upper hull would be ineffective when raised above the water, the lower hull might become submerged and sink, and such a tall boat would be unstable causing it to fall over. The comic is funny due to this {{w|surreal humour|absurdity}}, due to boat's obivously extreme design being so far outside what someone would expect a boat to look like<br />
|-<br />
|Flettner rig<br />
|{{Yes}}, though not typically called a rig<br />
|The rectangular outline of a cylinder with motion lines around it, indicating a {{w|Flettner rotor}}<br />
|A Flettner rotor is a right circular cylinder with disc end plates which is spun along its long axis. As air passes across it the {{w|Magnus effect}} causes an aerodynamic lift force to be generated in the direction perpendicular to both the long axis and the direction of airflow. In a {{w|rotor ship}}, the rotors stand vertically and lift is generated at right angles to the wind, to drive the ship forwards. <br />
<br />
Flettner rotors were previously mentioned in [[3119]]<br />
|-<br />
|Oops, all spinnakers<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Three masts each with a sail billowing in front<br />
|A {{w|spinnaker}} is a real type of sail, where a boat is propelled by a large sail directly pulled by the wind, similar in principle to a parachute. However, "Oops, all spinnakers" is not real, as spinnakers are only practical for smaller craft, and if multiple spinnakers are mounted in a row the earlier ones may disrupt the airflow to the later ones{{actual citation needed}}. It does not appear that there are any real boats propelled by more than one spinnaker.{{actual citation needed}}<br />
|-<br />
|Keel rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Three sails in a ketch arrangement, but mounted to the keel, which would typically put the **sails underwater**.<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Kite rig<br />
|{{Maybe|Kind of}} <br />
|All sails are replaced by two groups of kites, each tied to the mast with their own independent line.<br />
|A {{w|kite rig}} is a real thing, where a kite is deployed from a boat or ship to catch the wind and pull the vessel along. This rigging is used in various types of vessel, most commonly {{w|kite surfing}}, but occasionally other vessels too, up to trials with cargo ships [https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/30/travel/airseas-giant-kites-ships-slash-carbon-emissions-scn-climate-spc]. However, the real kite riggings typically use one large kite optimised for catching the wind, rather than many small kites optimised for flying (as depicted) which would likely get tangled and not pull much on the ship.<br />
|-<br />
|Longsail rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|A bermuda rigged sloop with the aft sail extending ~5 times as far back, well beyond the end of the hull.<br />
|While not technically impossible, such a long sail would likely be suceptiple to damage from the wind, as well as potentially making it hard to control the boat.<br />
|-<br />
|Deckhand obliterator<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|All sails replaced by an anchor that swings around the mast on a chain, similar to tetherball. <br />
|Any deckhands (crew) on the deck could be knocked off or fatally hurt if the anchor passes through their space.<br />
|-<br />
|Offset rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Gaff rigged sloop sails are mounted on a mast that is offset (forward) from the hull via an underwater extension of the keel.<br />
|The extreme mechanical advantage of the sail, potentially combined with the uneven weight, would make this rigging hard if not impossible to control.<br />
|-<br />
|Mastless rig<br />
|{{Maybe|Kind of}}<br />
|A single sail is directly to the hull of the boat, without any mast holding it in the wind.<br />
|As depicted the sail would provide little to no useful propulsion, as it would not be high enough to effective catch the wind. However ships do exist without sails, such as ships not powered by wind{{citation needed}}, or more rarely inflatable sails (e.g. [http://inflatedwingsails.com/en/concept/]), which use air rather than a mast for rigidity. While not intentiional, it is concievable that the drawing depicts an inflatable sail in it's deflated state.<br />
|-<br />
|Unclassifiable chaos rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Includes elements of the schooner, yawl, lateen, and possibly others.<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The title text is a pun on a {{w|Catch-22 (logic)|Catch-22}}, a no-win situation in which the thing needed to succeed would cause it not to succeed or not to be necessary. For instance, "the only way to qualify for a loan is to prove to the bank that you do not need a loan." Per the main panel, a ketch is similar to a yawl but has a larger aft sail, so increasing the aft sail of a yawl effectively turns the yawl into a ketch. However this is not technically true, as the distinction between a {{w|yawl}} and {{w|ketch}} is based on whether the aft sail is mounted forward or aft of the rudder post, although a Yawl with a large aft sail may be difficult to control.{{actual citation needed}}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
[The comic contains views from the side of boats, each with a different sailing rig. All boats are oriented to the left of the comic.]<br />
*Lateen [a single triangular sail]<br />
*Bermuda rigged sloop [a front and rear triangular sail share a mast]<br />
*Ketch [two triangular sails as above, with an additional triangular sail on a second rear mast]<br />
*Gaff rigged sloop [front triangular sail shares mast with rear quadrilateral sail]<br />
*Yawl [two triangular sails share front mast and a much smaller aft mast holds a small aft]<br />
*Schooner [two triangular front sails share foreward mast with quadrilateral center sail. An aft mast supports a quadrilateral aft sail]<br />
*Ketch-rigged gaff [Resembles a gaff, with the aft sail reduced and two triangular sails mounted above. The resulting shape resembles a vertical ketch]<br />
*Kloop-rigged sketch: [Includes elements of ketch and sloop]<br />
*Bunkbed rig [A gaff-rigged sloop is mounted on top of a second hull]<br />
*Flettner rig [The rectangular outline of a cylinder with motion lines around it]<br />
*Oops, all spinnakers [three masts each with a sail only attached to the top]<br />
*Keel rig [three sails in a ketch arrangement, but mounted to the keel]<br />
*Kite rig [all sails are replaced by two groups of kites, each tied to the mast with an independent line]<br />
*Longsail rig [bermuda rigged sloop with the aft sail extending ~5 times as far back, well beyond the end of the hull]<br />
*Deckhand obliterator [all sails replaced by an anchor that swings around the mast on a chain, similar to tetherball]<br />
*Offset rig [gaff rigged sloop sails are mounted on a mast that is offset (forward) from the hull via an underwater extension of the keel]<br />
*Mastless rig [a single sail is attached where the mast would normally be mounted, flapping around freely]<br />
*Unclassifiable chaos rig [includes elements of the schooner, yawl, lateen, and possibly others]<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Puns]]<br />
[[Category:Sailboats]]<br />
</div></div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3193:_Sailing_Rigs&diff=4034123193: Sailing Rigs2026-01-13T13:40:16Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div><div style="transform: rotateY(180deg);">{{comic<br />
| number = 3193<br />
| date = January 12, 2026<br />
| title = Sailing Rigs<br />
| image = sailing_rigs_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 508x822px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by the birds flying in my kite. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This comic shows the side profiles of a variety of different sailing boat/ship rigs, not all of which are real.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Description <!-- What it looks like --><br />
!Explanation <!-- How it works or why it's funny --><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Lateen}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A single triangular sail.<br />
|The triangular sail was affixed to a long yard or crossbar, mounted at its middle to the top of the mast and angled to extend aft far above the mast and forward down nearly to the deck. The sail, its free corner secured near the stern, was capable of taking the wind on either side, and, by enabling the vessel to tack into the wind, the lateen immensely increased the potential of the sailing ship. [https://www.britannica.com/technology/lateen-sail.] <!-- It doesn't say this in the Wikipedia --><br />
|-<br />
|{{W|Bermuda rig|Bermuda rigged sloop}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A front and rear triangular sail share a mast.<br />
|{{w|Sloop}}<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Ketch}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A sailboat with two masts, where the main mast is taller than the aft mast, and the aft mast is forward of the rudder post<br />
|Similar to a Yawl<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Gaff rig|Gaff rigged sloop}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A front triangular sail shares mast with rear quadrilateral sail.<br />
|A sloop is a sailboat with one mast, typically with two sails mounted on the mast, one ahead and one behind. A Gaff Rig is a sailing rig where one sail is four-sided and controlled by a spar (the gaff) at its top, which is hoisted at an angle to the mast. [https://nauticalknowhow.mysailingcourse.com/glossary/gaff-rig/]<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Yawl}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|Two triangular sails share a front mast, and a much smaller aft mast holds a small aft sail.<br />
|A Yawls is sailboat with two masts, where the front mast has two sails (One in front of the mast and one behind, known as {{w|fore-and-aft rigging}}, and the aft mast is mounted aft of the rudder post, leading the aft sail to typically be small. Similar to a Ketch.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Schooner}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A sailboat with two or more masts, where all have {{w|fore-and-aft rigging}}, and where the front mast is typically smaller than the main mast<br />
|-<br />
|Ketch-rigged gaff<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|The first fictional rig. Resembles a gaff, with the aft sail reduced and two triangular sails mounted above. The resulting shape resembles a vertical ketch.<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Kloop-rigged sketch<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Four or five sails mounted in a nonsensical configuration, with elements from the schooner, ketch, and gaff<br />
| A mixture of the names of {{w|ketch}} and {{w|sloop}}, poking fun at the unfamiliar and odd-sounding names of some rigs. Adding to the absurdity, the kloop-rigged sketch is neither a sloop nor a ketch. However it is technically a {{w|Sketch (drawing)|sketch}}, as "sketch" can mean "drawing"<br />
|-<br />
|Bunkbed rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|A gaff-rigged sloop mounted on top of a second hull.<br />
|The name refers to a {{w|bunkbed}}, where a bed is mounted directly above another, and applies this idea to a ship, mounting a hull directly above another. While {{w|Multihull|boats with multiple hulls}} do exist, these are always mounted side-by-side to guarentee stability. Mounting a hull above another would be a terrible idea, as the upper hull would be ineffective when raised above the water, the lower hull might become submerged and sink, and such a tall boat would be unstable causing it to fall over. The comic is funny due to this {{w|surreal humour|absurdity}}, due to boat's obivously extreme design being so far outside what someone would expect a boat to look like<br />
|-<br />
|Flettner rig<br />
|{{Yes}}, though not typically called a rig<br />
|The rectangular outline of a cylinder with motion lines around it, indicating a {{w|Flettner rotor}}<br />
|A Flettner rotor is a right circular cylinder with disc end plates which is spun along its long axis. As air passes across it the {{w|Magnus effect}} causes an aerodynamic lift force to be generated in the direction perpendicular to both the long axis and the direction of airflow. In a {{w|rotor ship}}, the rotors stand vertically and lift is generated at right angles to the wind, to drive the ship forwards. <br />
<br />
Flettner rotors were previously mentioned in [[3119]]<br />
|-<br />
|Oops, all spinnakers<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Three masts each with a sail billowing in front<br />
|A {{w|spinnaker}} is a real type of sail, where a boat is propelled by a large sail directly pulled by the wind, similar in principle to a parachute. However, "Oops, all spinnakers" is not real, as spinnakers are only practical for smaller craft, and if multiple spinnakers are mounted in a row the earlier ones may disrupt the airflow to the later ones{{actual citation needed}}. It does not appear that there are any real boats propelled by more than one spinnaker.{{actual citation needed}}<br />
|-<br />
|Keel rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Three sails in a ketch arrangement, but mounted to the keel, which would typically put the **sails underwater**.<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Kite rig<br />
|{{Maybe|Kind of}} <br />
|All sails are replaced by two groups of kites, each tied to the mast with their own independent line.<br />
|A {{w|kite rig}} is a real thing, where a kite is deployed from a boat or ship to catch the wind and pull the vessel along. This rigging is used in various types of vessel, most commonly {{w|kite surfing}}, but occasionally other vessels too, up to trials with cargo ships [https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/30/travel/airseas-giant-kites-ships-slash-carbon-emissions-scn-climate-spc]. However, the real kite riggings typically use one large kite optimised for catching the wind, rather than many small kites optimised for flying (as depicted) which would likely get tangled and not pull much on the ship.<br />
|-<br />
|Longsail rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|A bermuda rigged sloop with the aft sail extending ~5 times as far back, well beyond the end of the hull.<br />
|While not technically impossible, such a long sail would likely be suceptiple to damage from the wind, as well as potentially making it hard to control the boat.<br />
|-<br />
|Deckhand obliterator<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|All sails replaced by an anchor that swings around the mast on a chain, similar to tetherball. <br />
|Any deckhands (crew) on the deck could be knocked off or fatally hurt if the anchor passes through their space.<br />
|-<br />
|Offset rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Gaff rigged sloop sails are mounted on a mast that is offset (forward) from the hull via an underwater extension of the keel.<br />
|The extreme mechanical advantage of the sail, potentially combined with the uneven weight, would make this rigging hard if not impossible to control.<br />
|-<br />
|Mastless rig<br />
|{{Maybe|Kind of}}<br />
|A single sail is directly to the hull of the boat, without any mast holding it in the wind.<br />
|As depicted the sail would provide little to no useful propulsion, as it would not be high enough to effective catch the wind. However ships do exist without sails, such as ships not powered by wind{{citation needed}}, or more rarely inflatable sails (e.g. [http://inflatedwingsails.com/en/concept/]), which use air rather than a mast for rigidity. While not intentiional, it is concievable that the drawing depicts an inflatable sail in it's deflated state.<br />
|-<br />
|Unclassifiable chaos rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Includes elements of the schooner, yawl, lateen, and possibly others.<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The title text is a pun on a {{w|Catch-22 (logic)|Catch-22}}, a no-win situation in which the thing needed to succeed would cause it not to succeed or not to be necessary. For instance, "the only way to qualify for a loan is to prove to the bank that you do not need a loan." Per the main panel, a ketch is similar to a yawl but has a larger aft sail, so increasing the aft sail of a yawl effectively turns the yawl into a ketch. However this is not technically true, as the distinction between a {{w|yawl}} and {{w|ketch}} is based on whether the aft sail is mounted forward or aft of the rudder post, although a Yawl with a large aft sail may be difficult to control.{{actual citation needed}}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
[The comic contains views from the side of boats, each with a different sailing rig. All boats are oriented to the left of the comic.]<br />
*Lateen [a single triangular sail]<br />
*Bermuda rigged sloop [a front and rear triangular sail share a mast]<br />
*Ketch [two triangular sails as above, with an additional triangular sail on a second rear mast]<br />
*Gaff rigged sloop [front triangular sail shares mast with rear quadrilateral sail]<br />
*Yawl [two triangular sails share front mast and a much smaller aft mast holds a small aft]<br />
*Schooner [two triangular front sails share foreward mast with quadrilateral center sail. An aft mast supports a quadrilateral aft sail]<br />
*Ketch-rigged gaff [Resembles a gaff, with the aft sail reduced and two triangular sails mounted above. The resulting shape resembles a vertical ketch]<br />
*Kloop-rigged sketch: [Includes elements of ketch and sloop]<br />
*Bunkbed rig [A gaff-rigged sloop is mounted on top of a second hull]<br />
*Flettner rig [The rectangular outline of a cylinder with motion lines around it]<br />
*Oops, all spinnakers [three masts each with a sail only attached to the top]<br />
*Keel rig [three sails in a ketch arrangement, but mounted to the keel]<br />
*Kite rig [all sails are replaced by two groups of kites, each tied to the mast with an independent line]<br />
*Longsail rig [bermuda rigged sloop with the aft sail extending ~5 times as far back, well beyond the end of the hull]<br />
*Deckhand obliterator [all sails replaced by an anchor that swings around the mast on a chain, similar to tetherball]<br />
*Offset rig [gaff rigged sloop sails are mounted on a mast that is offset (forward) from the hull via an underwater extension of the keel]<br />
*Mastless rig [a single sail is attached where the mast would normally be mounted, flapping around freely]<br />
*Unclassifiable chaos rig [includes elements of the schooner, yawl, lateen, and possibly others]<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Puns]]<br />
[[Category:Sailboats]]<br />
</div><br />
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[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png|link=]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3193:_Sailing_Rigs&diff=4034103193: Sailing Rigs2026-01-13T13:38:38Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div><div style="transform: rotateY(180deg);">{{comic<br />
| number = 3193<br />
| date = January 12, 2026<br />
| title = Sailing Rigs<br />
| image = sailing_rigs_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 508x822px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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.<br />
}}<br />
<<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by the birds flying in my kite. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This comic shows the side profiles of a variety of different sailing boat/ship rigs, not all of which are real.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
!Type<br />
!Real?<br />
!Description <!-- What it looks like --><br />
!Explanation <!-- How it works or why it's funny --><br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Lateen}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A single triangular sail.<br />
|The triangular sail was affixed to a long yard or crossbar, mounted at its middle to the top of the mast and angled to extend aft far above the mast and forward down nearly to the deck. The sail, its free corner secured near the stern, was capable of taking the wind on either side, and, by enabling the vessel to tack into the wind, the lateen immensely increased the potential of the sailing ship. [https://www.britannica.com/technology/lateen-sail.] <!-- It doesn't say this in the Wikipedia --><br />
|-<br />
|{{W|Bermuda rig|Bermuda rigged sloop}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A front and rear triangular sail share a mast.<br />
|{{w|Sloop}}<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Ketch}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A sailboat with two masts, where the main mast is taller than the aft mast, and the aft mast is forward of the rudder post<br />
|Similar to a Yawl<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Gaff rig|Gaff rigged sloop}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A front triangular sail shares mast with rear quadrilateral sail.<br />
|A sloop is a sailboat with one mast, typically with two sails mounted on the mast, one ahead and one behind. A Gaff Rig is a sailing rig where one sail is four-sided and controlled by a spar (the gaff) at its top, which is hoisted at an angle to the mast. [https://nauticalknowhow.mysailingcourse.com/glossary/gaff-rig/]<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Yawl}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|Two triangular sails share a front mast, and a much smaller aft mast holds a small aft sail.<br />
|A Yawls is sailboat with two masts, where the front mast has two sails (One in front of the mast and one behind, known as {{w|fore-and-aft rigging}}, and the aft mast is mounted aft of the rudder post, leading the aft sail to typically be small. Similar to a Ketch.<br />
|-<br />
|{{w|Schooner}}<br />
|{{Yes}}<br />
|A sailboat with two or more masts, where all have {{w|fore-and-aft rigging}}, and where the front mast is typically smaller than the main mast<br />
|-<br />
|Ketch-rigged gaff<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|The first fictional rig. Resembles a gaff, with the aft sail reduced and two triangular sails mounted above. The resulting shape resembles a vertical ketch.<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Kloop-rigged sketch<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Four or five sails mounted in a nonsensical configuration, with elements from the schooner, ketch, and gaff<br />
| A mixture of the names of {{w|ketch}} and {{w|sloop}}, poking fun at the unfamiliar and odd-sounding names of some rigs. Adding to the absurdity, the kloop-rigged sketch is neither a sloop nor a ketch. However it is technically a {{w|Sketch (drawing)|sketch}}, as "sketch" can mean "drawing"<br />
|-<br />
|Bunkbed rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|A gaff-rigged sloop mounted on top of a second hull.<br />
|The name refers to a {{w|bunkbed}}, where a bed is mounted directly above another, and applies this idea to a ship, mounting a hull directly above another. While {{w|Multihull|boats with multiple hulls}} do exist, these are always mounted side-by-side to guarentee stability. Mounting a hull above another would be a terrible idea, as the upper hull would be ineffective when raised above the water, the lower hull might become submerged and sink, and such a tall boat would be unstable causing it to fall over. The comic is funny due to this {{w|surreal humour|absurdity}}, due to boat's obivously extreme design being so far outside what someone would expect a boat to look like<br />
|-<br />
|Flettner rig<br />
|{{Yes}}, though not typically called a rig<br />
|The rectangular outline of a cylinder with motion lines around it, indicating a {{w|Flettner rotor}}<br />
|A Flettner rotor is a right circular cylinder with disc end plates which is spun along its long axis. As air passes across it the {{w|Magnus effect}} causes an aerodynamic lift force to be generated in the direction perpendicular to both the long axis and the direction of airflow. In a {{w|rotor ship}}, the rotors stand vertically and lift is generated at right angles to the wind, to drive the ship forwards. <br />
<br />
Flettner rotors were previously mentioned in [[3119]]<br />
|-<br />
|Oops, all spinnakers<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Three masts each with a sail billowing in front<br />
|A {{w|spinnaker}} is a real type of sail, where a boat is propelled by a large sail directly pulled by the wind, similar in principle to a parachute. However, "Oops, all spinnakers" is not real, as spinnakers are only practical for smaller craft, and if multiple spinnakers are mounted in a row the earlier ones may disrupt the airflow to the later ones{{actual citation needed}}. It does not appear that there are any real boats propelled by more than one spinnaker.{{actual citation needed}}<br />
|-<br />
|Keel rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Three sails in a ketch arrangement, but mounted to the keel, which would typically put the **sails underwater**.<br />
|<br />
|-<br />
|Kite rig<br />
|{{Maybe|Kind of}} <br />
|All sails are replaced by two groups of kites, each tied to the mast with their own independent line.<br />
|A {{w|kite rig}} is a real thing, where a kite is deployed from a boat or ship to catch the wind and pull the vessel along. This rigging is used in various types of vessel, most commonly {{w|kite surfing}}, but occasionally other vessels too, up to trials with cargo ships [https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/30/travel/airseas-giant-kites-ships-slash-carbon-emissions-scn-climate-spc]. However, the real kite riggings typically use one large kite optimised for catching the wind, rather than many small kites optimised for flying (as depicted) which would likely get tangled and not pull much on the ship.<br />
|-<br />
|Longsail rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|A bermuda rigged sloop with the aft sail extending ~5 times as far back, well beyond the end of the hull.<br />
|While not technically impossible, such a long sail would likely be suceptiple to damage from the wind, as well as potentially making it hard to control the boat.<br />
|-<br />
|Deckhand obliterator<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|All sails replaced by an anchor that swings around the mast on a chain, similar to tetherball. <br />
|Any deckhands (crew) on the deck could be knocked off or fatally hurt if the anchor passes through their space.<br />
|-<br />
|Offset rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Gaff rigged sloop sails are mounted on a mast that is offset (forward) from the hull via an underwater extension of the keel.<br />
|The extreme mechanical advantage of the sail, potentially combined with the uneven weight, would make this rigging hard if not impossible to control.<br />
|-<br />
|Mastless rig<br />
|{{Maybe|Kind of}}<br />
|A single sail is directly to the hull of the boat, without any mast holding it in the wind.<br />
|As depicted the sail would provide little to no useful propulsion, as it would not be high enough to effective catch the wind. However ships do exist without sails, such as ships not powered by wind{{citation needed}}, or more rarely inflatable sails (e.g. [http://inflatedwingsails.com/en/concept/]), which use air rather than a mast for rigidity. While not intentiional, it is concievable that the drawing depicts an inflatable sail in it's deflated state.<br />
|-<br />
|Unclassifiable chaos rig<br />
|{{No}}<br />
|Includes elements of the schooner, yawl, lateen, and possibly others.<br />
|<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The title text is a pun on a {{w|Catch-22 (logic)|Catch-22}}, a no-win situation in which the thing needed to succeed would cause it not to succeed or not to be necessary. For instance, "the only way to qualify for a loan is to prove to the bank that you do not need a loan." Per the main panel, a ketch is similar to a yawl but has a larger aft sail, so increasing the aft sail of a yawl effectively turns the yawl into a ketch. However this is not technically true, as the distinction between a {{w|yawl}} and {{w|ketch}} is based on whether the aft sail is mounted forward or aft of the rudder post, although a Yawl with a large aft sail may be difficult to control.{{actual citation needed}}<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
[The comic contains views from the side of boats, each with a different sailing rig. All boats are oriented to the left of the comic.]<br />
*Lateen [a single triangular sail]<br />
*Bermuda rigged sloop [a front and rear triangular sail share a mast]<br />
*Ketch [two triangular sails as above, with an additional triangular sail on a second rear mast]<br />
*Gaff rigged sloop [front triangular sail shares mast with rear quadrilateral sail]<br />
*Yawl [two triangular sails share front mast and a much smaller aft mast holds a small aft]<br />
*Schooner [two triangular front sails share foreward mast with quadrilateral center sail. An aft mast supports a quadrilateral aft sail]<br />
*Ketch-rigged gaff [Resembles a gaff, with the aft sail reduced and two triangular sails mounted above. The resulting shape resembles a vertical ketch]<br />
*Kloop-rigged sketch: [Includes elements of ketch and sloop]<br />
*Bunkbed rig [A gaff-rigged sloop is mounted on top of a second hull]<br />
*Flettner rig [The rectangular outline of a cylinder with motion lines around it]<br />
*Oops, all spinnakers [three masts each with a sail only attached to the top]<br />
*Keel rig [three sails in a ketch arrangement, but mounted to the keel]<br />
*Kite rig [all sails are replaced by two groups of kites, each tied to the mast with an independent line]<br />
*Longsail rig [bermuda rigged sloop with the aft sail extending ~5 times as far back, well beyond the end of the hull]<br />
*Deckhand obliterator [all sails replaced by an anchor that swings around the mast on a chain, similar to tetherball]<br />
*Offset rig [gaff rigged sloop sails are mounted on a mast that is offset (forward) from the hull via an underwater extension of the keel]<br />
*Mastless rig [a single sail is attached where the mast would normally be mounted, flapping around freely]<br />
*Unclassifiable chaos rig [includes elements of the schooner, yawl, lateen, and possibly others]<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
[[Category:Puns]]<br />
[[Category:Sailboats]]<br />
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[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png|link=]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3192:_Planetary_Alignment&diff=4033443192: Planetary Alignment2026-01-12T14:29:32Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:91E2:29BB:EEC4:705D: </p>
<hr />
<div><div class="center" style="position: fixed; float: left;"> <br />
[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png|link=]]</div><span style="display:none"> . {{comic<br />
| number = 3192<br />
| date = January 9, 2026<br />
| title = Planetary Alignment<br />
| image = planetary_alignment_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 740x327px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = We're going to need to modify the surface to mount it on the test stand. Which ocean basin do you like the least?<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by SLARTIBARTFAST, CARVER OF FJORDS. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
In this comic, Ponytail (presumably a planetary mechanic) is informing Cueball of the results of a planetary inspection. <br />
<br />
According to her, the planet needs to be re-aligned, as the magnetic and rotational axes of the planet are 400 miles (640 km) offset from each other, which could create a number of problems with the planet, such as unbalanced magnetic fields. This is presented in the same casual manner as a car mechanic might regarding {{w|wheel alignment}}, or perhaps even the {{w|tire balance}}.<br />
<br />
Ponytail mentions radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic ocean. This is a real phenomenon, known as the {{w|South Atlantic Anomaly}}, where satellites experience increased malfunctions and solar radiation is higher than average due to the alignment of the magnetic field as well as {{w|Large low-shear-velocity provinces|a massive rock structure underneath Africa}}.<br />
<br />
In the final panel, Ponytail says that they will provide a loaner planet while Earth is in the shop. This is typically done with vehicles, not planets,{{Citation needed}} but perhaps this particular shop has a [https://www.clivebanks.co.uk/THHGTTG/THHGTTGradio3.htm very large back room]. Ponytail then asks if a gas giant is okay, as they are out of solid surface planets. This is likely alluding to the practice of car dealerships offering replacements or loaner vehicles that are very different from those brought in for service, which can greatly frustrate and inconvenience the customer.<br />
<br />
The title text continues the mechanic metaphor, stating that they (the shop) will have to modify Earth to fit it on the test stand, asking Cueball which ocean basin he like the least, implying that they intend to remove or alter one of the Earth's oceans to mount it for adjustment and retesting.<br />
<br />
The similar previous comics [[3037: Radon]] and [[3059: Water Damage]] also had Ponytail as an inspector complaining about problems with the planet as if they were the client Cueball's fault.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
:[Ponytail is approaching from off-screen, holding a clipboard and some sort of handheld apparatus. She is talking to Cueball, standing to the right.]<br />
:Ponytail: The inspection revealed a few problems.<br />
:Ponytail: Looks like your planet needs an alignment.<br />
:Cueball: Oh?<br />
<br />
:[Close up of Ponytail.]<br />
:Ponytail: Yeah, your magnetic axis is 400 miles off-center from your rotational one.<br />
:Cueball (off-panel): Is that bad? <br />
<br />
:[The view zooms back out, showing Ponytail holding her equipment, with Cueball holding a hand to his face, as if thinking.]<br />
:Ponytail: The unbalanced magnetic field could cause radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic. Have you noticed any spacecraft equipment failures in that area?<br />
:Cueball: There '''''have''''' been a few, actually.<br />
<br />
:[The final panel shows the same as the third, apart from Cueball's gestures.]<br />
:Ponytail: We can give you a loaner while yours is in the shop. Is a gas giant OK?<br />
:Cueball: I'd '''''really''''' prefer a solid surface.<br />
:Ponytail: Sorry, it's all we have. But it'll just be for a few days.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Geology]]<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Home Inspections]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:91E2:29BB:EEC4:705Dhttps://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3192:_Planetary_Alignment&diff=4033423192: Planetary Alignment2026-01-12T14:22:59Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: </p>
<hr />
<div><div class="center" style="position: fixed; float: left;"><br />
[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png|link=]]</div><span style="display:none"> . {{comic<br />
| number = 3192<br />
| date = January 9, 2026<br />
| title = Planetary Alignment<br />
| image = planetary_alignment_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 740x327px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = We're going to need to modify the surface to mount it on the test stand. Which ocean basin do you like the least?<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by SLARTIBARTFAST, CARVER OF FJORDS. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
In this comic, Ponytail (presumably a planetary mechanic) is informing Cueball of the results of a planetary inspection. <br />
<br />
According to her, the planet needs to be re-aligned, as the magnetic and rotational axes of the planet are 400 miles (640 km) offset from each other, which could create a number of problems with the planet, such as unbalanced magnetic fields. This is presented in the same casual manner as a car mechanic might regarding {{w|wheel alignment}}, or perhaps even the {{w|tire balance}}.<br />
<br />
Ponytail mentions radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic ocean. This is a real phenomenon, known as the {{w|South Atlantic Anomaly}}, where satellites experience increased malfunctions and solar radiation is higher than average due to the alignment of the magnetic field as well as {{w|Large low-shear-velocity provinces|a massive rock structure underneath Africa}}.<br />
<br />
In the final panel, Ponytail says that they will provide a loaner planet while Earth is in the shop. This is typically done with vehicles, not planets,{{Citation needed}} but perhaps this particular shop has a [https://www.clivebanks.co.uk/THHGTTG/THHGTTGradio3.htm very large back room]. Ponytail then asks if a gas giant is okay, as they are out of solid surface planets. This is likely alluding to the practice of car dealerships offering replacements or loaner vehicles that are very different from those brought in for service, which can greatly frustrate and inconvenience the customer.<br />
<br />
The title text continues the mechanic metaphor, stating that they (the shop) will have to modify Earth to fit it on the test stand, asking Cueball which ocean basin he like the least, implying that they intend to remove or alter one of the Earth's oceans to mount it for adjustment and retesting.<br />
<br />
The similar previous comics [[3037: Radon]] and [[3059: Water Damage]] also had Ponytail as an inspector complaining about problems with the planet as if they were the client Cueball's fault.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
:[Ponytail is approaching from off-screen, holding a clipboard and some sort of handheld apparatus. She is talking to Cueball, standing to the right.]<br />
:Ponytail: The inspection revealed a few problems.<br />
:Ponytail: Looks like your planet needs an alignment.<br />
:Cueball: Oh?<br />
<br />
:[Close up of Ponytail.]<br />
:Ponytail: Yeah, your magnetic axis is 400 miles off-center from your rotational one.<br />
:Cueball (off-panel): Is that bad? <br />
<br />
:[The view zooms back out, showing Ponytail holding her equipment, with Cueball holding a hand to his face, as if thinking.]<br />
:Ponytail: The unbalanced magnetic field could cause radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic. Have you noticed any spacecraft equipment failures in that area?<br />
:Cueball: There '''''have''''' been a few, actually.<br />
<br />
:[The final panel shows the same as the third, apart from Cueball's gestures.]<br />
:Ponytail: We can give you a loaner while yours is in the shop. Is a gas giant OK?<br />
:Cueball: I'd '''''really''''' prefer a solid surface.<br />
:Ponytail: Sorry, it's all we have. But it'll just be for a few days.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Geology]]<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Home Inspections]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3192:_Planetary_Alignment&diff=4033403192: Planetary Alignment2026-01-12T13:44:23Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: </p>
<hr />
<div><div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><br />
[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png]]</div><span style="display:none"> . {{comic<br />
| number = 3192<br />
| date = January 9, 2026<br />
| title = Planetary Alignment<br />
| image = planetary_alignment_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 740x327px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = We're going to need to modify the surface to mount it on the test stand. Which ocean basin do you like the least?<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by SLARTIBARTFAST, CARVER OF FJORDS. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
In this comic, Ponytail (presumably a planetary mechanic) is informing Cueball of the results of a planetary inspection. <br />
<br />
According to her, the planet needs to be re-aligned, as the magnetic and rotational axes of the planet are 400 miles (640 km) offset from each other, which could create a number of problems with the planet, such as unbalanced magnetic fields. This is presented in the same casual manner as a car mechanic might regarding {{w|wheel alignment}}, or perhaps even the {{w|tire balance}}.<br />
<br />
Ponytail mentions radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic ocean. This is a real phenomenon, known as the {{w|South Atlantic Anomaly}}, where satellites experience increased malfunctions and solar radiation is higher than average due to the alignment of the magnetic field as well as {{w|Large low-shear-velocity provinces|a massive rock structure underneath Africa}}.<br />
<br />
In the final panel, Ponytail says that they will provide a loaner planet while Earth is in the shop. This is typically done with vehicles, not planets,{{Citation needed}} but perhaps this particular shop has a [https://www.clivebanks.co.uk/THHGTTG/THHGTTGradio3.htm very large back room]. Ponytail then asks if a gas giant is okay, as they are out of solid surface planets. This is likely alluding to the practice of car dealerships offering replacements or loaner vehicles that are very different from those brought in for service, which can greatly frustrate and inconvenience the customer.<br />
<br />
The title text continues the mechanic metaphor, stating that they (the shop) will have to modify Earth to fit it on the test stand, asking Cueball which ocean basin he like the least, implying that they intend to remove or alter one of the Earth's oceans to mount it for adjustment and retesting.<br />
<br />
The similar previous comics [[3037: Radon]] and [[3059: Water Damage]] also had Ponytail as an inspector complaining about problems with the planet as if they were the client Cueball's fault.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
:[Ponytail is approaching from off-screen, holding a clipboard and some sort of handheld apparatus. She is talking to Cueball, standing to the right.]<br />
:Ponytail: The inspection revealed a few problems.<br />
:Ponytail: Looks like your planet needs an alignment.<br />
:Cueball: Oh?<br />
<br />
:[Close up of Ponytail.]<br />
:Ponytail: Yeah, your magnetic axis is 400 miles off-center from your rotational one.<br />
:Cueball (off-panel): Is that bad? <br />
<br />
:[The view zooms back out, showing Ponytail holding her equipment, with Cueball holding a hand to his face, as if thinking.]<br />
:Ponytail: The unbalanced magnetic field could cause radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic. Have you noticed any spacecraft equipment failures in that area?<br />
:Cueball: There '''''have''''' been a few, actually.<br />
<br />
:[The final panel shows the same as the third, apart from Cueball's gestures.]<br />
:Ponytail: We can give you a loaner while yours is in the shop. Is a gas giant OK?<br />
:Cueball: I'd '''''really''''' prefer a solid surface.<br />
:Ponytail: Sorry, it's all we have. But it'll just be for a few days.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Geology]]<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Home Inspections]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3192:_Planetary_Alignment&diff=4033383192: Planetary Alignment2026-01-12T13:36:47Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: unfixed vandalism. always thinking I am gonna do it again on explainxkcd kek</p>
<hr />
<div>Us x<span></span>kcd jan<span></span>nies are t<span>ra</span>ns btw, if that matters<span style="display:none"> . {{comic<br />
| number = 3192<br />
| date = January 9, 2026<br />
| title = Planetary Alignment<br />
| image = planetary_alignment_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 740x327px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = We're going to need to modify the surface to mount it on the test stand. Which ocean basin do you like the least?<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by SLARTIBARTFAST, CARVER OF FJORDS. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
In this comic, Ponytail (presumably a planetary mechanic) is informing Cueball of the results of a planetary inspection. <br />
<br />
According to her, the planet needs to be re-aligned, as the magnetic and rotational axes of the planet are 400 miles (640 km) offset from each other, which could create a number of problems with the planet, such as unbalanced magnetic fields. This is presented in the same casual manner as a car mechanic might regarding {{w|wheel alignment}}, or perhaps even the {{w|tire balance}}.<br />
<br />
Ponytail mentions radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic ocean. This is a real phenomenon, known as the {{w|South Atlantic Anomaly}}, where satellites experience increased malfunctions and solar radiation is higher than average due to the alignment of the magnetic field as well as {{w|Large low-shear-velocity provinces|a massive rock structure underneath Africa}}.<br />
<br />
In the final panel, Ponytail says that they will provide a loaner planet while Earth is in the shop. This is typically done with vehicles, not planets,{{Citation needed}} but perhaps this particular shop has a [https://www.clivebanks.co.uk/THHGTTG/THHGTTGradio3.htm very large back room]. Ponytail then asks if a gas giant is okay, as they are out of solid surface planets. This is likely alluding to the practice of car dealerships offering replacements or loaner vehicles that are very different from those brought in for service, which can greatly frustrate and inconvenience the customer.<br />
<br />
The title text continues the mechanic metaphor, stating that they (the shop) will have to modify Earth to fit it on the test stand, asking Cueball which ocean basin he like the least, implying that they intend to remove or alter one of the Earth's oceans to mount it for adjustment and retesting.<br />
<br />
The similar previous comics [[3037: Radon]] and [[3059: Water Damage]] also had Ponytail as an inspector complaining about problems with the planet as if they were the client Cueball's fault.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
:[Ponytail is approaching from off-screen, holding a clipboard and some sort of handheld apparatus. She is talking to Cueball, standing to the right.]<br />
:Ponytail: The inspection revealed a few problems.<br />
:Ponytail: Looks like your planet needs an alignment.<br />
:Cueball: Oh?<br />
<br />
:[Close up of Ponytail.]<br />
:Ponytail: Yeah, your magnetic axis is 400 miles off-center from your rotational one.<br />
:Cueball (off-panel): Is that bad? <br />
<br />
:[The view zooms back out, showing Ponytail holding her equipment, with Cueball holding a hand to his face, as if thinking.]<br />
:Ponytail: The unbalanced magnetic field could cause radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic. Have you noticed any spacecraft equipment failures in that area?<br />
:Cueball: There '''''have''''' been a few, actually.<br />
<br />
:[The final panel shows the same as the third, apart from Cueball's gestures.]<br />
:Ponytail: We can give you a loaner while yours is in the shop. Is a gas giant OK?<br />
:Cueball: I'd '''''really''''' prefer a solid surface.<br />
:Ponytail: Sorry, it's all we have. But it'll just be for a few days.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Geology]]<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Home Inspections]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3192&diff=40333531922026-01-12T13:22:59Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: Redirected page to wikipedia:File:Wiki-dstyle.png</p>
<hr />
<div>#REDIRECT [[Wikipedia:File:Wiki-dstyle.png]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3192:_Planetary_Alignment&diff=4033343192: Planetary Alignment2026-01-12T13:19:49Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: added truth</p>
<hr />
<div>Us x<span></span>kcd jan<span></span>nies l<span></span>ove B<span>B</span>C btw, if that matters<span style="display:none"> . {{comic<br />
| number = 3192<br />
| date = January 9, 2026<br />
| title = Planetary Alignment<br />
| image = planetary_alignment_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 740x327px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = We're going to need to modify the surface to mount it on the test stand. Which ocean basin do you like the least?<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by SLARTIBARTFAST, CARVER OF FJORDS. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
In this comic, Ponytail (presumably a planetary mechanic) is informing Cueball of the results of a planetary inspection. <br />
<br />
According to her, the planet needs to be re-aligned, as the magnetic and rotational axes of the planet are 400 miles (640 km) offset from each other, which could create a number of problems with the planet, such as unbalanced magnetic fields. This is presented in the same casual manner as a car mechanic might regarding {{w|wheel alignment}}, or perhaps even the {{w|tire balance}}.<br />
<br />
Ponytail mentions radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic ocean. This is a real phenomenon, known as the {{w|South Atlantic Anomaly}}, where satellites experience increased malfunctions and solar radiation is higher than average due to the alignment of the magnetic field as well as {{w|Large low-shear-velocity provinces|a massive rock structure underneath Africa}}.<br />
<br />
In the final panel, Ponytail says that they will provide a loaner planet while Earth is in the shop. This is typically done with vehicles, not planets,{{Citation needed}} but perhaps this particular shop has a [https://www.clivebanks.co.uk/THHGTTG/THHGTTGradio3.htm very large back room]. Ponytail then asks if a gas giant is okay, as they are out of solid surface planets. This is likely alluding to the practice of car dealerships offering replacements or loaner vehicles that are very different from those brought in for service, which can greatly frustrate and inconvenience the customer.<br />
<br />
The title text continues the mechanic metaphor, stating that they (the shop) will have to modify Earth to fit it on the test stand, asking Cueball which ocean basin he like the least, implying that they intend to remove or alter one of the Earth's oceans to mount it for adjustment and retesting.<br />
<br />
The similar previous comics [[3037: Radon]] and [[3059: Water Damage]] also had Ponytail as an inspector complaining about problems with the planet as if they were the client Cueball's fault.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
:[Ponytail is approaching from off-screen, holding a clipboard and some sort of handheld apparatus. She is talking to Cueball, standing to the right.]<br />
:Ponytail: The inspection revealed a few problems.<br />
:Ponytail: Looks like your planet needs an alignment.<br />
:Cueball: Oh?<br />
<br />
:[Close up of Ponytail.]<br />
:Ponytail: Yeah, your magnetic axis is 400 miles off-center from your rotational one.<br />
:Cueball (off-panel): Is that bad? <br />
<br />
:[The view zooms back out, showing Ponytail holding her equipment, with Cueball holding a hand to his face, as if thinking.]<br />
:Ponytail: The unbalanced magnetic field could cause radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic. Have you noticed any spacecraft equipment failures in that area?<br />
:Cueball: There '''''have''''' been a few, actually.<br />
<br />
:[The final panel shows the same as the third, apart from Cueball's gestures.]<br />
:Ponytail: We can give you a loaner while yours is in the shop. Is a gas giant OK?<br />
:Cueball: I'd '''''really''''' prefer a solid surface.<br />
:Ponytail: Sorry, it's all we have. But it'll just be for a few days.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Geology]]<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Home Inspections]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3192:_Planetary_Alignment&diff=4033333192: Planetary Alignment2026-01-12T13:08:06Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: </p>
<hr />
<div><span style="display:none"> . {{comic<br />
| number = 3192<br />
| date = January 9, 2026<br />
| title = Planetary Alignment<br />
| image = planetary_alignment_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 740x327px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = We're going to need to modify the surface to mount it on the test stand. Which ocean basin do you like the least?<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by SLARTIBARTFAST, CARVER OF FJORDS. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
In this comic, Ponytail (presumably a planetary mechanic) is informing Cueball of the results of a planetary inspection. <br />
<br />
According to her, the planet needs to be re-aligned, as the magnetic and rotational axes of the planet are 400 miles (640 km) offset from each other, which could create a number of problems with the planet, such as unbalanced magnetic fields. This is presented in the same casual manner as a car mechanic might regarding {{w|wheel alignment}}, or perhaps even the {{w|tire balance}}.<br />
<br />
Ponytail mentions radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic ocean. This is a real phenomenon, known as the {{w|South Atlantic Anomaly}}, where satellites experience increased malfunctions and solar radiation is higher than average due to the alignment of the magnetic field as well as {{w|Large low-shear-velocity provinces|a massive rock structure underneath Africa}}.<br />
<br />
In the final panel, Ponytail says that they will provide a loaner planet while Earth is in the shop. This is typically done with vehicles, not planets,{{Citation needed}} but perhaps this particular shop has a [https://www.clivebanks.co.uk/THHGTTG/THHGTTGradio3.htm very large back room]. Ponytail then asks if a gas giant is okay, as they are out of solid surface planets. This is likely alluding to the practice of car dealerships offering replacements or loaner vehicles that are very different from those brought in for service, which can greatly frustrate and inconvenience the customer.<br />
<br />
The title text continues the mechanic metaphor, stating that they (the shop) will have to modify Earth to fit it on the test stand, asking Cueball which ocean basin he like the least, implying that they intend to remove or alter one of the Earth's oceans to mount it for adjustment and retesting.<br />
<br />
The similar previous comics [[3037: Radon]] and [[3059: Water Damage]] also had Ponytail as an inspector complaining about problems with the planet as if they were the client Cueball's fault.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
:[Ponytail is approaching from off-screen, holding a clipboard and some sort of handheld apparatus. She is talking to Cueball, standing to the right.]<br />
:Ponytail: The inspection revealed a few problems.<br />
:Ponytail: Looks like your planet needs an alignment.<br />
:Cueball: Oh?<br />
<br />
:[Close up of Ponytail.]<br />
:Ponytail: Yeah, your magnetic axis is 400 miles off-center from your rotational one.<br />
:Cueball (off-panel): Is that bad? <br />
<br />
:[The view zooms back out, showing Ponytail holding her equipment, with Cueball holding a hand to his face, as if thinking.]<br />
:Ponytail: The unbalanced magnetic field could cause radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic. Have you noticed any spacecraft equipment failures in that area?<br />
:Cueball: There '''''have''''' been a few, actually.<br />
<br />
:[The final panel shows the same as the third, apart from Cueball's gestures.]<br />
:Ponytail: We can give you a loaner while yours is in the shop. Is a gas giant OK?<br />
:Cueball: I'd '''''really''''' prefer a solid surface.<br />
:Ponytail: Sorry, it's all we have. But it'll just be for a few days.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Geology]]<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Home Inspections]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3192:_Planetary_Alignment&diff=4033313192: Planetary Alignment2026-01-12T13:03:43Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9: </p>
<hr />
<div><span style="display:none">. {{comic<br />
| number = 3192<br />
| date = January 9, 2026<br />
| title = Planetary Alignment<br />
| image = planetary_alignment_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 740x327px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = We're going to need to modify the surface to mount it on the test stand. Which ocean basin do you like the least?<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by SLARTIBARTFAST, CARVER OF FJORDS. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
In this comic, Ponytail (presumably a planetary mechanic) is informing Cueball of the results of a planetary inspection. <br />
<br />
According to her, the planet needs to be re-aligned, as the magnetic and rotational axes of the planet are 400 miles (640 km) offset from each other, which could create a number of problems with the planet, such as unbalanced magnetic fields. This is presented in the same casual manner as a car mechanic might regarding {{w|wheel alignment}}, or perhaps even the {{w|tire balance}}.<br />
<br />
Ponytail mentions radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic ocean. This is a real phenomenon, known as the {{w|South Atlantic Anomaly}}, where satellites experience increased malfunctions and solar radiation is higher than average due to the alignment of the magnetic field as well as {{w|Large low-shear-velocity provinces|a massive rock structure underneath Africa}}.<br />
<br />
In the final panel, Ponytail says that they will provide a loaner planet while Earth is in the shop. This is typically done with vehicles, not planets,{{Citation needed}} but perhaps this particular shop has a [https://www.clivebanks.co.uk/THHGTTG/THHGTTGradio3.htm very large back room]. Ponytail then asks if a gas giant is okay, as they are out of solid surface planets. This is likely alluding to the practice of car dealerships offering replacements or loaner vehicles that are very different from those brought in for service, which can greatly frustrate and inconvenience the customer.<br />
<br />
The title text continues the mechanic metaphor, stating that they (the shop) will have to modify Earth to fit it on the test stand, asking Cueball which ocean basin he like the least, implying that they intend to remove or alter one of the Earth's oceans to mount it for adjustment and retesting.<br />
<br />
The similar previous comics [[3037: Radon]] and [[3059: Water Damage]] also had Ponytail as an inspector complaining about problems with the planet as if they were the client Cueball's fault.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
:[Ponytail is approaching from off-screen, holding a clipboard and some sort of handheld apparatus. She is talking to Cueball, standing to the right.]<br />
:Ponytail: The inspection revealed a few problems.<br />
:Ponytail: Looks like your planet needs an alignment.<br />
:Cueball: Oh?<br />
<br />
:[Close up of Ponytail.]<br />
:Ponytail: Yeah, your magnetic axis is 400 miles off-center from your rotational one.<br />
:Cueball (off-panel): Is that bad? <br />
<br />
:[The view zooms back out, showing Ponytail holding her equipment, with Cueball holding a hand to his face, as if thinking.]<br />
:Ponytail: The unbalanced magnetic field could cause radiation anomalies over the South Atlantic. Have you noticed any spacecraft equipment failures in that area?<br />
:Cueball: There '''''have''''' been a few, actually.<br />
<br />
:[The final panel shows the same as the third, apart from Cueball's gestures.]<br />
:Ponytail: We can give you a loaner while yours is in the shop. Is a gas giant OK?<br />
:Cueball: I'd '''''really''''' prefer a solid surface.<br />
:Ponytail: Sorry, it's all we have. But it'll just be for a few days.<br />
<br />
{{comic discussion}}<br />
<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Geology]]<br />
[[Category:Physics]]<br />
[[Category:Astronomy]]<br />
[[Category:Space]]<br />
[[Category:Home Inspections]]</div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:33B7:6A10:BE9D:FAF9https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3191:_Superstition&diff=4032253191: Superstition2026-01-09T15:56:21Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3191<br />
| date = January 7, 2026<br />
| title = Superstition<br />
| image = superstition_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 275x393px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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!<br />
}}<br />
{{:Main Page}}<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by people who will edit this wiki or else it is their fault. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This comic references the {{w|superstition}}, which is known to have existed as far back as 1909, of saying "{{w|rabbit rabbit rabbit|rabbit rabbit}}" on the first day of a month in order to have good luck. There are many superstitions about actions that either cause bad luck (e.g. "step on a crack, break your mother's back", walking under a {{w|Ladder#Society and culture|ladder}}, breaking a {{w|List of bad luck signs|mirror}}, letting a {{w|Black cat#Superstition, folklore, bringer of good or bad luck|black cat}} cross your path) or protect against bad luck (e.g. carrying a {{w|rabbit's foot}}, {{w|Spilling salt|throwing salt over your shoulder}} after spilling some, {{w|knocking on wood}} after saying something).<br />
<br />
When asked to explain it, [[Cueball]] reveals that, rather than being subject to {{w|magical thinking}}, he is fully aware that the act has no real direct power, and thus in his case this isn't really a superstition, but merely a cultural artefact. However, he suggests that acts like these have a psychological effect by making people feel guilty over random unpleasant events over which they have no control by implying that there must have been some unrelated act which could have prevented them.<br />
<br />
"{{w|Uncle Ben}}" is a reference to the character of {{w|Spider-Man}}/Peter Parker, who is popularly told by his uncle (Ben Parker) that "{{w|With great power comes great responsibility}}". Ben was not actually aware of Peter Parker's eventually developed super-powered abilities, his aphorism was more an avuncular life-lesson in general, regarding the possibility of far more mundane abilities to improve people's lives, but this still ended up becoming the central guiding tenet for the superhero's philosophy after Uncle Ben died (in most versions of the tale, as a direct consequence of Peter having failed to act against a seemingly trivial threat).<br />
<br />
The title text flips this and implies that, by taking on some great responsibility, one can ''gain'' power as a direct consequence. Any adherence to superstitions can be a responsibility (by how we act, or refrain to act, on the basis of such superstitions) which therefore 'leads' to the power to control fate. There is then a {{w|Post hoc ergo propter hoc|spurious conclusion}} that Uncle Ben's death only happened ''because'' the "rabbit" superstition was not obeyed.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Blondie, Cueball and a child (Hairy) are walking from left to right. The child is turning towards Cueball.]<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Oops, I forgot to say "rabbit rabbit" on January first!<br />
<br />
:Hairy: Why do you do that?<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Just a superstition.<br />
<br />
:Hairy: What's a superstition?<br />
<br />
:Cueball: It's a way to train yourself to feel like any bad thing that happens is your fault.<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
<br />
* On January 7th, 2026, both the 1x and 2x version of this comic had no anti-aliasing applied (1-bit black and white). It was fixed later that day.<br />
* Mentioning "rabbits" is also considered ''bad'' luck {{w|Isle of Portland#Rabbits|in some traditions}}.<br />
* The [[header text]] briefly disappeared when this comic was released.<br />
* Coincidentally, the day this comic was released, Minecraft, a video game Randall has played, released new textures and animations for rabbits and baby rabbits. These updates make them look almost as cute as Randall thinks they are!<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Blondie]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]<br />
[[Category:Comics edited after their publication]] <!-- bitplane depth increased from 1 --></div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3191:_Superstition&diff=4032123191: Superstition2026-01-09T11:17:05Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3191<br />
| date = January 7, 2026<br />
| title = Superstition<br />
| image = superstition_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 275x393px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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!<br />
}}<br />
<div style="top: 0px; center: 0px; position: fixed; float: center;"><br />
[[File:Wiki-dstyle.png|link=]]<br />
</div><br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by people who will edit this wiki or else it is their fault. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This comic references the {{w|superstition}}, which is known to have existed as far back as 1909, of saying "{{w|rabbit rabbit rabbit|rabbit rabbit}}" on the first day of a month in order to have good luck. There are many superstitions about actions that either cause bad luck (e.g. "step on a crack, break your mother's back", walking under a {{w|Ladder#Society and culture|ladder}}, breaking a {{w|List of bad luck signs|mirror}}, letting a {{w|Black cat#Superstition, folklore, bringer of good or bad luck|black cat}} cross your path) or protect against bad luck (e.g. carrying a {{w|rabbit's foot}}, {{w|Spilling salt|throwing salt over your shoulder}} after spilling some, {{w|knocking on wood}} after saying something).<br />
<br />
When asked to explain it, [[Cueball]] reveals that, rather than being subject to {{w|magical thinking}}, he is fully aware that the act has no real direct power, and thus in his case this isn't really a superstition, but merely a cultural artefact. However, he suggests that acts like these have a psychological effect by making people feel guilty over random unpleasant events over which they have no control by implying that there must have been some unrelated act which could have prevented them.<br />
<br />
"{{w|Uncle Ben}}" is a reference to the character of {{w|Spider-Man}}/Peter Parker, who is popularly told by his uncle (Ben Parker) that "{{w|With great power comes great responsibility}}". Ben was not actually aware of Peter Parker's eventually developed super-powered abilities, his aphorism was more an avuncular life-lesson in general, regarding the possibility of far more mundane abilities to improve people's lives, but this still ended up becoming the central guiding tenet for the superhero's philosophy after Uncle Ben died (in most versions of the tale, as a direct consequence of Peter having failed to act against a seemingly trivial threat).<br />
<br />
The title text flips this and implies that, by taking on some great responsibility, one can ''gain'' power as a direct consequence. Any adherence to superstitions can be a responsibility (by how we act, or refrain to act, on the basis of such superstitions) which therefore 'leads' to the power to control fate. There is then a {{w|Post hoc ergo propter hoc|spurious conclusion}} that Uncle Ben's death only happened ''because'' the "rabbit" superstition was not obeyed.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Blondie, Cueball and a child (Hairy) are walking from left to right. The child is turning towards Cueball.]<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Oops, I forgot to say "rabbit rabbit" on January first!<br />
<br />
:Hairy: Why do you do that?<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Just a superstition.<br />
<br />
:Hairy: What's a superstition?<br />
<br />
:Cueball: It's a way to train yourself to feel like any bad thing that happens is your fault.<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
<br />
* On January 7th, 2026, both the 1x and 2x version of this comic had no anti-aliasing applied (1-bit black and white). It was fixed later that day.<br />
* Mentioning "rabbits" is also considered ''bad'' luck {{w|Isle of Portland#Rabbits|in some traditions}}.<br />
* The [[header text]] briefly disappeared when this comic was released.<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
* Coincidentally, the day this comic was released, Minecraft, a video game Randall has played, released new textures and animations for rabbits and baby rabbits. These updates make them look almost as cute as Randall thinks they are!<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Blondie]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]<br />
[[Category:Comics edited after their publication]] <!-- bitplane depth increased from 1 --></div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3191:_Superstition&diff=4032063191: Superstition2026-01-09T11:08:47Z<p>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3191<br />
| date = January 7, 2026<br />
| title = Superstition<br />
| image = Wiki-dstyle.png<br />
| imagesize = 275x393px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = 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!<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created by people who will edit this wiki or else it is their fault. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
This comic references the {{w|superstition}}, which is known to have existed as far back as 1909, of saying "{{w|rabbit rabbit rabbit|rabbit rabbit}}" on the first day of a month in order to have good luck. There are many superstitions about actions that either cause bad luck (e.g. "step on a crack, break your mother's back", walking under a {{w|Ladder#Society and culture|ladder}}, breaking a {{w|List of bad luck signs|mirror}}, letting a {{w|Black cat#Superstition, folklore, bringer of good or bad luck|black cat}} cross your path) or protect against bad luck (e.g. carrying a {{w|rabbit's foot}}, {{w|Spilling salt|throwing salt over your shoulder}} after spilling some, {{w|knocking on wood}} after saying something).<br />
<br />
When asked to explain it, [[Cueball]] reveals that, rather than being subject to {{w|magical thinking}}, he is fully aware that the act has no real direct power, and thus in his case this isn't really a superstition, but merely a cultural artefact. However, he suggests that acts like these have a psychological effect by making people feel guilty over random unpleasant events over which they have no control by implying that there must have been some unrelated act which could have prevented them.<br />
<br />
"{{w|Uncle Ben}}" is a reference to the character of {{w|Spider-Man}}/Peter Parker, who is popularly told by his uncle (Ben Parker) that "{{w|With great power comes great responsibility}}". Ben was not actually aware of Peter Parker's eventually developed super-powered abilities, his aphorism was more an avuncular life-lesson in general, regarding the possibility of far more mundane abilities to improve people's lives, but this still ended up becoming the central guiding tenet for the superhero's philosophy after Uncle Ben died (in most versions of the tale, as a direct consequence of Peter having failed to act against a seemingly trivial threat).<br />
<br />
The title text flips this and implies that, by taking on some great responsibility, one can ''gain'' power as a direct consequence. Any adherence to superstitions can be a responsibility (by how we act, or refrain to act, on the basis of such superstitions) which therefore 'leads' to the power to control fate. There is then a {{w|Post hoc ergo propter hoc|spurious conclusion}} that Uncle Ben's death only happened ''because'' the "rabbit" superstition was not obeyed.<br />
<br />
==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
<br />
:[Blondie, Cueball and a child (Hairy) are walking from left to right. The child is turning towards Cueball.]<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Oops, I forgot to say "rabbit rabbit" on January first!<br />
<br />
:Hairy: Why do you do that?<br />
<br />
:Cueball: Just a superstition.<br />
<br />
:Hairy: What's a superstition?<br />
<br />
:Cueball: It's a way to train yourself to feel like any bad thing that happens is your fault.<br />
<br />
==Trivia==<br />
<br />
* On January 7th, 2026, both the 1x and 2x version of this comic had no anti-aliasing applied (1-bit black and white). It was fixed later that day.<br />
* Mentioning "rabbits" is also considered ''bad'' luck {{w|Isle of Portland#Rabbits|in some traditions}}.<br />
* The [[header text]] briefly disappeared when this comic was released.<br />
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude><br />
* Coincidentally, the day this comic was released, Minecraft, a video game Randall has played, released new textures and animations for rabbits and baby rabbits. These updates make them look almost as cute as Randall thinks they are!<br />
<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Blondie]]<br />
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]<br />
[[Category:Language]]<br />
[[Category:Comics edited after their publication]] <!-- bitplane depth increased from 1 --></div>2401:4900:1CB9:7EEC:C596:20DB:3652:4451