explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:3140: Biology Department

2025-09-10T21:26:24Z

46.162.122.132:

I agree that the biology dept is probably talking about arthropods, not pathogens, BUT it could conceivably be referencing BOTH. Any microbiologists around here who want to weigh in with horror stories of some of the "bugs" they know about or work with? I also think that we might want to divvy this article up into an explanation first, THEN a list of fun examples. (I recently learned about honeypot ants and added it as an example... it would be creepy stuff if we took their defining behavioral characteristic and applied it to humans. Seems like it would be well at home in a horror movie.) [[User:MeZimm|MeZimm]] ([[User talk:MeZimm|talk]]) 16:45, 10 September 2025 (UTC)

Sign Maintenance Dept: It has been [ ] days since someone forgot where the 0 panel is kept. [[User:KelOfTheStars!|KelOfTheStars!]] ([[User talk:KelOfTheStars!|talk]]) 18:33, 10 September 2025 (UTC)

Actually, assuming that people are constantly walking past the Biology Department sign and noticing the error, the Linguistics Department sign would need to be reset constantly. It’s been 15 seconds since someone... no, wait, it’s been 1 second since... [[Special:Contributions/2607:FB90:8B2C:4598:8DCE:B5C3:37E:EF2B|2607:FB90:8B2C:4598:8DCE:B5C3:37E:EF2B]] 20:22, 10 September 2025 (UTC)
:This will be a joke, probably related to [[363: Reset]].[[User:BobcatInABox|BobcatInABox]] ([[User talk:BobcatInABox|talk]]) 20:55, 10 September 2025 (UTC)

The first panel might be [one day] and and be wide enough to cover up the word ''days'' underneath. [[Special:Contributions/46.162.122.132|46.162.122.132]] 21:26, 10 September 2025 (UTC)

Talk:3119: Flettner Rotor

2025-07-23T22:25:26Z

46.162.122.132:

You don't actually need the rocks to dress up as a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightship lightship], which is unfortunately not a spacecraft moving at relativistic speeds. [[Special:Contributions/90.155.35.67|90.155.35.67]] 20:01, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

:And it also is not a ship that is light lol [[User:TheTrainsKid|TheTrainsKid]] ([[User talk:TheTrainsKid|talk]]) 20:08, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

:This is probably inspired by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_and_naval_vessel_urban_legend Lighthouse and Naval Vessel Urban Legend]. [[Special:Contributions/128.187.112.68|128.187.112.68]] 20:55, 23 July 2025 (UTC)
::Already linked that, myself. Though not so sure it's a direct inspiration, only an interesting onward read (which is how I chose to link it).
::(Also, top tip: note the use of the {{template|w}} method to wikilinking it, much more efficient, in the form you might have used it, and slightly more aesthetic.) [[Special:Contributions/82.132.247.118|82.132.247.118]] 21:01, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

Not sure why there's commentary about anchored vessels - the comic doesn't reference them, nor claim that it would make _every_ vessel give you right of way? [[Special:Contributions/91.84.189.119|91.84.189.119]] 21:47, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

Would a Flettner rotor with a truncated cone shape like in the picture actually work? [[Special:Contributions/46.162.122.132|46.162.122.132]] 22:25, 23 July 2025 (UTC)

3115: Unsolved Physics Problems

2025-07-15T10:02:21Z

46.162.122.132: title text wikipedia link

{{comic
| number = 3115
| date = July 14, 2025
| title = Unsolved Physics Problems
| image = unsolved_physics_problems_2x.png
| imagesize = 699x422px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = 'Tin pest' makes more sense to me. Tin just doesn't want to be locked down in a shape like that. I get it. But why would any metal want to grow hair??
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created recently. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic is a sequel to comic [[2529: Unsolved Math Problems]], which follows the same format.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_gravity Quantum Gravity] is the problem of determining how exactly gravity interacts with quantum physics. Gravity operates at large scales and is well described by relativity theory, while quantum physics is easiest to observe at very small scales. This makes it hard to conduct an experiment that includes both phenomenon, and has led to a wide range of theories which are difficult to experimentally confirm or refute.

The second phenomenon, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet%E2%80%93American_Gallium_Experiment#Gallium_anomaly Gallium Anomaly], is an example of a precise experiment to understand a specific phenomenon. The difference between the expectation and reality is small but significant and indicates our models of physics are inaccurate.

The third question concerns [https://nepp.nasa.gov/whisker/reference/tech_papers/brusse2003-zinc-whisker-awareness.pdf Zinc Whiskers], a phenomenon that sounds extremely strange at first sight: hair is usually thought of as an organic property, and spontaneous change in a block of metal would not be a typical problem one would expect.

The title text mentions [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tin_pest Tin pest] a transformation which causes deterioration of white tin.

All of these are real phenomena.

==Transcript==

{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
: The Three Types of Unsolved Physics Problem

: Vague
: [A Feynman diagram of two particles interacting via the electromagnetic force is to the right of Cueball. The diagram is drawn on a curved surface]
: Cueball: What is the nature of time in quantum gravity? Is it a background parameter, a dynamic aspect of spacetime, or an emergent phenomenon?

: Precise
: [A scientific instrument and a nuclear reaction equation of gallium-71 becoming germanium-71 are to Megan's left]
: Megan: Why does the ''S.A.G.E.'' Gallium Neutrino Capture Experiment produce only 75% as much germanium as predicted?

: Cursed
: [A rectangular block of zinc, with whiskers growing out of it, is visible to the right of White Hat]
: White Hat: Why does some metal randomly grow hairs?
: White Hat: It keeps causing short circuits and we have no idea what's going on.
: Voice from off-panel: Is this a joke?
: White Hat: No! Please help!

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>