explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:3197: Cost Savings

2026-01-23T04:58:42Z

82.132.246.68:

Anyone wanna store some items in my garage? They'll be there... forever! [[User:King Pando|King Pando]] ([[User talk:King Pando|talk]]) 22:41, 21 January 2026 (UTC)
: Can I store nuclear waste in your garage? [[Special:Contributions/185.36.194.156|185.36.194.156]] 04:31, 23 January 2026 (UTC)

Anybody know why the random explanation button bias towards the 3000's heavily?
: 20 manual iterations, beginning 20260122 1440Z. 0-999 25%, 1000-1999 30%, 2000-2999 40%, 3000-3197 5%, 3000-3999 projected 25%. n is too small, but I don't perceive a bias. [[Special:Contributions/98.97.38.200|98.97.38.200]] 14:50, 22 January 2026 (UTC)
: I've also felt this [[Special:Contributions/66.210.7.66|66.210.7.66]] 16:02, 22 January 2026 (UTC)
: See "[[explain xkcd:Community portal/Miscellaneous#Random Explanation Button bias towards newer articles]]" for some of the prior chat about this. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.68|82.132.246.68]] 18:47, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

I first thought the joke that we could do anything StarLink does cheaper, simpler, more environmentally friendly and without risking Kessler syndrome by using terrestrial technology (i.e. cables and antennas) ''if we could just get our heads out of our asses''. The shed punchline was a bit of a letdown. --[[User:Coconut Galaxy|Coconut Galaxy]] ([[User talk:Coconut Galaxy|talk]]) 07:40, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

: Saturn the Titan lives, and He has commanded us to create a ring system for Planet Earth so that He can feel more at home here. Recreant. [[Special:Contributions/98.97.38.200|98.97.38.200]] 14:59, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

"NASA ... certainly cannot be conventionally ordered to build a shed on a needy citizen's property." Wait, what? Haven't you been following the trajectory of the 47th Presidency of these Untied States in North America? [[Special:Contributions/98.97.38.200|98.97.38.200]] 15:03, 22 January 2026 (UTC)
: Great, yet another partisan politics interjection in an apolitical discussion. {{unsigned ip|185.36.194.156|04:32, 23 January 2026}}

3197: Cost Savings

2026-01-22T19:19:45Z

82.132.246.68: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3197
| date = January 21, 2026
| title = Cost Savings
| image = cost_savings_2x.png
| imagesize = 303x461px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Unfortunately, my scheme to trick NASA has now taken over a decade longer than planned and has run way over budget.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by an OVER-BUDGET ORBITER. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
This comic depicts a ridiculous scheme, concocted by Cueball, to dupe various representatives at NASA into doing a menial task for him; specifically, he wants them to build an ordinary shed in his yard. The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) is not associated with {{w|Spruce Goose|hobbyist carpentry}} and certainly cannot be conventionally ordered to build a shed on a needy citizen's property.{{Citation needed}} Thus, Cueball tries to circumvent the expected barriers to this outcome by masking his true intentions in a long-winded cost-cutting presentation about a proposed satellite launch. Initially, it appears he is suggesting various ways to mitigate the cost/hassle of launching a satellite into orbit, but soon the suggestions become less about making the satellite's construction and launch more efficient and more about constructing a random structure on the ground, each one getting closer and closer to essentially saying "Ditch the satellite idea and just build a shed in my yard".

The title text is a humorous reference to the many, many project delays and increased expenses that arise during the process of launching a space mission. It implies that Cueball has been attempting this scheme (which may have required the extensive effort and connections needed to even be prepared to be seen by the NASA project team with the initial red-herring proposal) for long enough that it mirrors the setbacks a team would experience if they were actually intending to send a satellite into orbit. The {{w|Timeline of the James Webb Space Telescope|James Webb Telescope}} is one such mission which was very delayed, as already mentioned in prior comics, notably [[2014: JWST Delays]].

By taking "over a decade longer than planned", the actual time taken to (not yet) achieve his goal is far longer than it would normally be expected to take to just build a shed without NASA's complicity, excepting perhaps some particularly intransigent {{w|Zoning in the United States|zoning laws}}, and how much more longer he has actually taken (i.e. the length of the originally planned timeline) is unknown but must have been significant. Likewise, the costs incurred by Cueball has probably far exceeded what most sheds (and their construction) require, even if the end-goal is a 'free' shed paid for entirely by NASA.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Cueball is standing in front of a framed graph on a wall, pointing at it with a short stick. The graph is a bar graph with steadily decreasing bar heights. Hairy and Megan, seated, are looking on from behind a desk.]
:Cueball: By lowering the planned satellite orbit, we can reduce the size of the launch vehicle required.
:Cueball: We can reduce costs further by eliminating the satellite entirely in favor of an aerial platform.
:Cueball: Some equipment could be moved to a ground-based facility, reducing required aircraft time.
:Cueball: Additional savings could be...

:[Caption below the panel:]
:I'm trying to get NASA to build a shed in my backyard.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Space]]

3197: Cost Savings

2026-01-22T19:02:31Z

82.132.246.68: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3197
| date = January 21, 2026
| title = Cost Savings
| image = cost_savings_2x.png
| imagesize = 303x461px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Unfortunately, my scheme to trick NASA has now taken over a decade longer than planned and has run way over budget.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by an OVER-BUDGET ORBITER. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
This comic depicts a ridiculous scheme, concocted by Cueball, to dupe various representatives at NASA into doing a menial task for him; specifically, he wants them to build an ordinary shed in his yard. The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) is not associated with {{w|Spruce Goose|hobbyist carpentry}} and certainly cannot be conventionally ordered to build a shed on a needy citizen's property.{{Citation needed}} Thus, Cueball tries to circumvent the expected barriers to this outcome by masking his true intentions in a long-winded cost-cutting presentation about a proposed satellite launch. Initially, it appears he is suggesting various ways to mitigate the cost/hassle of launching a satellite into orbit, but soon the suggestions become less about making the satellite's construction and launch more efficient and more about constructing a random structure on the ground, each one getting closer and closer to essentially saying "Ditch the satellite idea and just build a shed in my yard".

The title text is a humorous reference to the many, many project delays and increased expenses that arise during the process of launching a space mission. It implies that Cueball has been attempting this scheme (which may have required the extensive effort and connections needed to even be prepared to be seen by the NASA project team with the initial red-herring proposal) for long enough that it mirrors the setbacks a team would experience if they were actually intending to send a satellite into orbit. The {{w|Timeline of the James Webb Space Telescope|James Webb Telescope}} is one such mission which was very delayed, as already mentioned in prior comics, notably [[2014: JWST Delays]].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Cueball is standing in front of a framed graph on a wall, pointing at it with a short stick. The graph is a bar graph with steadily decreasing bar heights. Hairy and Megan, seated, are looking on from behind a desk.]
:Cueball: By lowering the planned satellite orbit, we can reduce the size of the launch vehicle required.
:Cueball: We can reduce costs further by eliminating the satellite entirely in favor of an aerial platform.
:Cueball: Some equipment could be moved to a ground-based facility, reducing required aircraft time.
:Cueball: Additional savings could be...

:[Caption below the panel:]
:I'm trying to get NASA to build a shed in my backyard.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Space]]

3197: Cost Savings

2026-01-22T19:00:48Z

82.132.246.68: /* Explanation */ I must have accidentally snipped some of my original edited-in text away. Not sure how it was supposed to go, but this is sometging like it.

{{comic
| number = 3197
| date = January 21, 2026
| title = Cost Savings
| image = cost_savings_2x.png
| imagesize = 303x461px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Unfortunately, my scheme to trick NASA has now taken over a decade longer than planned and has run way over budget.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by an OVER-BUDGET ORBITER. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
This comic depicts a ridiculous scheme, concocted by Cueball, to dupe various representatives at NASA into doing a menial task for him; specifically, he wants them to build an ordinary shed in his yard. The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) is not associated with {{w|Spruce Goose|hobbyist carpentry}} and certainly cannot be conventionally ordered to build a shed on a needy citizen's property.{{Citation needed}} Thus, Cueball tries to circumvent the expected barriers to this plan by masking his true intentions in a long-winded cost-cutting presentation about a proposed satellite launch. Initially, it appears he is suggesting various ways to improve the cost/hassle of launching a satellite into orbit, but soon the suggestions become less about making the satellite's construction and launch more efficient and more about constructing a random structure on the ground, each one getting closer and closer to essentially saying "Ditch the satellite idea and just build a shed in my yard".

The title text is a humorous reference to the many, many project delays and increased expenses that arise during the process of launching a space mission. It implies that Cueball has been attempting this scheme (which may have required the extensive effort and connections needed to even be prepared to be seen by the NASA project team with the initial red-herring proposal) for long enough that it mirrors the setbacks a team would experience if they were actually intending to send a satellite into orbit. The {{w|Timeline of the James Webb Space Telescope|James Webb Telescope}} is one such mission which was very delayed, as already mentioned in prior comics, notably [[2014: JWST Delays]].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Cueball is standing in front of a framed graph on a wall, pointing at it with a short stick. The graph is a bar graph with steadily decreasing bar heights. Hairy and Megan, seated, are looking on from behind a desk.]
:Cueball: By lowering the planned satellite orbit, we can reduce the size of the launch vehicle required.
:Cueball: We can reduce costs further by eliminating the satellite entirely in favor of an aerial platform.
:Cueball: Some equipment could be moved to a ground-based facility, reducing required aircraft time.
:Cueball: Additional savings could be...

:[Caption below the panel:]
:I'm trying to get NASA to build a shed in my backyard.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Space]]

Talk:3197: Cost Savings

2026-01-22T18:50:41Z

82.132.246.68: Less confusion of quoted link-sentence with quoting sentence.

Anyone wanna store some items in my garage? They'll be there... forever! [[User:King Pando|King Pando]] ([[User talk:King Pando|talk]]) 22:41, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

Anybody know why the random explanation button bias towards the 3000's heavily?
: 20 manual iterations, beginning 20260122 1440Z. 0-999 25%, 1000-1999 30%, 2000-2999 40%, 3000-3197 5%, 3000-3999 projected 25%. n is too small, but I don't perceive a bias. [[Special:Contributions/98.97.38.200|98.97.38.200]] 14:50, 22 January 2026 (UTC)
: I've also felt this [[Special:Contributions/66.210.7.66|66.210.7.66]] 16:02, 22 January 2026 (UTC)
: See "[[explain xkcd:Community portal/Miscellaneous#Random Explanation Button bias towards newer articles]]" for some of the prior chat about this. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.68|82.132.246.68]] 18:47, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

I first thought the joke that we could do anything StarLink does cheaper, simpler, more environmentally friendly and without risking Kessler syndrome by using terrestrial technology (i.e. cables and antennas) ''if we could just get our heads out of our asses''. The shed punchline was a bit of a letdown. --[[User:Coconut Galaxy|Coconut Galaxy]] ([[User talk:Coconut Galaxy|talk]]) 07:40, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

: Saturn the Titan lives, and He has commanded us to create a ring system for Planet Earth so that He can feel more at home here. Recreant. [[Special:Contributions/98.97.38.200|98.97.38.200]] 14:59, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

"NASA ... certainly cannot be conventionally ordered to build a shed on a needy citizen's property." Wait, what? Haven't you been following the trajectory of the 47th Presidency of these Untied States in North America? [[Special:Contributions/98.97.38.200|98.97.38.200]] 15:03, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

Talk:3197: Cost Savings

2026-01-22T18:47:57Z

82.132.246.68:

Anyone wanna store some items in my garage? They'll be there... forever! [[User:King Pando|King Pando]] ([[User talk:King Pando|talk]]) 22:41, 21 January 2026 (UTC)

Anybody know why the random explanation button bias towards the 3000's heavily?
: 20 manual iterations, beginning 20260122 1440Z. 0-999 25%, 1000-1999 30%, 2000-2999 40%, 3000-3197 5%, 3000-3999 projected 25%. n is too small, but I don't perceive a bias. [[Special:Contributions/98.97.38.200|98.97.38.200]] 14:50, 22 January 2026 (UTC)
: I've also felt this [[Special:Contributions/66.210.7.66|66.210.7.66]] 16:02, 22 January 2026 (UTC)
: See [[explain xkcd:Community portal/Miscellaneous#Random Explanation Button bias towards newer articles]] for some of the prior chat about this. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.68|82.132.246.68]] 18:47, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

I first thought the joke that we could do anything StarLink does cheaper, simpler, more environmentally friendly and without risking Kessler syndrome by using terrestrial technology (i.e. cables and antennas) ''if we could just get our heads out of our asses''. The shed punchline was a bit of a letdown. --[[User:Coconut Galaxy|Coconut Galaxy]] ([[User talk:Coconut Galaxy|talk]]) 07:40, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

: Saturn the Titan lives, and He has commanded us to create a ring system for Planet Earth so that He can feel more at home here. Recreant. [[Special:Contributions/98.97.38.200|98.97.38.200]] 14:59, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

"NASA ... certainly cannot be conventionally ordered to build a shed on a needy citizen's property." Wait, what? Haven't you been following the trajectory of the 47th Presidency of these Untied States in North America? [[Special:Contributions/98.97.38.200|98.97.38.200]] 15:03, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

3197: Cost Savings

2026-01-22T18:43:01Z

82.132.246.68: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3197
| date = January 21, 2026
| title = Cost Savings
| image = cost_savings_2x.png
| imagesize = 303x461px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Unfortunately, my scheme to trick NASA has now taken over a decade longer than planned and has run way over budget.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by an OVER-BUDGET ORBITER. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
This comic depicts a ridiculous scheme, concocted by Cueball, to dupe various representatives at NASA into doing a menial task for him; specifically, he wants them to build an ordinary shed in his yard. The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) is not associated with {{w|Spruce Goose|hobbyist carpentry}} and certainly cannot be conventionally ordered to build a shed on a needy citizen's property.{{Citation needed}} Thus, Cueball takes a circum approach, trying to mask his true intentions in a long-winded cost-cutting presentation about a proposed satellite launch. Initially, it appears he is suggesting various ways to improve the cost/hassle of launching a satellite into orbit, but soon the suggestions become less about making the satellite's construction and launch more efficient and more about constructing a random structure on the ground, each one getting closer and closer to essentially saying "Ditch the satellite idea and just build a shed in my yard".

The title text is a humorous reference to the many, many project delays and increased expenses that arise during the process of launching a space mission. It implies that Cueball has been attempting this scheme (which may have required the extensive effort and connections needed to even be prepared to be seen by the NASA project team with the initial red-herring proposal) for long enough that it mirrors the setbacks a team would experience if they were actually intending to send a satellite into orbit. The {{w|Timeline of the James Webb Space Telescope|James Webb Telescope}} is one such mission which was very delayed, as already mentioned in prior comics, notably [[2014: JWST Delays]].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Cueball is standing in front of a framed graph on a wall, pointing at it with a short stick. The graph is a bar graph with steadily decreasing bar heights. Hairy and Megan, seated, are looking on from behind a desk.]
:Cueball: By lowering the planned satellite orbit, we can reduce the size of the launch vehicle required.
:Cueball: We can reduce costs further by eliminating the satellite entirely in favor of an aerial platform.
:Cueball: Some equipment could be moved to a ground-based facility, reducing required aircraft time.
:Cueball: Additional savings could be...

:[Caption below the panel:]
:I'm trying to get NASA to build a shed in my backyard.

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Hairy]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Space]]

Talk:3196: Aurora Coolness

2026-01-22T18:24:16Z

82.132.246.68:

second - [[Special:Contributions/45.178.1.151|45.178.1.151]] 03:07, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
:minute [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 09:31, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
::hour [[User:CalibansCreations|'''Caliban''']] ([[User talk:CalibansCreations|talk]]) 10:24, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
:::day [[Special:Contributions/93.36.184.86|93.36.184.86]] 14:06, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
:::: What [[Special:Contributions/2605:59C8:160:DB08:657A:CBF1:9BDA:C5C|2605:59C8:160:DB08:657A:CBF1:9BDA:C5C]] 14:57, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
::::: The [[Special:Contributions/66.210.7.66|66.210.7.66]] 21:25, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::: Heck [[Special:Contributions/208.123.119.128|208.123.119.128]] 02:50, 21 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::: Why --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]]''''' 14:02, 21 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::: i'm sorry how did this happen [[Special:Contributions/45.178.1.151|45.178.1.151]] 18:28, 21 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::: who --'''''[[User:DollarStoreBa'al|DollarStoreBa'al]][[User Talk:DollarStoreBa'al|Converse]]''''' 18:30, 21 January 2026 (UTC)
:::::::::: Who is on first. [[Special:Contributions/98.97.38.200|98.97.38.200]] 14:17, 22 January 2026 (UTC)
::::::::::: Naturally. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.246.68|82.132.246.68]] 18:24, 22 January 2026 (UTC)

I picture people going out on a cold, clear winter night to stare at a shimmering, aurora-filled sky, and then returning to their warm homes to sip hot cups of soup from the microwave, blissfully unaware of how closely related the two events are ... or would be were it not for that thin, thin, layer of mostly diatomic and triatomic gases that is desperately parrying the Sun's murderous assault on our behalf. Yes, yes, I know, I know ...[[Special:Contributions/2605:59C8:160:DB08:657A:CBF1:9BDA:C5C|2605:59C8:160:DB08:657A:CBF1:9BDA:C5C]] 04:07, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
:Makes you wonder why no-one's figured out how to reproduce that in a microwave, so we can enjoy an aurora every time we heat something. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 09:34, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
::"Aurora Borealis? At THIS time of year, at THIS time of day, in THIS part of the country, localized ENTIRELY within your kitchen?" [[Special:Contributions/168.8.230.51|168.8.230.51]] 13:57, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
:::In order: Yes, yes, yes, no despite Randall's best efforts. [[User:GreatWyrmGold|GreatWyrmGold]] ([[User talk:GreatWyrmGold|talk]]) 14:19, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

The graph in 2914 isn't a function of time, it's a function of how close one is to the path of totality. [[Special:Contributions/137.25.230.78|137.25.230.78]] 05:39, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
: Fixed. [[Special:Contributions/2605:59C8:160:DB08:657A:CBF1:9BDA:C5C|2605:59C8:160:DB08:657A:CBF1:9BDA:C5C]] 06:38, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

New England was getting heavy snow in the days leading up to this comic, so it was probably too cloudy for any auroras to be visible. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 05:42, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

: "''probably too cloudy''" Far north coast of Maine, all I could see was sky-glow from the Walmart 7 miles away. We actually have a Dark Sky movement in this area (lotta old hippies) but Walmart didnt get that memo. --[[User:PRR|PRR]] ([[User talk:PRR|talk]]) 06:02, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

::Indeed. I live about 50km from London in a town with many street lights (and I don't drive). I've never seen an aurora.--[[Special:Contributions/2A00:23CC:D248:8901:8DF8:31D:D8B:3B99|2A00:23CC:D248:8901:8DF8:31D:D8B:3B99]] 09:09, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

I wish all those many people who apparently get notified about aurora forecasts, go outside and then AFTERWARDS post about it instead posted about it BEFORE… I keep seeing such posts when it's too late. :( [[User:Fabian42|Fabian42]] ([[User talk:Fabian42|talk]]) 06:53, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

I'm not sure if this is a UK-specific phenomenon, so it may not be familiar to many of you, but those who ''do'' do this ("do do" – snigger), ''stop it''. I refer to banging on about how spectacular the aurora is but not mentioning that it couldn't be seen with the naked eye. If you can only see it by pointing your camera at it, that's not seeing it. That's not worthy of BBC journalists saying the aurora was visible, because it ''wasn't''. That's a cute trick that your phone can do to translate invisible parts of the spectrum into visible light. You don't post UV-detector shots of patterns that birds can see and say "Wow, conditions were perfect for making these patterns visible on this lizard!" If it's not visible, it's not visible. [[User:Yorkshire Pudding|Yorkshire Pudding]] ([[User talk:Yorkshire Pudding|talk]]) 10:55, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
:From my recollection of past info (that I won't repeat too specifically, as I kight be wrong and you probably don't want me saying it more exactly either way) you're also somewhere on the inner fringes of one of the main Yorkshire conurbations. Which means that your night-time views are blighted by 'cityshine' (as mine typically are, except it's more like a major regional town just over the hill) except upon the clearest of clear nights.
:I don't know what the urban equivalent is, but it's seemingly something like constant noctiluscent clouds (only illuminated by over-the-hill settlements, not the under-the-horizon Sun). Technically, I should get good aurora views, at this latitude, but have ''never'' seen (with my naked eye) anything that doesn't look like reflected light-pollution. Really clear skies and really good aurora seem to never have coincided, either it's the skies (lots of stars, or even shooting stars at the right times of year) or its an ambiguous glow that is probably anthropogenic. (Or, worse, it's so cloudy/etc, that I don't even get the neighbouring town's light.) [[Special:Contributions/82.132.239.241|82.132.239.241]] 16:25, 20 January 2026 (UTC)
I am sooo jealosu at Randall for er experiencien Aurora for hours. Aurora is in my top-3 of natural phenomeman that I want to see (have already seen a volcano erupt, have been in the path of a total eclipse twice - on overcast days) and yesterday, for about 10 minutes, I saw aurora for the first time. As in, I saw a glow that had a slightly greener glow than the light pollution would normally be, and I would not recognized it if my family who lives in darker territory didn't warn me. [[User:IIVQ|IIVQ]] ([[User talk:IIVQ|talk]]) 19:16, 20 January 2026 (UTC)

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2026-01-22T18:01:21Z

82.132.246.68: /* Explanation */ Correcting a bit of punctuation mess-up, and rephrased a bit while I'm here. (Seriously, though "four furlongs" is a strange measurement to claim... And we already had a larger-than-Ryan dinosaur so, ref to DinoComic aside, unnecessary.)

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
At the time the comic was released {{w|bird}}s were commonly considered to be a separate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|Late Jurassic|150 million years ago}} out of small {{w|theropod}} dinosaurs, birds along with crocodiles are indeed the remaining representatives of the {{w|Archosaur|archosaur clade}}. This premise appeared also in comic [[867: Herpetology]].

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which shows that ''{{w|Tyrannosaurus rex}}'' is more closely related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to ''{{w|Stegosaurus}}''. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but ''T. rex'' also lived around 80 million years ''after'' ''Stegosaurus''. The concurrence of both species in popular culture is a widespread error. ''T. rex'' is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of anatomy. This relationship was pointed out on the [http://www.sciencemag.org/content/340/6133/690 Science] journal the week of the comic.

The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practice of birds of prey (specifically, the {{w|peregrine falcon}}) is consequently a dinosaur fight. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like [[Randall]], this fact must make the modern world much more attractive.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic ''[http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics]'' drawn by {{w|Ryan North}}, who says that he stands [https://sharpread.wordpress.com/2016/05/03/guest-post-john-patrick-green-interviews-ryan-north/ 2 m tall] (exactly 2m is just slightly under 6'6¾"). For comparison, a T-Rex could be twice as high as Ryan, to the top of its hip/level back, and an average sparrow (as with some of the smaller dinosaurs) is perhaps just 16cm (~6") beak-to-tail. At that page, the title text of the comic [http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=2420 strip] from the same day refers to Randall and ''[[xkcd]]''. In reality, unless someone actually ''is'' exactly average height, they could always find examples of dinosaurs with heights that are closer to their own than to the 'average' person.

The conclusion of this comic is referenced in the title text of the last image in the [http://what-if.xkcd.com/101/ Plastic Dinosaurs] What if?

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, ''T. rex'' is more closely related to sparrows than to ''Stegosaurus''.
:[Diagram showing that ''Stegosaurus'' came earlier than ''T. rex'', along with it showing that ''T. rex'' came closer in time to sparrows. Evaluation criteria "separation by time", "phylogenetic distance" and "physical similarity" are highlighted in red.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, ''Falco peregrinus''.
:[A picture of two birds is shown, one large and one small.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, which it strikes and kills in midair with its claws.
:[In red:] This is a good world.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Dinosaurs]]
[[Category:Biology]]

1211: Birds and Dinosaurs

2026-01-22T17:55:22Z

82.132.246.68: Strangely specific, contradictory and wrong! T-rex size replaced with usual upper hip-height limit (rather than length, due to posture). Sparrows somewhat bigger than stated ('height' depends on perching pose). Deleted Stegasaurus: not 4x660ft tall/long!

{{comic
| number = 1211
| date = May 13, 2013
| title = Birds and Dinosaurs
| image = birds and dinosaurs.png
| titletext = Sure, T. rex is closer in height to Stegosaurus than a sparrow. But that doesn't tell you much; 'Dinosaur Comics' author Ryan North is closer in height to certain dinosaurs than to the average human.
}}

==Explanation==
At the time the comic was released {{w|bird}}s were commonly considered to be a separate {{w|class (biology)|class}} of {{w|tetrapods}}. However, this classification is false according to {{w|phylogenetic taxonomy}}. Taking into account that birds developed around {{w|Late Jurassic|150 million years ago}} out of small {{w|theropod}} dinosaurs, birds along with crocodiles are indeed the remaining representatives of the {{w|Archosaur|archosaur clade}}. This premise appeared also in comic [[867: Herpetology]].

This relation between birds and dinosaurs is depicted in the comic in a {{w|cladogram}} which shows that ''{{w|Tyrannosaurus rex}}'' is more closely related to the common {{w|sparrow}} than to ''{{w|Stegosaurus}}''. Not only do the former share a phylogenetic branch, but ''T. rex'' also lived around 80 million years ''after'' ''Stegosaurus''. The concurrence of both species in popular culture is a widespread error. ''T. rex'' is also much more alike to modern birds than to other dinosaurs in terms of anatomy. This relationship was pointed out on the [http://www.sciencemag.org/content/340/6133/690 Science] journal the week of the comic.

The comic draws the conclusion that if birds must in fact be considered modern dinosaurs, the hunting practice of birds of prey (specifically, the {{w|peregrine falcon}}) is consequently a dinosaur fight. For an inveterate dinosaur aficionado like [[Randall]], this fact must make the modern world much more attractive.

The title text is a sidesweep to the webcomic ''[http://www.qwantz.com Dinosaur Comics]'' drawn by {{w|Ryan North}}, who says that he stands [https://sharpread.wordpress.com/2016/05/03/guest-post-john-patrick-green-interviews-ryan-north/ 2 m tall] (exactly 2m is just slightly under 6'6¾"). For comparison, a T-Rex could be twice as high as Ryan, at its hip) and an average sparrow (as with some of the smaller dinosaurs) is perhaps just 16cm (~6") beak-to-tail. At that page, the title text of the comic [http://www.qwantz.com/index.php?comic=2420 strip] from the same day refers to Randall and ''[[xkcd]]''. In reality, unless someone actually ''is'' exactly average height, they could always find examples of dinosaurs with heights that are closer to their own than to the 'average' person.

The conclusion of this comic is referenced in the title text of the last image in the [http://what-if.xkcd.com/101/ Plastic Dinosaurs] What if?

==Transcript==
:By any reasonable definition, ''T. rex'' is more closely related to sparrows than to ''Stegosaurus''.
:[Diagram showing that ''Stegosaurus'' came earlier than ''T. rex'', along with it showing that ''T. rex'' came closer in time to sparrows. Evaluation criteria "separation by time", "phylogenetic distance" and "physical similarity" are highlighted in red.]
:Birds aren't ''descended'' from dinosaurs, they ''are'' dinosaurs.
:Which means that the fastest animal alive today is a small carnivorous dinosaur, ''Falco peregrinus''.
:[A picture of two birds is shown, one large and one small.]
:It preys mainly on other dinosaurs, which it strikes and kills in midair with its claws.
:[In red:] This is a good world.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Charts]]
[[Category:Dinosaurs]]
[[Category:Biology]]

Template:TemplateTutorial

2025-08-26T23:26:24Z

82.132.246.68: Undo revision 385151 by DollarStoreBa'al (talk) A strange (and wrong) change to make, to provoke a response. There'll be no further comments, you clearly don't need *my* help.

<noinclude><nowiki>Hello, and welcome to the wiki! Creating a template is simple.</nowiki>

Step one: Type <code><nowiki>{{YourTemplateName}}</nowiki></code> on whatever page you want your template on.

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Alright! I hope this helped you get started. Now get out there, make your templates, and don't be afraid to ask people for help. This tutorial is merely meant to be a stepping stone, made for basic understanding. Make sure you understand proper template etiquette before using your template on any page other than your own user page or talk page. </noinclude>

[[Template:TemplateTutorial]]

3117: Replication Crisis

2025-08-26T23:15:48Z

82.132.246.68: /* Transcript */ Better direct replacement than "many".

{{comic
| number = 3117
| date = July 18, 2025
| title = Replication Crisis
| image = replication_crisis_2x.png
| imagesize = 367x492px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Maybe encouraging the publication of null results isn't enough--maybe we need a journal devoted to publishing results the study authors find personally annoying.
}}

==Explanation==
The {{w|replication crisis}} in science refers to the existence of a large number of published scientific results that others are unable to reproduce. One aspect of the scientific method is the replication of results, so the failure to replicate some results casts doubt on the validity of the results and scientific knowledge built on them. Research into the replication crisis itself [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/replication-crisis has been done], with a number of studies being redone and the results compared with the original studies. In this comic, a research team is looking to see if the situation has improved and end up "reproducing" the same results of the early reproduction crisis papers.

The joke is about reproducing a paper about being unable to reproduce papers, while both papers show there is general issue with reproducibility, in this narrow case the scientists were able to reproduce an earlier result, hence the "solved" newspaper headline.

There is a further possible jab: the replication crisis has indeed been "solved", in that the paper authors have shown that the same problems crop up even when scientists are aware of the issue. The "solution" is that the problems persist whether or not the scientists are aware of the replication crisis, so one could simply do science as if the crisis did not happen. This would be not so much a 'solution' as a counsel of despair. [[1574: Trouble for Science]] explores an issue similar to this comic's.

The title text refers to one previously suggested remedy when the replication crisis was first being dealt with — encouraging the publication of null results to counteract {{w|publication bias}}. However, because there is still a replication crisis it didn't solve the problem. The joke is that researchers, being human, are often tempted not to publish results if, for example, the results are not what they were expecting, opposed to a hypothesis they've spoken in favor of, likely to hurt their careers or embarrass them, confusing or difficult for them to explain, or aesthetically or in some other way displeasing to the researcher or their funder. Similarly to these actual efforts to counteract publication bias, this proposed measure extends this idea, albeit in a way that might sound silly.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

: [Megan, Ponytail, and Cueball are standing at a lectern. Ponytail is talking into the microphone.]
: Ponytail: In the early 2010s, researchers found that many major scientific results couldn't be reproduced.

: [Ponytail turns slightly to look around the room.]
: Ponytail: Over a decade into the replication crisis, we wanted to see if today's studies have become more robust.

: Ponytail: Unfortunately, our replication analysis has found exactly the same problems that those 2010s researchers did.

: [This panel shows a newspaper, with title "NEWS" surrounded by flourishes. There is a photo of the panel #2. The headline reads: "REPLICATION CRISIS SOLVED". There is much illegible text around the picture]

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Scientific research]]