explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

3155: Physics Paths

2025-10-15T23:02:43Z

Avitzur: Mention the Crackpot Index

{{comic
| number = 3155
| date = October 15, 2025
| title = Physics Paths
| image = physics_paths_2x.png
| imagesize = 433x663px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = If nothing else, that reasoning definitely overturns syllogisms.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a BOT trying to prove its value. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
[[Cueball]] is reasoning to the viewer that Einstein proved his value by having a major insight that overturned physics. He attempts to do the same and when, after some time, he fails the comic presents two possible results, the "Healthy Path" and the "Path of Ruin".

The first path, the "Healthy Path" has Cueball muse that perhaps this was a poorly-though-out test of his value. On the other hand, the "Path of Ruin" has Cueball angrily yell that the establishment must be stopping his insight from overturning physics.

This is the second comic in a row where Cueball tries to replicate Einstein's major contributions to physics.

Einstein had more than one "major insight". His "{{w|annus mirabilis papers}}" covered the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, the special theory of relativity, and mass-energy equivalence, all published in 1905.

The path of ruin seems a nod to John Baez's classic [https://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/crackpot.html Crackpot Index].

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
:[Panel 1, Cueball has one hand out]

Cueball: Einstein had an Insight that overturned physics,
thus proving his value.

:[Panel 2, Cueball has one hand on his chin]

Cueball: I hope I have value. Ill try to have an insight that overturns physics, to check.

:[arrow pointing down with the caption below in between]

Time passes

:[arrow pointing down to Panel 3, which has Cueball with both of his hands out and up]

Cueball: On no! My insight didn't overturn physics! But I don't think I'm worthless...

:[Arrow from Panel 3 on the left labeled "Healthy path" points to a panel with Cueball with his hands on his chin:]

Cueball: Maybe this was not a well-thought-out test of my value.

:[Arrow from Panel 3 on the right labeled "Path of ruin" points to a panel with Cueball with his finger out and pointing up:]

Cueball: The establishment must be '''''suppressing''''' my insight!

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]

Talk:2413: Pulsar Analogy

2021-01-18T23:22:14Z

Avitzur: Right hand rule injury checks out.

I tried applying the right-hand-rule with the y-axis pointing to the right. :( I hurt my hand.
[[User:Avitzur|Avitzur]] ([[User talk:Avitzur|talk]]) 23:22, 18 January 2021 (UTC)

2058: Rock Wall

2018-10-12T15:08:57Z

Avitzur: Make the links I just added protocol-relative. Sorry, I'm new here.

{{comic
| number = 2058
| date = October 12, 2018
| title = Rock Wall
| image = rock_wall.png
| titletext = I don't trust mantle/core geologists because I suspect that, if they ever get a chance to peel away the Earth's crust, they'll do it in a heartbeat.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a frustrated mantle geologists. Please edit the explanation below and only mention here why it isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{w|Mantle_(geology)|Mantle}} {{w|geologists}} study that {{w|Structure_of_the_Earth|part of the planet}} that's below the top "{{w|Crust_(geology)|crust}}" of the planet. The top layer of the planet, which is several dozen miles thick, is the only layer we've been able to explore, by {{w|mining|digging tunnels}}, {{w|spelunking}}, etc. The only way to study the mantle and other inner layers of the earth are through non-visual, non-tactile, indirect methods, and by analyzing old samples of the mantle that have made their way to the surface.

In this comic, [[Ponytail]], talking to [[Megan]], is describing her job as a mantle geologist as that of living on one side of a thick wall that is, and likely always will be, impossible to get through or around, but she has to study what is on the other side of the wall. In this case the wall is horizontal rather than vertical, the wall being the earth's crust.

In the title text [[Randall]] states that he doesn't trust mantle/core geologists. Because if they got the chance he believes they would not hesitate (even a heart beat) in stripping away Earths crust to study the mantle or even worse the {{w|Inner core|core}} directly. Of course if they only did this locally to look at the mantle it would not shatter the Earth although that local area may become a volcano. But if the actually peeled the entire outer layer away, we humans would have no place to live, as the mantle is mainly magma, which becomes lava when exposed to the air (see title text of [[1405: Meteor]] to be more confused).

If they somehow exposed the core even locally something weird would be bound to happen.

But Randall is afraid that their craving to get around that 20 mile wall would prevent the researchers from even hesitating if they did get that chance. Fortunately, we can study planetary cores in the solar system without stripping Earth's surface. The [//www.llnl.gov/news/lab-instrument-will-explore-asteroid-psyche Pysche mission] is scheduled to launch in 2023 and arrive at [//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16_Psyche 16 Psyche] in 2030.

This comics seems to be a spin off from the previous comic [[2057: Internal Monologues]], where Randall tried to find some interesting monologues from scientist from different research fields. Maybe he did not find an internal monologue he liked for geologists, but ended up with this idea instead. Thinking about the core or mantle, lava and Magma seems to be something Randall does a lot, and thus he must have some ideas about how a geologist would think, which was why this comic [[913: Core]], was also referenced in the previous comic as something geologist might have internal monologues about.

==Transcript==
:[Ponytail is gesturing towards Megan with her hand, while talking to her.]
:Ponytail: I live next to a wall of rock 20 miles thick. There's no way around or over it. I'm trapped on this side forever.
:Ponytail: I study the stuff on the other side.

:[Caption below the frame:]
:Mantle geology seems like the most frustrating field.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Science]]

2058: Rock Wall

2018-10-12T15:06:07Z

Avitzur: Add information on 16-Pysche mission to study the planetary core IN SPACE.

{{comic
| number = 2058
| date = October 12, 2018
| title = Rock Wall
| image = rock_wall.png
| titletext = I don't trust mantle/core geologists because I suspect that, if they ever get a chance to peel away the Earth's crust, they'll do it in a heartbeat.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a frustrated mantle geologists. Please edit the explanation below and only mention here why it isn't complete. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

{{w|Mantle_(geology)|Mantle}} {{w|geologists}} study that {{w|Structure_of_the_Earth|part of the planet}} that's below the top "{{w|Crust_(geology)|crust}}" of the planet. The top layer of the planet, which is several dozen miles thick, is the only layer we've been able to explore, by {{w|mining|digging tunnels}}, {{w|spelunking}}, etc. The only way to study the mantle and other inner layers of the earth are through non-visual, non-tactile, indirect methods, and by analyzing old samples of the mantle that have made their way to the surface.

In this comic, [[Ponytail]], talking to [[Megan]], is describing her job as a mantle geologist as that of living on one side of a thick wall that is, and likely always will be, impossible to get through or around, but she has to study what is on the other side of the wall. In this case the wall is horizontal rather than vertical, the wall being the earth's crust.

In the title text [[Randall]] states that he doesn't trust mantle/core geologists. Because if they got the chance he believes they would not hesitate (even a heart beat) in stripping away Earths crust to study the mantle or even worse the {{w|Inner core|core}} directly. Of course if they only did this locally to look at the mantle it would not shatter the Earth although that local area may become a volcano. But if the actually peeled the entire outer layer away, we humans would have no place to live, as the mantle is mainly magma, which becomes lava when exposed to the air (see title text of [[1405: Meteor]] to be more confused).

If they somehow exposed the core even locally something weird would be bound to happen.

But Randall is afraid that their craving to get around that 20 mile wall would prevent the researchers from even hesitating if they did get that chance. Fortunately, we can study planetary cores in the solar system without stripping Earth's surface. The [https://www.llnl.gov/news/lab-instrument-will-explore-asteroid-psyche Pysche mission] is scheduled to launch in 2023 and arrive at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16_Psyche 16 Psyche] in 2030.

This comics seems to be a spin off from the previous comic [[2057: Internal Monologues]], where Randall tried to find some interesting monologues from scientist from different research fields. Maybe he did not find an internal monologue he liked for geologists, but ended up with this idea instead. Thinking about the core or mantle, lava and Magma seems to be something Randall does a lot, and thus he must have some ideas about how a geologist would think, which was why this comic [[913: Core]], was also referenced in the previous comic as something geologist might have internal monologues about.

==Transcript==
:[Ponytail is gesturing towards Megan with her hand, while talking to her.]
:Ponytail: I live next to a wall of rock 20 miles thick. There's no way around or over it. I'm trapped on this side forever.
:Ponytail: I study the stuff on the other side.

:[Caption below the frame:]
:Mantle geology seems like the most frustrating field.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Science]]