explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

3037: Radon

2025-01-13T21:42:40Z

Hairstylist Wannabe: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3037
| date = January 13, 2025
| title = Radon
| image = radon_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x291px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = A good ²³⁸Umbrella policy should cover it.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a PLANET INSURANCE SALESMAN - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
In this comic, [[Ponytail]] approaches [[Cueball]] about the concentration of {{w|Radon}} in his basement. This refers to a common phenomenon where the levels of Radon gases can build up in enclosed spaces over time; they form out of traces of {{w|Uranium}} embedded into the surrounding bedrock/soils of most basements. This uranium, over time, releases Radon as a gas whilst experiencing alpha decay, although the time in which this occurs is noticeably long; Uranium-238, the isotope mentioned in the title text, has a half-life of 4.5 billion years, which is about the age of the Earth. Over the whole earth, roughly 2.8 ppm of the planet is made of Uranium<ref>https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/mining-of-uranium/uranium-mining-overview</ref>; this is about 0.00028% of the planet, which weighs about 5.9722*10^24 kilograms<ref>https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/earthfact.html</ref>. Even so, if uranium existed in the earth's crust alone - about 1% of the earth's total mass itself - this would imply that there is  1.672216*10^19 kilograms of Uranium across the entire planet. Thus, Radon gas is not ''that'' uncommon of a phenomenon, and {{w|Radon_mitigation|radon mitigation}} techniques are frequently employed to keep the air safe and breathable. Basements, in particular, are known to accumulate Radon gas if it is kept sealed over long enough time; that is, the windows and doors are closed. Small cracks in the house's foundation may allow some Radon gas to seep inside, which can be cleared if the Basement is properly ventilated.

The actual amount of Uranium experienced in any given environment , according to [https://xkcd.com/radiation/ Randall's own chart], is 10 microsieverts worth of radiation, on average, over a year; the amount in one's body, in contrast, is about 390 microsievert over that same timeframe, again on average. The lowest dose linked to any serious risk is in the millisievert range, over thousands of times ''stronger'' than any of these sources. The Radon buildup in Cueball's house is not of concern, as long as it is properly managed in time.

The humor in this comic comes from the fact that Ponytail is pedantic and flippant. Instead of focusing on what can be done to fix the situation, she suggests that it is Cueball's fault for choosing to live in a planet that had Uranium in it in the first place; that is, she acts like other planets exist that are easily accessible to living species to move to on a regular basis. This references to the half-life of Uranium mentioned before, being roughly the age of the Earth, and thus any uranium stored during Earth's formation has a 50% chance of surviving to today. Cueball, in protest, mentions that the sun will burn out way before the waiting period Ponytail tells him to wait (100 Billion years, 20 times the length of the earth's lifetime ''and'' 20 times longer than it will take the sun to burn out). Ponytail again acts pedantic and flippant, suggesting that other stars are readily available for humans to migrate to and that it was humanity's fault for choosing to live in one solar system instead of another.

While it lacks a formal term, this kind of flippancy is a common part of several discussion topics relating to concerns over health and safety. It comes out of misunderstanding someone's concerns as being more trivial than they are, often when the people arguing that they are serious concerns come across as whiny. An example of this is as follows: humans have been selectively-breeding, ie modifying, food since agriculture was invented. Thus, anything labeled "organic" today is just as processed as its pre-packaged equivalents. In Ponytail's case, she demonstrates this flippancy by assuming that the Earth's Uranium levels are the true issue instead of the direct Radon gases themselves. This diverts attention of the issue away from handling the immediate problem, instead suggesting {{w|Overengineering|a much more ridiculously complex approach}} to be followed.

The title text for this comic mentions {{w|Umbrella insurance}}, which is what insurance companies in the United States pay when the payment extends over their own policies. It makes a joke with the isotope representation of Uranium 238 being U<sup>238</sup>, and is somethhing that Cueball might need to consult with after handling the issue of Radon gas in his home; most states in the United States, for instance, require property disclosure forms to be filled out if Radon levels surpass a certain threshold<ref>https://www.eli.org/sites/default/files/files-pdf/Final%202022%20Radon_0.pdf</ref>.

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

:[Cueball is on the left, and is approached by Ponytail, who is reading a Geiger counter in her hand and is holding a toolbox in her other hand.]
:Ponytail: Radon levels in your basement are pretty high.
:Ponytail: When was the planet under this home built?

:[Ponytail stops walking and lowers the Geiger counter]
:Cueball: Uhh, about 4½ billion years ago, I think?
:Ponytail: Oof. I was afraid of that.

:Ponytail: This planet was contaminated with uranium when it formed. You really should have let it fully decay before building.
:Ponytail: Wait another 100 billion years and these rocks will be fine.

:[Zoom in on Cueball's head]
:Cueball: But the Sun will burn out in 5 billion years.
:Ponytail: Yikes, you built around a short-lived yellow star? What a mess.
:Ponytail: Hope you have good insurance.
[Next Frame]

{{comic discussion}}

3037: Radon

2025-01-13T21:41:26Z

Hairstylist Wannabe: First time helping out this website, but the series is growing on me, so I figured I'd help with this one!

{{comic
| number = 3037
| date = January 13, 2025
| title = Radon
| image = radon_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x291px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = A good ²³⁸Umbrella policy should cover it.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a PLANET INSURANCE SALESMAN - Please change this comment when editing this page. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
In this comic, [[Ponytail]] approaches [[Cueball]] about the concentration of {{w|Radon}} in his basement. This refers to a common phenomenon where the levels of Radon gases can build up in enclosed spaces over time; they form out of traces of {{w|Uranium}} embedded into the surrounding bedrock/soils of most basements. This uranium, over time, releases Radon as a gas whilst experiencing alpha decay, although the time in which this occurs is noticeably long; Uranium-238, the isotope mentioned in the title text, has a half-life of 4.5 billion years, which is about the age of the Earth. Over the whole earth, roughly 2.8 ppm of the planet is made of Uranium<ref>https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/mining-of-uranium/uranium-mining-overview</ref>; this is about 0.00028% of the planet, which weighs about 5.9722*10^24 kilograms<ref>https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/earthfact.html</ref>. Even so, if uranium existed in the earth's crust alone - about 1% of the earth's total mass itself - this would imply that there is  1.672216*10^19 kilograms of Uranium across the entire planet. Thus, Radon gas is not *that* uncommon of a phenomenon, and {{w|Radon_mitigation|radon mitigation}} techniques are frequently employed to keep the air safe and breathable. Basements, in particular, are known to accumulate Radon gas if it is kept sealed over long enough time; that is, the windows and doors are closed. Small cracks in the house's foundation may allow some Radon gas to seep inside, which can be cleared if the Basement is properly ventilated.

The actual amount of Uranium experienced in any given environment , according to [https://xkcd.com/radiation/ Randall's own chart], is 10 microsieverts worth of radiation, on average, over a year; the amount in one's body, in contrast, is about 390 microsievert over that same timeframe, again on average. The lowest dose linked to any serious risk is in the millisievert range, over thousands of times ''stronger'' than any of these sources. The Radon buildup in Cueball's house is not of concern, as long as it is properly managed in time.

The humor in this comic comes from the fact that Ponytail is pedantic and flippant. Instead of focusing on what can be done to fix the situation, she suggests that it is Cueball's fault for choosing to live in a planet that had Uranium in it in the first place; that is, she acts like other planets exist that are easily accessible to living species to move to on a regular basis. This references to the half-life of Uranium mentioned before, being roughly the age of the Earth, and thus any uranium stored during Earth's formation has a 50% chance of surviving to today. Cueball, in protest, mentions that the sun will burn out way before the waiting period Ponytail tells him to wait (100 Billion years, 20 times the length of the earth's lifetime ''and'' 20 times longer than it will take the sun to burn out). Ponytail again acts pedantic and flippant, suggesting that other stars are readily available for humans to migrate to and that it was humanity's fault for choosing to live in one solar system instead of another.

While it lacks a formal term, this kind of flippancy is a common part of several discussion topics relating to concerns over health and safety. It comes out of misunderstanding someone's concerns as being more trivial than they are, often when the people arguing that they are serious concerns come across as whiny. An example of this is as follows: humans have been selectively-breeding, ie modifying, food since agriculture was invented. Thus, anything labeled "organic" today is just as processed as its pre-packaged equivalents. In Ponytail's case, she demonstrates this flippancy by assuming that the Earth's Uranium levels are the true issue instead of the direct Radon gases themselves. This diverts attention of the issue away from handling the immediate problem, instead suggesting {{w|Overengineering|a much more ridiculously complex approach}} to be followed.

The title text for this comic mentions {{w|Umbrella insurance}}, which is what insurance companies in the United States pay when the payment extends over their own policies. It makes a joke with the isotope representation of Uranium 238 being U<sp>238</sp>, and is somethhing that Cueball might need to consult with after handling the issue of Radon gas in his home; most states in the United States, for instance, require property disclosure forms to be filled out if Radon levels surpass a certain threshold<ref>https://www.eli.org/sites/default/files/files-pdf/Final%202022%20Radon_0.pdf</ref>.

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

:[Cueball is on the left, and is approached by Ponytail, who is reading a Geiger counter in her hand and is holding a toolbox in her other hand.]
:Ponytail: Radon levels in your basement are pretty high.
:Ponytail: When was the planet under this home built?

:[Ponytail stops walking and lowers the Geiger counter]
:Cueball: Uhh, about 4½ billion years ago, I think?
:Ponytail: Oof. I was afraid of that.

:Ponytail: This planet was contaminated with uranium when it formed. You really should have let it fully decay before building.
:Ponytail: Wait another 100 billion years and these rocks will be fine.

:[Zoom in on Cueball's head]
:Cueball: But the Sun will burn out in 5 billion years.
:Ponytail: Yikes, you built around a short-lived yellow star? What a mess.
:Ponytail: Hope you have good insurance.
[Next Frame]

{{comic discussion}}