explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

2041: Frontiers

2026-04-16T15:27:34Z

Kirinhatchi: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 2041
| date = September 3, 2018
| title = Frontiers
| image = frontiers.png
| titletext = Star Trek V is a small part of the space frontier, but it’s been a while since that movie came out so I assume we’ve finished exploring it by now.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic refers to four remaining “final frontiers” of human discovery, according to popular usage—perhaps analyzed using an Internet search engine. It seems to imply that other fields of research aren’t a challenge anymore.

Outer '''space''' is so vast in size that it’s impossible for humans to discover even just the stars in our galaxy within a lifetime, as astronomers estimate that there are 100 to 400 billion stars in the {{w|Milky Way}}. Space travel is also very difficult and expensive.

'''The oceans''' are very deep. The vast majority of the deeper oceans hasn’t been visited by humans, and there is still much we don’t know about the living beings in the deep sea. [https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/ocean-fact/explored/ Very little] of the oceans has been explored or mapped in sufficient detail.

'''The human mind''' is not only very complex, but also often seems irrational, which makes it harder to investigate. Its relation to the brain is also somewhat mysterious: {{w|philosophy of mind}} is split on whether the mind is ultimately material (materialism) or immaterial (dualism/idealism). Further, certain philosophical systems have trouble explaining its relation to the body, in what is termed the {{w|mind–body problem}}.

'''Alaska''' is the state of largest area in the U.S., and also the most sparsely populated. Many places in Alaska have only been partially explored to this day. Randall was probably inspired by the TV series ''{{w|Alaska: The Last Frontier}}'', which plays off of the state’s official nickname of “The Last Frontier”.

The humor from this comic comes from the fact that Alaska seems comparably of less important than the other “Final Frontiers”. It is not as hard or expensive to explore as the ocean bottom and outer space, and it is much smaller. While one's own human mind is much more easily accessible than the other three locations, its nature is a substantial frontier in human knowledge. Furthermore, minds other than one’s own are very hard to access. {{cn}}

The title text refers to the movie ''{{w|Star Trek V: The Final Frontier}}'', released in 1989. “Final frontier” is a recurring motif in the ''Star Trek'' franchise (coming from the opening narration for ''{{w|Star Trek: The Original Series}}''), and is used to describe the exploration of outer space, which remains a notable frontier to humans, both in real life and within ''Star Trek''. [[Randall]], however, jokingly posits that the frontier to be explored is the film itself, and assumes that, because this movie has been out for a while—nearly thirty years—it ought to be fully and comprehensively explored by now.

==Transcript==
:[In a single framed picture a hand drawn rhomboid is shown. At the inside a few small arrows pointing to the four sides. The text in the middle reads:]
:Human achievement so far

:[Text above the top left side:]
:Space
:[Text above the top right side:]
:The oceans
:[Text below the bottom left side:]
:The human mind
:[Text below the bottom right side:]
:Alaska

:[Caption below the frame:]
:Final remaining “frontiers,” according to popular usage

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Science]]

3180: Apples

2025-12-13T00:04:27Z

Kirinhatchi:

{{comic
| number = 3180
| date = December 12, 2025
| title = Apples
| image = apples_2x.png
| imagesize = 263x364px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = The experimental math department's budget is under scrutiny for how much they've been spending on trains leaving Chicago at 9:00pm traveling at 45 mph.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created BY 7+5=13 APPLES. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

7+5=12{{Citation needed}}

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

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

Talk:3175: Website Task Flowchart

2025-12-02T15:03:56Z

Kirinhatchi:

> who are available to produce words at you 24/7!

Is "produce words at you" an AI reference? -- [[User:Dtgriscom|Dtgriscom]] ([[User talk:Dtgriscom|talk]]) 19:40, 1 December 2025 (UTC)
:I think it is likely an AI reference. —[[User:Theusaf|theusaf]] ([[User talk:Theusaf|talk]]) 19:46, 1 December 2025 (UTC)
:I tend to agree, but it does say "live agents" earlier so it could also be a reference to live but non-native language speakers in a foreign call center. [[Special:Contributions/47.248.235.170|47.248.235.170]] 20:24, 1 December 2025 (UTC)Pat
::Real-time bots are live but not ''alive''. [[Special:Contributions/64.114.211.79|64.114.211.79]] 21:26, 1 December 2025 (UTC)
:::I feel like for some certain definition of 'alive' bots could be considered alive. They are (kind of?)sentient, which just means they can think. 'sapient', on the other hand, means that he/she/they is self-aware. While it is generally considered that bots are not live, this may not always be true. Depending on how advanced AI ever get, (most probable answer: not very) they may one day be able to evolve and reproduce. They already perform metabolism and homeostasis (power and fans). They have structure, they are made of computer chips (im not a computer nerd, so this probably isn't accurate). They react to stimuli. Honestly, all that needs to let them be considered 'alive' is for them to be able to make other AI and for those AI to be slightly different, which they kind of already can. Besides being made of metal, there is no real reason to claim that an AI isn't 'alive', that's just what mainstream media claims. --[[User:Kirinhatchi|Kirinhatchi]] ([[User talk:Kirinhatchi|talk]]) 01:05, 2 December 2025 (UTC)
:::They're certainly live as in "live TV" and/or a "live electricity socket", as in active/functional/doing-what-they-are-designed-to-do. [[Special:Contributions/78.144.255.82|78.144.255.82]] 01:44, 2 December 2025 (UTC)

wow second commenter --[[User:LazyTiger0203|LazyTiger0203]] ([[User talk:LazyTiger0203|talk]]) 19:45, 1 December 2025 (UTC)

Is Randall just now finding out about this?!? What sequestered Internet space has he been hiding in? I want. Of course it's probably gone now. [[Special:Contributions/205.175.118.2|205.175.118.2]] 20:20, 1 December 2025 (UTC)

I have fixed several spelling errors. [[User:RadiantRainwing|RadiantRainwing]] ([[User talk:RadiantRainwing|talk]]) 02:49, 2 December 2025 (UTC)

I would replace the "Throw electronics into sea" step with "As soon as the call is no longer on hold, say the website the hold message suggests ''is not working''". Throwing devices into sea causes e-waste. [[Special:Contributions/2001:4C4E:1C14:9800:F167:89F7:6CCE:353B|2001:4C4E:1C14:9800:F167:89F7:6CCE:353B]] 08:30, 2 December 2025 (UTC)

Talk:3175: Website Task Flowchart

2025-12-02T01:05:51Z

Kirinhatchi:

> who are available to produce words at you 24/7!

Is "produce words at you" an AI reference? -- [[User:Dtgriscom|Dtgriscom]] ([[User talk:Dtgriscom|talk]]) 19:40, 1 December 2025 (UTC)
:I think it is likely an AI reference. —[[User:Theusaf|theusaf]] ([[User talk:Theusaf|talk]]) 19:46, 1 December 2025 (UTC)
:I tend to agree, but it does say "live agents" earlier so it could also be a reference to live but non-native language speakers in a foreign call center. [[Special:Contributions/47.248.235.170|47.248.235.170]] 20:24, 1 December 2025 (UTC)Pat
::Real-time bots are live but not ''alive''. [[Special:Contributions/64.114.211.79|64.114.211.79]] 21:26, 1 December 2025 (UTC)
:::I feel like for some certain definition of 'alive' bots could be considered alive. They are (kind of?)sentient, which just means they can think. 'sapient', on the other hand, means that he/she/they is self-aware. While it is generally considered that bots are not live, this may not always be true. Depending on how advanced AI ever get, (most probable answer: not very) they may one day be able to evolve and reproduce. They already perform metabolism and homeostasis (power and fans). They have structure, they are made of computer chips (im not a computer nerd, so this probably isn't accurate). They react to stimuli. Honestly, all that needs to let them be considered 'alive' is for them to be able to make other AI and for those AI to be slightly different, which they kind of already can. Besides being made of metal, there is no real reason to claim that an AI isn't 'alive', that's just what mainstream media claims. ([[User:Kirinhatchi|Kirinhatch]]|[[User talk:Kirinhatchi|talk]])--[[User:Kirinhatchi|Kirinhatchi]] ([[User talk:Kirinhatchi|talk]]) 01:05, 2 December 2025 (UTC)

wow second commenter --[[User:LazyTiger0203|LazyTiger0203]] ([[User talk:LazyTiger0203|talk]]) 19:45, 1 December 2025 (UTC)

Is Randall just now finding out about this?!? What sequestered Internet space has he been hiding in? I want. Of course it's probably gone now. [[Special:Contributions/205.175.118.2|205.175.118.2]] 20:20, 1 December 2025 (UTC)

Talk:36: Scientists

2025-11-22T15:02:04Z

Kirinhatchi:

If Cueball's a scientist, the statement is perfectly valid. Even more so if his scientist friends are helping him, and they can't find his shoes either. [[User:Davidy22|Davidy22]][[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>(talk)</tt>]] 07:07, 31 October 2012 (UTC)

I found the fact that the last sentence was present in the explanation funnier than the comic itself. -- [[Special:Contributions/131.175.28.142|131.175.28.142]] 22:13, 14 May 2013 (UTC)

Its worth pointing out the comic was drawn in 2006 -- 'pretty gay' was not nearly as politically incorrect then as it is now. Wow, this is an old comic. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.125|162.158.255.125]] 14:33, 8 September 2015 (UTC)

Political incorrectness is a good thing. I'd hope he'd do this one again today. — [[User:Kazvorpal|Kazvorpal]] ([[User talk:Kazvorpal|talk]]) 01:07, 24 April 2019 (UTC)
:Political incorrectness is a good thing? wow. While I also find overly political correctness in many cases over the top, unneccesary and annoying, this is a clear example where political correctness helps to battle discrimination. By using the term "gay" to describe one stereotype associated with homosexuality, this stereotype is further enforced, and people are treated according to it. I do not know a lot about you, but your username sounds like an adjective, so imagine, I started a trend describing people who are e.g. pedophile as "kazvorpal", and this trend catches on. Soon you would find yourself excluded from events, jobs, etc. because people would assume you are a pedophile. Wouldn't you prefer that to not happen? that is one example why political correctness is a good thing. Sorry for the trollfeeding. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 06:04, 24 April 2019 (UTC)
::No, you are suffering from the ravages of inductive reasoning. Political correctness includes a pretense that the speaker is battling discrimination, but it's just virtue signalling. They are, in fact, ''encouraging'' discrimination, and heaping advocacy of censorship and repression on top of it. Using "gay" as a mock pejorative does nothing to harm actual homosexuals, and in fact robs the term of its emotional power, as humor often does. Daniel Tosh incessantly making faux-bigoted comments uses humor to weaken racism, sexism, et cetera. And the end does not justify the means: Repressing the expression of others is evil, even when you're trying to use doing so to impress others about how virtuous you are. — [[User:Kazvorpal|Kazvorpal]] ([[User talk:Kazvorpal|talk]]) 15:43, 29 October 2019 (UTC)
::: That opinion is what scientists call "pretty straight white man". --[[Special:Contributions/141.101.99.163|141.101.99.163]] 22:18, 2 March 2021 (UTC)
::: Lupo also seems to be under the false impression that "discrimination" is a bad thing, whereas in reality it is a fundamental skill of all rational (and many irrational) beings, one that we use every day. The opposite, "indiscriminate", behaviour is what unwise and unintelligent beings engage in, and it generally rapidly leads to suboptimal results. There is no need to "battle" discrimination.[[Special:Contributions/165.225.208.148|165.225.208.148]] 16:33, 10 June 2025 (UTC)
:::: Ad hominem {{unsigned|108.162.237.191}}
::::: Ad heteronym. Seriously though, stop being so ''straight'' --[[Special:Contributions/162.158.134.63|162.158.134.63]] 21:12, 4 May 2022 (UTC)

as someone who scientists are calling "pretty gay" (bisexual) and "retarded" (autistic), I find this comic humorous. -- [[User:Arthur101|Arthur101]] ([[User talk:Arthur101|talk]]) 00:33, 11 October 2023 (UTC)
:- also gay and autistic here. I agree this comic is funny, but that doesn't make it at all okay to use gay as an insult, or to use the r-slur at all, and I hope that basic level of "political correctness" becomes more common and respected (user: human physics padawan) {{unsigned ip|172.70.46.136|09:17, 6 February 2024}}
::- I agree. [[User:Arthur101|Arthur101]] ([[User talk:Arthur101|talk]]) 03:51, 20 April 2024 (UTC)
::: I second that. While you may consider it funny in some cases, most of the time it's just a jerk move. It's also really strange. Why is being gay a bad thing? [[User:Kirinhatchi|Kirinhatchi]] ([[User talk:Kirinhatchi|talk]])--[[User:Kirinhatchi|Kirinhatchi]] ([[User talk:Kirinhatchi|talk]]) 15:02, 22 November 2025 (UTC)

Interesting edit I just felt I had to make, in response to another. The sentence:
However, since their being scientists is irrelevant to the legitimacy of their opinions about Randall's shoe problems, presenting their teasing as an expert opinion is humorously misleading; a similar joke is at play in [[1206: Einstein]].
...a change of "their being" was changed to "there being", assuming a homophonic error.
 However, technically (at least idiomatically) all three "their/there/they're" ''could'' be correct.
*"their being scientists" - 'the state of being scientists that they possess' works well as a concept,
*"there being scientists" - 'that scientists exist in that situation' also does, somewhat
*"they're being scientists" - 'it is scientists that they be' works well ('that they are' in alternate grammatical dialect, but off the 'being' form in both cases, rather than the secondary contracted 'are')
Anyway, I changed it onwards to "them being", i.e. 'those people (...that we can describe as scientists)'. In leiu of ''totally'' rewording to remove this (rather interesting) issue of grammar. [[Special:Contributions/172.70.85.147|172.70.85.147]] 11:33, 26 November 2023 (UTC)
In what scientists are calling ‘pretty gay’ (asexual), me. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.58.140|172.68.58.140]] 14:01, 19 February 2024 (UTC)

Hey everyone! I tried contacting Randall to ask him when he replaced comic [[36: Scientists]], and he replied! You can read the conversation and a summary of what happened [[User:FaviFake|on my user page]]. Among other things, he gave me the official release date, April 28th, and, after I asked, he told me he might reply to more simple questions! If you all have some technical or administrative questions, I can ask them directly to him! There are many more details about this [[User:FaviFake|here]]. --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 18:23, 21 February 2025 (UTC)

Talk:3171: Geologic Core Sample

2025-11-22T00:02:07Z

Kirinhatchi:

F1R5T P0ST [[User:Slothscript|Slothscript]] ([[User talk:Slothscript|talk]]) 23:51, 21 November 2025 (UTC)

How do I add a category? It needs to be in the LOTR category. (Wow it’s hard to edit this thing on a phone) [[User:Kirinhatchi|Kirinhatchi]] ([[User talk:Kirinhatchi|talk]])

3171: Geologic Core Sample

2025-11-21T23:57:29Z

Kirinhatchi:

{{comic
| number = 3171
| date = November 21, 2025
| title = Geologic Core Sample
| image = geologic_core_sample_2x.png
| imagesize = 493x789px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = If you drill at the right angle and time things perfectly, your core sample can include a section of a rival team's coring equipment.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created BY A RIVAL GEOLOGY TEAM. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This image presents a core sample taken by a slightly chaotic team of geologists. Contained within it are fairly normal ground matter such as "topsoil" and "granite" but also such things as "bottomsoil", which has no IRL parallel, parts of subway cars, arms of a spelunker most likely amputated by the sample, a "balrog" wing (referencing a fictional animal from Lord of the Rings which first made an appearance in xkcd in [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/730:_Circuit_Diagram]) and after diving through the core of the earth, the home of someone else. It first starts with cement, the foundation, floorboards and carpet (either a carpeted floor or a decorated floor), and then the posessions

The title text humorously refers to a "rival team" and their coring equipment - implying that with the correct angle you can muddle with their own coring experiment, which, outside of cold war-type pettiness, is not considered a constructive approach to science.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
[This shows a drill sample with various labels]

Topsoil

Till

Granite Bedrock

Bottomsoil

Roof of Subway Car

Floor of Subway Car

More Granite

Municipal water main

Slightly different granite

Piece of screaming spelunker's arm

Cool Crystals with no resale value

Mangled Fragments of drillbit from previous attempt

Some boring intrusive rock that's basically granite but has a name like "diorite" or "andalite" that you always have to look up

Netherrack

Balrog wig

Granite

Topsoil

Cement

Floorboards

Carpet

Possesions of a confused and angry homeowner in the other hemisphere

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category:Geology]]
[[Category:Charts]]

Topsoil

Till

Granite Bedrock

Bottomsoil

Roof of Subway Car

Floor of Subway Car

More Granite

Municipal water main

Slightly different granite

Piece of screaming spelunker's arm

Cool Crystals with no resale value

Mangled Fragments of drillbit from previous attempt

some boring intrusive rock that's basically granite but has a name like "diorite" or "andalite" that you always have to look up

netherrack

balrog wig

granite

topsoil

cement

floorboards

carpet

possesions of a confused and angry homeowner in the other hemisphere

3171: Geologic Core Sample

2025-11-21T23:56:10Z

Kirinhatchi: Added mention that balrogs are from LOTR

{{comic
| number = 3171
| date = November 21, 2025
| title = Geologic Core Sample
| image = geologic_core_sample_2x.png
| imagesize = 493x789px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = If you drill at the right angle and time things perfectly, your core sample can include a section of a rival team's coring equipment.
}}

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

This image presents a core sample taken by a slightly chaotic team of geologists. Contained within it are fairly normal ground matter such as "topsoil" and "granite" but also such things as "bottomsoil", which has no IRL parallel, parts of subway cars, arms of a spelunker most likely amputated by the sample, a "balrog" wing (referencing a fictional animal from Lord of the Rings which first made an appearance in xkcd in [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/730:_Circuit_Diagram]) and after diving through the core of the earth, the home of someone else. It first starts with cement, the foundation, floorboards and carpet (either a carpeted floor or a decorated floor), and then the posessions

The title text humorously refers to a "rival team" and their coring equipment - implying that with the correct angle you can muddle with their own coring experiment, which, outside of cold war-type pettiness, is not considered a constructive approach to science.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
[This shows a drill sample with various labels]

Topsoil

Till

Granite Bedrock

Bottomsoil

Roof of Subway Car

Floor of Subway Car

More Granite

Municipal water main

Slightly different granite

Piece of screaming spelunker's arm

Cool Crystals with no resale value

Mangled Fragments of drillbit from previous attempt

Some boring intrusive rock that's basically granite but has a name like "diorite" or "andalite" that you always have to look up

Netherrack

Balrog wig

Granite

Topsoil

Cement

Floorboards

Carpet

Possesions of a confused and angry homeowner in the other hemisphere

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category:Geology]]
[[Category:Charts]]

Topsoil

Till

Granite Bedrock

Bottomsoil

Roof of Subway Car

Floor of Subway Car

More Granite

Municipal water main

Slightly different granite

Piece of screaming spelunker's arm

Cool Crystals with no resale value

Mangled Fragments of drillbit from previous attempt

some boring intrusive rock that's basically granite but has a name like "diorite" or "andalite" that you always have to look up

netherrack

balrog wig

granite

topsoil

cement

floorboards

carpet

possesions of a confused and angry homeowner in the other hemisphere

Talk:3163: Repair Video

2025-11-03T23:32:51Z

Kirinhatchi:

Lol [[User:Mathmaster|Mathmaster]] ([[User talk:Mathmaster|talk]])

I tried to check the explain page for this comic a little while ago and the page hadn’t been made yet :( [[User:Kirinhatchi|Kirinhatchi]] ([[User talk:Kirinhatch|talk]])

3163: Repair Video

2025-11-03T23:16:54Z

Kirinhatchi: Updated incomplete notice

{{comic
| number = 3163
| date = November 3, 2025
| title = Repair Video
| image = repair_video_2x.png
| imagesize = 305x449px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = The statue should be in the likeness of whatever sculptor posted the sculpting tool repair video that was most helpful during the installation of the statue.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by a E-21 HUMIDIFIER. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
This comic states that Randall is very glad for people who remove annoying noises
{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>