3255: Planetary Science
| Planetary Science |
 Title text: The research was overseen by the Institutional Review Board, which is what I named my surfboard. |
Explanation
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This is one of 44 incomplete explanations: This comic was found on a planet with internet on it! If you can fix this issue, edit the page! |
This is presented as a scientific article in which astronomers claim to have discovered "signs of liquid water on the surface of a terrestrial planet in the habitable zone" -- however, as the accompanying photos (four people on a beach, of whom two are sitting under an umbrella and one is making sand castles) show, the planet in question is Earth. This would not be considered a noteworthy discovery.
There is value in using Earth as an example of a planet in a habitable zone, such as testing life-detection experiments in remote inhospitable environments or as a proxy for future astronomical observations, but not in-situ photographic investigation. Maybe the astronomers should have brought their spectrometer on vacation.
An institutional review board is a committee of researchers which ensures that research carried out at their institution is ethical. In the title text, this is referenced to be the literal name of a surfboard, which is a board used for the recreational activity of surfing, not serious academic activities. Presumably one of the researchers used this as an excuse to post their pictures of a surfing holiday. Of course, 'the Institutional Review Board' is a very strange name for a surfboard[citation needed], and it's only purpose would be for this (somewhat bad) excuse.
Transcript
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This is one of 27 incomplete transcripts: Don't remove this notice too soon. If you can fix this issue, edit the page! |
- [A journal entry is shown, with 3 sections of blurred text, and 2 pictures - On on the top-right showing 2 Jills and Kidballs playing at the beach- one running, one building a sandcastle, and 2 under an umbrella, and another at the bottom-left showing the sea.]
- [Title of journal article:] Evidence of liquid water on the surface of a terrestrial planet in the habitable zone
- [caption below text:] Planetary science journals have asked astronomers to please stop submitting their vacation photos.
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Hey I discovered sentient creatures on the planet! --Kirinhatchi (talk) 14:37, 5 June 2026 (UTC)
- "Sentient" :D :D 130.76.187.47 14:58, 5 June 2026 (UTC)
- I used to think there was intelligent life. Then they elected Trump. Barmar (talk) 15:39, 5 June 2026 (UTC)
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