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==Explanation==
 
==Explanation==
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This chart humorously explores how things are often named colloquially and without regard to accuracy in correlating actual scariness with apparent scariness. It is interesting to note how people react to the items near the bottom right of the chart "scary things with not-very-scary names" when compared to how they may react to items in the upper left "not-very-scary things with scary names". Some of the entries on the chart are especially interesting examples considering that portions of the names that are associated with significant historical or cultural events and themes. i.e. Chernobyl Packet, Demon Core. All items are described in the [[#Table|table below]] including the title text on Helvetica Scenario.
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The chart shows that things toward the right are scary, while things toward the top <em>sound</em> scary, without <em>necessarily</em> being scary. Values in the chart are given as a percentage of " the values of "Flesh-eating bacteria", which is the upper-right-most entry in the Chart.
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On the chart, things toward the right are scary/dangerous/very bad, while things toward the top ''sound'' scary without ''necessarily'' being scary.
 
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Note that [[Randall]] uses similar diagrams in both [[388: Fuck Grapefruit]], [[1501: Mysteries]] and [[2466: In Your Classroom]], which also contain different items. The first two also have an extra point, and the last two extra points mentioned in the title text. Only the first and the last comics points are also off the chart, whereas for the second the description of the point is too long to fit on the chart. Extra info outside the chart is also used in the title text of [[1785: Wifi]], but this is a line graph.
 
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===Table===
 
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*This table list the entries from least to most scary, including the ''entry'' mentioned in the title text.
 
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*To begin with it is sorted from most scary name to least scary name.
 
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**The assigned percentage values assumes a linear scale and assigns ''flesh eating bacteria'' with the point (100%, 100%).  
 
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**This is simply the easiest way to list the entries as there is no mention of the scale.
 
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**As is clear from the title text, "flesh eating bacteria" is not an absolute, simply the highest in this particular sample; there are things more scary than 100%!
 
  
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
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! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Name
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! scope="col"| Name
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! scope="col"| Approximate Apparent Scariness
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! scope="col"| Apparent Scariness
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! scope="col"| Approximate True Scariness
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! scope="col"| True Scariness
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! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Description
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! scope="col" class="unsortable"|Description
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|-
 
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|{{Nowrap|{{w|Necrotizing fasciitis|Flesh-eating bacteria}}}}
 
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|m !}}100%}}
 
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|l !}}100%}}
 
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|As the name suggests, bacteria that eat (or more accurately, releases toxins that destroy) your skin and muscle.
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|{{Nowrap|[http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/C/Chernobyl-packet.html Chernobyl Packet]}}
 
|{{Nowrap|[http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/C/Chernobyl-packet.html Chernobyl Packet]}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}95%}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}95%}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|a !}}4%}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|a !}}4%}}
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|A network packet that induces a {{w|broadcast storm}} or network meltdown. It is an analogous reference to the {{w|Chernobyl disaster}}.
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|A network packet that induces a broadcast storm or network meltdown.
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|-
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|{{Nowrap|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bomb_calorimeter#Bomb_calorimeters Bomb Calorimeter]}}
 +
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}67%}}
 +
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|b !}}28%}}
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|A device for measuring heat of combustion of a reaction in a pressure vessel.
 +
|-
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|{{Nowrap|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustard_Gas Mustard Gas]}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|f !}}47%}}
 +
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|c !}}50%}}
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|A chemical warfare agent which causes blisters and severe irritation on skin and lung tissue.
 
|-
 
|-
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|{{Nowrap|{{w|Kessler syndrome|Kessler Syndrome}}}}
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|{{Nowrap|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_Syndrome Kessler Syndrome]}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}90%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}87%}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|d !}}53%}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|d !}}53%}}
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|A hypothetical scenario where low Earth orbit objects collide, creating debris which increases the risk of more collisions, leading to a cascade effect which could severely hinder exploration and satellite technologies for many decades. It has been mentioned in {{w|Gravity (2013 film)}}.
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|A hypothetical scenario where low Earth orbit objects collide creating space debris which thereby increasing risk of collisions, leading to a cascade effect which could severely hinder space exploration and satellite technologies for many years.
 
|-
 
|-
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|{{Nowrap|{{w|Demon core|Demon Core}}}}
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|{{Nowrap|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_Liquefaction Soil Liquefaction]}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|j !}}87%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|c !}}16%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}73%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|e !}}54%}}
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|A subcritical mass of plutonium that was involved in two separate fatal incidents at Los Alamos laboratory in 1945 and 1946. In both cases, the core was accidentally placed into a configuration where it went supercritical and exposed an experimenter to fatal doses of radiation. The second is more notable, where Louis Slotin held two halves of a beryllium neutron reflector apart with a flat head screwdriver which slipped, suddenly causing the contained plutonium core to become supercritical and delivering a fatal dose of radiation. This is later referenced in [[2593: Deviled Eggs]].
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|A phenomena where wet soil loses its strength, leading to potholes, road and terrain damage, and even building collapses, especially after earthquakes.
 
|-
 
|-
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|{{Nowrap|{{w|Calorimeter#Bomb calorimeters|Bomb Calorimeters}}}}
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|{{Nowrap|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Goo Grey Goo]}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}67%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|b !}}5%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|b !}}28%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|f !}}68%}}
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|A device for measuring heat of combustion of a reaction in a pressure vessel. It does not interact with explosive devices directly, though the chemicals a bomb calorimeter would be called upon to measure are occasionally explosive or dangerous, and a carelessly operated calorimeter could start a fire.
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|A hypothetical end-of-world scenario where self-replicating nanobots consume all matter.
 
|-
 
|-
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|{{Nowrap|{{w|Avian influenza virus|Bird Flu}}}}
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|{{Nowrap|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avian_influenza_virus Bird Flu]}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}57%}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}57%}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|g !}}72%}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|g !}}72%}}
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|An illness caused by strains of influenza adapted for birds, which is generally very deadly in humans. Should the virus adapt for human to human transmission, a pandemic can quickly result. Since birds can travel great distances quickly, it is generally already widespread and difficult to contain.
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|An illness caused by strains of influenza adapted for transfer between birds and humans.{{Verification needed}} Since birds can travel great distances quickly, this makes it difficult to contain.
 
|-
 
|-
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|{{Nowrap|{{w|Nuclear football|Nuclear Football}}}}
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|{{Nowrap|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demon_core Demon Core]}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|g !}}52%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|j !}}90%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}94%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}73%}}
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|An aluminum Zero Halliburton briefcase which is used by the President of the United States to authorize nuclear attack. A military aide carrying the football is always near the president.
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|An incident where a subcritical mass of plutonium briefly went critical on two separate occasions at Los Alamos laboratory in 1945 and 1946. The second is more notable, where Louis Slotin held two halves of a beryllium neutron reflector apart with a flat head screwdriver which slipped, suddenly causing the contained plutonium core to become supercritical and delivering a fatal dose of radiation. In both instances the scientists performing the experiment died.
 
|-
 
|-
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|{{Nowrap|{{w|Sulfur mustard|Mustard Gas}}}}
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|{{Nowrap|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticality_incident Criticality Incident]}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|f !}}47%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|d!}}22%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|c !}}50%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|i !}}74%}}
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|A chemical warfare agent which causes blisters and severe irritation on skin and lung tissue.
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|An uncontrolled nuclear reaction. This occurs when a system running at exact criticality experiences an increase of one dollar of criticality (a term devised by Louis Slotin, as seen above).
 
|-
 
|-
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|{{Nowrap|{{w|Antimicrobial resistance|Superbug}}}}
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|{{Nowrap|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_bug_(bacteria) Superbug]}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|e !}}39%}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|e !}}39%}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|j !}}83%}}
 
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|j !}}83%}}
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|Antibiotic resistant bacteria. The growing use of antibiotics has caused some bacteria to evolve to become resistant to the antibiotics. A "superbug" refers to a scenario where a bacteria evolves to become resistant to all antibiotics, for example, {{w|MRSA}}. Thanks to popular culture, however, the term "superbug" usually makes the audience think "a bug with superpowers", such as {{w|Atom Ant}}.
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|Antibiotic resistant bacteria. The growing use of antibiotics has caused some bacteria to evolve to become resistant to the antibiotics. A superbug perhaps refers to a scenario where a bacteria evolves rapidly to become resistant to all antibiotics and perhaps leads to an end of human life scenario.{{Verification needed}}
 
|-
 
|-
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|{{Nowrap|{{w|Criticality accident|Criticality Incident}}}}
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|{{Nowrap|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Football Nuclear Football]}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|d!}}22%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|g !}}52%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|i !}}74%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}94%}}
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|An unexpected and uncontrolled nuclear reaction. This occurs when a system that should be sub-critical becomes critical by accident (a term devised by Louis Slotin, as seen above).
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|An aluminium Zero Halliburton briefcase which is used by the President of the United States to authorise nuclear attack. A military aide carrying the football is always near the president.
 
|-
 
|-
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|{{Nowrap|{{w|Soil liquefaction|Soil Liquefaction}}}}
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|{{Nowrap|[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flesh-eating_bacteria Flesh-Eating Bacteria]}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|c !}}16%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|m !}}100%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|e !}}54%}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|l !}}100%}}
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|A phenomenon where wet soil loses its strength and becomes temporarily liquid, capable of swallowing people and buildings, especially after earthquakes or torrential rains. Liquefaction can cause landslides; landslides can cause more liquefaction.  Once the earthquake stops, the ground becomes solid again, trapping whatever was submerged.
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|As the name suggests, bacteria that eats (or more accurately, releases toxins that destroy) your skin and muscle.
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|-
 
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|{{Nowrap|{{w|Gray goo|Grey Goo}}}}
 
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|b !}}5%}}
 
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|f !}}69%}}
 
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|A hypothetical end-of-world scenario where self-replicating nanobots consume all matter. It is (partially) illustrated in [[865: Nanobots]].
 
 
|-
 
|-
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|Helvetica Scenario<br>(from the title text)
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|Helvetica Scenario<br>(Title Text)
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|z !}}N/A}}
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|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|a !}}N/A}}
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|{{Hs|m !}}Off the chart
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|{{Hs|m !}}Literally Off-The-Chart
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|This scenario is also in the title text of [[683: Science Montage]]: "...We have a Helvetica scenario!". The scenario is a fictional experiment, presented in Switzerland (Helvetica), which assumes that removing only the nucleus (the center of an atom) of a calcium atom in one's skin, but still leaving the electron shell at its position, would cause a massive reaction ending up in heavy mutations. The Helvetica scenario was made up by the BBC comedy show {{w|Look Around You}} in the pilot episode, which can be seen [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4CRCJUmWsM&t=5m53s here (at 5:53)]. The fact that the term {{w|Helvetica}} is more commonly known as referring to a very-commonly-used modern typeface makes the name sound like it should refer to a much less serious situation.
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|Likely a reference to a segment on the pilot of 2002 BBC show Look Around You in which viewers are educated about the fictional "Helvetica Scenario" including a clip from a black and white German horror film of a scientist observing a man with no face trapped behind a window. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqfSqUuo7Ms YouTube Link] Some may find this video disturbing.
 
|}
 
|}
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==Trivia==
 
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*In the ''[[What If? (book)|What If?]]'' book, the article No More DNA (exclusive to the physical book), this graph is shown redrawn with "Destroying Angel" added to it. Destroying Angel is a poisonous mushroom.
 
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==
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:[A scatter-plot, with 12 labeled dots. Both axis are labeled but neither has an arrow at its end. The dots are scattered from left to right and top to bottom. Below all labels are given, first for the axis, and then for each dot in approximately normal reading order, left to right top to bottom, but in the order it would make sense to read them:]
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(no transcript)
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:Y-axis: Scariness of name
 
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:X-axis: Scariness of thing name refers to
 
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:[Top left]: Chernobyl packet
 
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:[Top halfway right]: Kessler syndrome
 
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:[Top three quarters towards right]: Demon core
 
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:[Top right]: Flesh-eating bacteria
 
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:[A third down left]: Bomb calorimeter
 
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:[Halfway  down three quarters towards right]: Bird flu
 
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:[Halfway  down right]: Nuclear football
 
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:[Dead center]: Mustard gas
 
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:[Just below and right of center]: Superbug
 
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:[Bottom halfway right]: Soil liquefaction
 
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:[A third up three quarters towards right ]: Criticality incident
 
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:[Very bottom two-thirds to the right]: Grey goo
 
  
 
{{comic discussion}}
 
{{comic discussion}}
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[[Category:Scatter plots]]
 
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[[Category:Rankings]]
 
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[[Category:Nuclear weapons]]
 

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