explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:2288: Collector's Edition

2025-03-23T21:14:43Z

172.70.163.70: Unnecessary to exchange "== title ==" with "; title ;"...

; The joke
Very early on April 1st, Mojang\Microsoft released a version 20w14Infinite build of Minecraft which allows players to create millions of wildly different new worlds by writing text in a book & throwing it through a Nether portal. The world generated depends on what is written in the book, & some specific worlds contain many "starter chests" to help the player in their explorations. Players can share what they wrote in each book with others, allowing multiple players to each access the same new dimensions on their own. In this way, individual single-player Minecraft instances can essentially become a collaboratively evolving game featuring previously nonexistent block types. Given that Randall has done multiple comics referencing Minecraft & seems to be an avid player, & given the presence of "chests" & the "worldbuilding" & collaborative nature of this latest comic, I believe xkcd's April 3rd 2020 comic is a reference to this "final" Minecraft build.
[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 14:10, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:I think this is extremely unlikely. Munroe has comics planned in advance, and a complex interactive comic like this one takes more than a couple hours to make.[[User:Matthias1|Matthias1]] ([[User talk:Matthias1|talk]]) 18:43, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

; The Meta-Message
Beginning one month earlier with [[2275: Coronavirus Name]] (March 2, 2020) there was a long [[:Category:COVID-19|series of comics]] about the {{w|coronavirus}} pandemic. Superficially this April comic is not about the pandemic, but note that anybody anywhere can affect the comic's globally shared sandbox. Credit [[Randall|Randall]] with engineering a script reminding us that {{w|We%27re_All_In_This_Together|"We're all in this together."}} JohnB [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.215|162.158.74.215]] 19:01, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

; Explanation
Clicking on the URLs in the explanation return "File not found". I will remove the hyperlink so people are less confused. [[User:Fwacer|Fwacer]] ([[User talk:Fwacer|talk]]) 02:18, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

; How the comic works
... is this going to be like [[1190: Time]]? [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.63|162.158.74.63]] 04:08, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
: I hope so, otherwise I don't get the joke [[User:Forresthopkinsa|Forresthopkinsa]] ([[User talk:Forresthopkinsa|talk]]) 04:15, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
: The page just went down for me so maybe what we've seen isn't what it's supposed to be? [[User:Avi m|avis_magpie]] ([[User talk:Avi m|talk]]) 04:20, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
Looks like the whole comic was just taken down. [[User:Parzivail|Parzivail]] ([[User talk:Parzivail|talk]]) 04:27, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
: Can confirm - the most recent comic is Pathogen again [[Special:Contributions/162.158.187.207|162.158.187.207]] 04:26, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
It is still up on the mobile website, but only if you directly go to comic page https://m.xkcd.com/2288 [[Special:Contributions/172.69.22.146|172.69.22.146]] 05:10, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
: Perhaps this is a collector's edition because it was only up for a limited amount of time? {{unsigned ip|108.162.219.60|05:12, 3 April 2020}}
:: That was my immediate assumption. The title text says, "I'm sure you can find some suitable worldbuilding material if you scavenge through the archives." And I was viewing the comic by using the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine — which, wouldn't you know it, captured the page exactly once before it went down. Between that and the title "Collector's Edition", I can't help thinking that the comic was actually intended to be viewed this way. Though for what reason, and what intended meaning, I couldn't tell you. …And jeez, in the time it took me to type this, the comic is back, but changed! Oy vey. [[User:NoriMori|NoriMori]] ([[User talk:NoriMori|talk]]) 06:42, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Maybe it's called collectors edition, because it was only available quite limited and to an unusual time? But that logic doesn't fit with the title text. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 05:14, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:I doubt that could be caused by "technical difficulties". [[Special:Contributions/172.69.34.186|172.69.34.186]] 06:14, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

It looks like it went back up about 5 minutes age. I can't figure out if it's possible to do more than pan right now though. [[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.120|108.162.215.120]] 06:39, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:Yeah I see the same thing, looks like they're just testing it live. What a shame :(--[[Special:Contributions/108.162.215.242|108.162.215.242]] 06:47, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::what makes you assume that this is testing right now? however it doesn't seem to be very interactive apart from panning through it, and that it seems to chagne over time (the moon from [[1300]] wasn't there a few minutes ago, was it? --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 06:49, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

:It's a giant pan similar to [https://xkcd.com/1110], although it's mostly empty, with some content at [https://xkcd.com/2288/#-361,-161]
. The title reads that you can find world building material, if you scavenge through the archives. I assume, more content will be unlocked as you read through past comics. [[User:Goatfryed|Goatfryed]] ([[User talk:Goatfryed|talk]]) 06:52, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::That would mean it is individual? That everyone gets their own picture? --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 07:03, 3 April 2020 (UTC) Edit: I can kinda rule that out. I get the same picture on my phone and my work laptop, the work laptop is in a different country via vpn, and doesn't share any logins/advertisement ID's apart from explain xkcd with my phone... --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 07:05, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Yeah, it definitely changes. The orange swimming pool just showed up now. Also, at the bottom of the page, it says something about "backpack", and what appears to be a reference to some other xkcd comic. For example, "Hint: why waste time say few word when lot word do trick", which I think refers to Up Goer Five. But I have no idea what to do with that info. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.141.190|172.68.141.190]] 06:55, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:and the content seems to be related to previous comics and what-ifs... but still no clue what to do apart from exploring the page. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 06:57, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

So I just stumbled upon this and it seems to be exactly as other commentors have theorised: as you read previous comics more stuff gets added to the page. There seems to be some kind of backpack mechanic where you collect items from previous ones somehow, but, perhaps because I've already read all previous comics, that didn't seem to work for me. Instead I just had to click the link above the backpack, which opened the comic in a new tab, and it had a bunch of stuff there. We may need to co-ordinate to figure out if different people end up with different sets of items, and to ensure we have all of them, but I think other than that it should be just a cut and dry thing of making a table with every item in it. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.34.202|162.158.34.202]] 07:12, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:Hang on, mine just changed: before there was only 1 pool on the left, now there are two. I only went back to pathogens and then forwards agin. This may be harder than I thought, I'm going to start keeping a screenshot log of actions vs. results. [[User:Benkor42|Benkor42]] ([[User talk:Benkor42|talk]]) 07:17, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:You may need to try xkcd.com instead of www.xkcd.com - there seems to be an issue with the latter at the moment. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.255.216|162.158.255.216]] 07:18, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::Hold up it changed again! This time without a reload! [[User:Benkor42|Benkor42]] ([[User talk:Benkor42|talk]]) 07:28, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:::It seems to change periodically, the url does change everytime. New stuff always seems to be added, not old stuff rremoved. [[User:Benkor42|Benkor42]] ([[User talk:Benkor42|talk]]) 07:28, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::::The URL is related to the coordinates, it changes when you pan the image. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 07:34, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::::Timings seem to be random, working on double checking that rn. Highest first number so far is 1127, once it switches agin I'm going to experiement with manually editing the url.

I was briefly able to do things. Open the archieve, navigate it to one of the comics, that are hinted for (e.g. compiling or iata) and when viewing that comic I get a lootbox, with an image I can then place in the 2288. It worked twice, and now it doesn't again... neither with those that have worked before, nor with others I am fairly sure have been placed by other people. (such as galilean moons) --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 07:21, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:I'm working on assembling an image log, wonder if we could compare? Also, the two number url could be useful, rn I'm on -1378, -152 [[User:Benkor42|Benkor42]] ([[User talk:Benkor42|talk]]) 07:25, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::What do you mean by compare? Also the URL is related to the coordinates, it changes when you pan the image. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 07:34, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:::Yh just got that, is that the same for other panning comics (I'm a little new)? And I was wondering if the comic changed per person/system like certain previous comics. [[User:Benkor42|Benkor42]] ([[User talk:Benkor42|talk]]) 07:40, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::::Just seen a previous comment from you saying it doesn't change cross-system. However, it definetely changes with time, so the question is whether that's per user or done on a sort of universal clock, so we all unlock the same new content at the same time.
:::::I didn't complete writing up the thing I was able to do above... after opening the lootbox I got one image related to the comic I opened in my backpack and was able to place that in the actual 2288, where it now is placed. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 07:50, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::::::For me that didn't happen, it started with a loading screen type thing, and then objects just started appearing seemingly at random. I've also noticed some of them dissapear. I feel like the best course of action would be to start with a table of all the different objects, and then see if we can figure out when/why they appear later.
::::::: At least 2 objects appeared, because I placed them. It is a colaboration of many xkcd readers to do this world building here. I placed one of the sword fights around #439,-181 and the non-inverted kite at #-1679,-290 . --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 07:55, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::::::::Do you agree that the best course of action would therefore be a table with all the items? [[User:Benkor42|Benkor42]] ([[User talk:Benkor42|talk]]) 08:03, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:::::::::Not a big fan of tables, unless there really is content of muliple categories to be entered for one line. A list would do fine I guess? Also I find lists easier to work with. Or what would be the columns you'd set up? --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 08:08, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::::::::::Something along the lines of the comic that it's a reference to, an image, and an explanation. Do we know if you find the same sticker at the same comic every time? If so, then that. A list would work well too. [[User:Benkor42|Benkor42]] ([[User talk:Benkor42|talk]]) 08:12, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::::::::::From looking at what image URLs don't 404, it looks like there are 253 stickers, which is quite a lot for a table.[[User:Matthias1|Matthias1]] ([[User talk:Matthias1|talk]]) 10:03, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:::::I think we can unlock new elements by reading older comics (seemingly at random, it doesn't work with every comic read) and that everyone can see the changes once they are put on the global picture. If someone could check, I have put berret guy and his goat around (5000,0)
::::::Yep, he's there. [[User:Benkor42|Benkor42]] ([[User talk:Benkor42|talk]]) 08:01, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

I almost feel like someone needs to show them this xkcd... https://xkcd.com/169/

It seems to be an interactive canvas. You can find stickers in chests on specific comics and put them in your backpack, and then when you come back here you can choose where to put them on the canvas. The hints in the empty backpack are cryptic references to comics. {{unsigned ip|162.158.107.85}}
:Yep, I figured the same thing, but for me it only worked twice (fly from wtf to lol was a reference to the iata thing and compiling was a reference to the compiling one) - but it didn't work again. Also: Some of the placed images are clearly references to what-if. Like the squirrel on top of an AK47 or the yoda powering an IPOD. --[[User:Lupo|Lupo]] ([[User talk:Lupo|talk]]) 07:59, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

I've made a catalog of the stickers but it's only partial because stuff keeps appearing: https://photos.app.goo.gl/dPYeYVpGqu5tqGTt5 [[User:Lev|Lev]] ([[User talk:Lev|talk]]) 08:02, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

I got it. I wrote the steps on reddit and included some screenshots. Feel free to use it to edit this page https://old.reddit.com/r/xkcd/comments/fu1dt0/xkcd_2288_collectors_edition/fmaqp1w/ [[User:Ufolicker|Ufolicker]] ([[User talk:Ufolicker|talk]]) 09:27, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Am I too late to participate in this or am I doing something wrong? Where is this hint supposed to appear? I only see an empty backpack and the canvas on which references to different comics are placed. No comic I've visited, either inspired by references on the canvas, nor by random selection has any chest or other interactive components to it. [[User:Bischoff|Bischoff]] ([[User talk:Bischoff|talk]]) 09:53, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:No, you're doing it right. Hints show up in the backpack area. Obviously no one is sure of anything, but even users who have seen hints have reported not seeing hints on a different browser/device. I suspect something similar to [https://xkcd.com/1037/ Umwelt], where different hints are shown to different people. And I think once a chest is picked up, it stops appearing to everyone that could see it, but that's a guess.[[User:Matthias1|Matthias1]] ([[User talk:Matthias1|talk]]) 10:03, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::Ok, I was unsure because on my windows 10 laptop I have yet to see a hint. I've tried chrome, firefox and internet explorer. [[User:Bischoff|Bischoff]] ([[User talk:Bischoff|talk]]) 11:09, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:::Finally got it to work in Safari in iOS [[User:Bischoff|Bischoff]] ([[User talk:Bischoff|talk]]) 11:13, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::::That's really great, Bischoff, we were worried about you. Care to share how you did it, for the benefit of others? [[User:Jimmbo|Jimmbo]] ([[User talk:Jimmbo|talk]]) 14:19, 4 April 2020 (UTC)
::::I took part in the scavenger hunt and about 2 hours ago it stopped showing hints. So I assume it shut down and there is nothing to do anymore.¯\_(ツ)_/¯ [[User:Curse|Curse]] ([[User talk:Curse|talk]]) 15:15, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:::::I think everybody gets a limited number of hints, and once you've found them all it won't show any more to you, but other people can still get hints. [[User:Pelosujamo|Pelosujamo]] ([[User talk:Pelosujamo|talk]]) 20:09, 4 April 2020 (UTC)
::::::Nope, it's not that. I visited this comic for the first time today, and no hints for me at all. [[User:Dansiman|Dansiman]] ([[User talk:Dansiman|talk]]) 14:16, 5 April 2020 (UTC)

When I view the comic, I don't see the closed box - the screen is absolutely full of stickers. I've not done any scavenger hunting (I'd upload an image, but I don't have permissions to do so) [[User:Kvetch|Kvetch]] ([[User talk:Kvetch|talk]]) 11:10, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Hints I've seen so far: "The first one was funnier" (chest appeared in comic 1, contained I'm a turtle);
"418 I'm a teapot"
"26th September, 1983" (comic 2052, Stanislav Petrov Day, white dove); [[Special:Contributions/172.69.134.135|172.69.134.135]] 11:20, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Perhaps a table for found chests with no attached hints? I've stumbled across a few but don't know if they're hinted at or not :). [[User:Deranged|Deranged]] ([[User talk:Deranged|talk]]) 11:54, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:Maybe add a line to the table with a blank first box, the link in the second box, empty third box? Someone will match it up. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.166.37|162.158.166.37]] 12:21, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

"Churchill's gonna have to rehydrate" is Nothing to Offer. Can't remember what number, I think 1148?

In other news, the bad ads are back ([[Talk:2220: Imagine Going Back in Time/Ads|previous discussion]]) - who's in charge of dealing with them anyway? [[User:Arcorann|Arcorann]] ([[User talk:Arcorann|talk]]) 12:25, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Could someone post an image showing what it looks like to find a chest on a comic? I've browsed to some of the comics referenced as having chests but couldn't see one so far. Thanks![[Special:Contributions/141.101.69.13|141.101.69.13]] 12:54, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:I've uploaded a few images on https://imgur.com/gallery/4q1QIW5. Can't upload them here yet, new account [[User:Madsmtm|madsmtm]] ([[User talk:Madsmtm|talk]]) 13:24, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

"The other side of the wardrobe", someone's put in the solution [[2218: Wardrobe]]; but I also found the chest on [[665: Prudence]]. Can there be multiple solutions to the same hint? [[User:Angel|Angel]] ([[User talk:Angel|talk]]) 13:00, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Is anyone else having issues with things just not working? I clicked around a bit, it gave me the award in being very smart, and now won't give me any hints or chests. [[User:Crazymachinefan|Crazymachinefan]] ([[User talk:Crazymachinefan|talk]]) 13:57, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
::I am also not getting any hints anymore after getting one chest.[[User:Eesley|Eesley]] ([[User talk:Eesley|talk]]) 14:01, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:::Nope, nothing to get anymore. [[User:Curse|Curse]] ([[User talk:Curse|talk]]) 15:15, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

The "Was it a rat I saw" hint is probably [[1632: Palindrome]]. I haven't gotten the hint yet, so I can't confirm. [[User:Nvaiko24|Nvaiko24]] ([[User talk:Nvaiko24|talk]]) 14:12, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Interestingly, the [[1110: Click and Drag]] disables the backpack overlay. Also, anyone have any news on how to get the Go Big to Go Small hint?

I got the "First annual award for excellence in being very smart" on page 7, rather than 179 as stated above. Can't remember what the hint was. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.34.222|162.158.34.222]] 14:26, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Found that award on comic 7, too. And "Researchers are reporting record number of sharks (loot 159) on comic 1368, but I'll be damned if I know the hint. Those give me nothing [[Special:Contributions/162.158.91.43|162.158.91.43]] 14:44, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Found another one! It's a bug on a box, loot_007. From comic #442, no idea what hint goes with it. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.74.7|162.158.74.7]] 15:18, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

For the ooOOOooo hint, I've now gone through every comic, and none of them give a chest. [[User:Lawruble13|Lawruble13]] ([[User talk:Lawruble13|talk]]) 19:41, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
: Well that's just ducky! I'm stuck on that hint. Any way to get the hint to change without losing my collectibles? Anonymous 02:19, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

If you scroll almost directly upward, the Y-coordinate keeps resetting to 5000 (same with downward and -5000. However, if you scroll up and to the side with a slope of less than 1, you eventually get to this URL: https://xkcd.com/#-Infinity,-Infinity which just has the word "[LOADING_]" hand-drawn. -- brad
: I think that's just Javascript floatingpoint math for ya. The loading image just appears while it is trying to load in new tiles --[[User:Jhollowe|Jhollowe]] ([[User talk:Jhollowe|talk]]) 19:11, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

I wrote a script that gives a list of all the loot images that are on the page if we want to make a complete list of loot images, and a list of images that haven't been found yet. --[[User:Jhollowe|Jhollowe]] ([[User talk:Jhollowe|talk]]) 19:11, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Has anyone else gotten a "miniloot"? I just got "/2288/collectors/static/loot/miniloot-words-laser.png" from [[293: RTFM]] with the hint listed in the above table. [[User:Lawruble13|Lawruble13]] ([[User talk:Lawruble13|talk]]) 19:41, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

In a private window on Firefox, I had previously seen the hint, but it's now disappeared. I got loot_109.png (which is the sheeple eye from [[1013: Wake Up Sheeple]]), and I can place it, but it stays in the inventory. Possible bug? [[User:Lawruble13|Lawruble13]] ([[User talk:Lawruble13|talk]]) 19:43, 3 April 2020 (UTC)
:Viewable at https://xkcd.com/2288/#453,1003, both eyes posted using the same item. [[User:Lawruble13|Lawruble13]] ([[User talk:Lawruble13|talk]]) 19:50, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

The "tea time" hint seems a bit weird; I found it at [[579: The Race: Part 3]], and others have apparently found it at 581, 578, 479 and maybe elsewhere. Not sure what connection any of those comics have to tea, except that 579 and 479 both have 79 in them and the image is from what-if 79. [[User:Pelosujamo|Pelosujamo]] ([[User talk:Pelosujamo|talk]]) 01:17, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

I don't know if there's an element of "the clue you get depends on the clues you answered"..? Yesterday, when I first visited, it seemed to be giving different hints as I scrolled through/jumped around the comics looking for the answers to earlier hints. Now (after finding three, confirmed as listed in the table) it's just flipping between two of the early once, the "chnace" and "fetish" ones, still undetailed in the table so I can't even cheat) leading me to believe I'm left with those two in my (personal?) 'pool' of hints, and I won't get any more until I answer one or other. Either that or I need to ''place'' my current meagre three discoveries, but I was actually wanting more first so I could be creative in combination... [[Special:Contributions/162.158.93.141|162.158.93.141]] 04:04, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

Are "oOOOoooo" and "oooooooo" different clues? I don't see the second one listed.

Unless I missed something, "Hint: Everyone deserves a second chnace" doesn't refer to a particular comic, but rather something else. I went through comics 500-2288. -- [[User:162.158.92.22|162.158.92.22]] ([[User talk:162.158.92.22|talk]]) 08:29, 4 April 2020‎ (UTC) ''(please sign your comments with <nowiki>~~</nowiki>~~)''
:Probably requires a sequence of comics to be visited in specific order, like "A new model released each year" or "Take a ride in a barrel" [[User:Jaalenja|Jaalenja]] ([[User talk:Jaalenja|talk]]) 11:29, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

Random question--is there a way to edit or delete items once they have been placed? This world is pretty messy.... -- [[User:162.158.74.65|162.158.74.65]] ([[User talk:162.158.74.65|talk]]) 14:12, 4 April 2020‎ ''(please sign your comments with <nowiki>~~</nowiki>~~)''

I had these hints (along with 2 other) hints: oOOOoooo, Keep coming back, Everyone deserves a second chance. I have visited ''every'' comic and every series on [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Comic_series this list], forwards and backwards, and none of them was awarded. They are either glitched or have very unusual requirements. Maybe something with one of the interactive comics? (I even tried collecting all coins in Hoverboard!) Maybe there is something that Randall considers a series but this wiki doesn't? Something else altogether (visit the same comic a number of times, return after elapsed time...)? I am giving up, if someone gets one of these and is up to the challenge, good luck, hopefully I helped a bit with getting a small list of things not to try. [[User:Jaalenja|Jaalenja]] ([[User talk:Jaalenja|talk]]) 14:58, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

; Browser agent related issues

; Post what browser (Chrome, Firefox; mobile, desktop) you are using here & what issues (if any) you experience when interacting with this comic.

On Chrome version 80.0.3987.162 in mobile view, only "Collector's Edition" appears for me. The comic is not scrollable or interactive, & the backpack does not appear. In desktop view, the collectively added content appears, as does the backpack. (I have not tested whether I can add things, yet.)
[[User:ProphetZarquon|ProphetZarquon]] ([[User talk:ProphetZarquon|talk]]) 13:52, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

On Chrome version 80.0.3987.163 on desktop, the hint doesn't seem to appear. [[User:Lawruble13|Lawruble13]] ([[User talk:Lawruble13|talk]]) 19:41, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

Firefox 74.0 on desktop - looks like I don't get any hints. Everything else seems to be fine. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.92.98|162.158.92.98]] 19:59, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

:Apologies if this has been covered, but if you right-click-->inspect the backpack area, can you see the hint in the Java script? I can't find it with Chrome running in Windows 10, but it is entirely possible I don't know how/where to look.[[User:Godzilla|Godzilla]] ([[User talk:Godzilla|talk]]) 21:38, 3 April 2020 (UTC)

On Opera, hint doesn't appear.

In Firefox I have an item in my loot box, I can scroll around the world and the text is "find an empty area". I find an empty area (Damn long way out :P ) and the text changes to "place it" or "Cancel" I can cancel OK, but place it doesn't work at all. Is this a bug or have I hit the limit of my abilities? [[Special:Contributions/172.68.86.34|172.68.86.34]] 01:05, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

:oh...wait...there is a 5 second or more delay from clicking to it appearing. May be caused by the size of the world and number of elements. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.86.34|172.68.86.34]] 01:08, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

Firefox 52.9 Windows XP Doesn't get past "loading" and cannot drag around. However, the backpack does appear and can be closed and opened. [[Special:Contributions/172.68.174.76|172.68.174.76]] 04:20, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

I tried Samsung browser (mobile, tablet), Chrome (mobile, desktop) and Edge (desktop). At first, only the Samsung browser on only one of the devices worked. Then it glitched, I got infinite Polish sausages and no more hints. It unglitched after deleting browser data. Then glitched after deleting browser data gain (I was stuck and wanted fresh batch of hints, karma is a bitch, I guess). Then it started working again after clearing browser data few more time. Then, on one occasion, I got a set of hints on desktop Chrome in incognito mode. Something weird is going on related to cookies, it seems. [[User:Jaalenja|Jaalenja]] ([[User talk:Jaalenja|talk]]) 07:35, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

FireFox/Ubuntu, nothing is working. No bag, no hint, whatever.

Firefox/Chromium on Ububntu, I seem to see evertything, it looks like this for example: https://ibb.co/BL1gDvX or https://ibb.co/PCByw8f (all add-ons disabled, chrome in standard settings)

; Screenshots

Since this appears to be a time-limited event, I decided it would be good idea to save some screenshots for posterity. I have uploaded several screenshots:
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/File:2288_hint_1.png
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/File:2288_hint_2.png
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/File:2288_chest.png
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/File:2288_chest_open.png
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/File:2288_place_item.png
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/File:2288_place_item_cant.png
https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/File:2288_place_item_kitty.png

Add them to the article as you see fit. [[User:Jaalenja|Jaalenja]] ([[User talk:Jaalenja|talk]]) 09:29, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

; Spelling

I've moved this from [[2288: Collectors Edition]] to [[2288: Collector's Edition]], which is both the correct spelling and the one used on xkcd; but was it misspelled on xkcd earlier, or did the typo originate here? [[User:Pelosujamo|Pelosujamo]] ([[User talk:Pelosujamo|talk]]) 20:09, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

New Comic:

I don't know if anyone has noticed since it's Saturday and xkcd doesn't usually update. But there's been a new comic 22889: Scenario 4. Can someone who knows how and actually has an account add the next page for it.

Thanks,

--[[Special:Contributions/173.245.52.207|173.245.52.207]] 22:08, 4 April 2020 (UTC)

; Interactivity finished

Now that the next comic ([[2289]]) has been published it looks like the ability to interact and find chests has ended. This is going to make it quite difficult to complete the table unless someone manages to reverse-engineer the code. Also noting that whilst there are >250 possible images there are only 80 hints listed in the table. It's not clear if all images were used - perhaps comparing the images in the table to those placed in the comic could help identify any that we don't have known hints for?

I was also wondering if it's worth including a thumbnail of each image in the table, and possibly a separate list of images for which the hint is not known?
[[User:A(l)Chemist|AlChemist]] ([[User talk:A(l)Chemist|talk]]) 10:15, 6 April 2020 (UTC)
:I did some quick ctrl+F in [https://xkcd.com/2288/collectors/static/client/comic/comic.js the client codes] for comic numbers, item names etc. and it doesn't appear to contain the relevant information, must be server-side. Maybe one of the devs listed at the top of the page would leak something if asked nicely? [[User:Jaalenja|Jaalenja]] ([[User talk:Jaalenja|talk]]) 14:35, 6 April 2020 (UTC)

::I managed to extract a list of all the images used in the comic along with how many times they appear. It looks like most are used, but there are a few that aren't. [[User:A(l)Chemist|AlChemist]] ([[User talk:A(l)Chemist|talk]]) 13:27, 7 April 2020 (UTC)

{| class="wikitable"
!Image
!Number of appearances
|-
| loot/element-ae || 3
|-
| loot/element-bl || 10
|-
| loot/element-br || 9
|-
| loot/element-bz || 6
|-
| loot/element-cb || 27
|-
| loot/element-cd || 8
|-
| loot/element-cr || 8
|-
| loot/element-dl || 8
|-
| loot/element-dm || 10
|-
| loot/element-fr || 4
|-
| loot/element-gl || 13
|-
| loot/element-hr || 7
|-
| loot/element-lx || 6
|-
| loot/element-mk || 9
|-
| loot/element-mt || 13
|-
| loot/element-na || 5
|-
| loot/element-ox || 5
|-
| loot/element-pb || 3
|-
| loot/element-pl || 10
|-
| loot/element-pm || 7
|-
| loot/element-pp || 6
|-
| loot/element-rd || 27
|-
| loot/element-rg || 9
|-
| loot/element-sd || 26
|-
| loot/element-sd2 || 16
|-
| loot/element-sf || 14
|-
| loot/element-sn || 20
|-
| loot/element-spacer || 17
|-
| loot/element-st || 8
|-
| loot/element-sy || 7
|-
| loot/element-t || 16
|-
| loot/element-th || 7
|-
| loot/element-tr || 6
|-
| loot/element-uu || 14
|-
| loot/element-vy || 4
|-
| loot/element-wt || 7
|-
| loot/element-wx || 11
|-
| loot/loot_001 || 11
|-
| loot/loot_002 || 351
|-
| loot/loot_003 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_004 || 287
|-
| loot/loot_005 || 48
|-
| loot/loot_006 || 327
|-
| loot/loot_007 || 627
|-
| loot/loot_008 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_009 || 15
|-
| loot/loot_010 || 543
|-
| loot/loot_011 || 22
|-
| loot/loot_012 || 28
|-
| loot/loot_013 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_014 || 13
|-
| loot/loot_016 || 28
|-
| loot/loot_017 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_018 || 6
|-
| loot/loot_019 || 49
|-
| loot/loot_020 || 4
|-
| loot/loot_021 || 622
|-
| loot/loot_022 || 435
|-
| loot/loot_023 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_024 || 22
|-
| loot/loot_025 || 6
|-
| loot/loot_026 || 394
|-
| loot/loot_028 || 11
|-
| loot/loot_029 || 11
|-
| loot/loot_030 || 2576
|-
| loot/loot_031 || 286
|-
| loot/loot_032 || 13
|-
| loot/loot_033 || 34
|-
| loot/loot_034 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_035 || 225
|-
| loot/loot_036 || 279
|-
| loot/loot_037 || 320
|-
| loot/loot_038 || 306
|-
| loot/loot_039 || 18
|-
| loot/loot_040 || 11
|-
| loot/loot_041 || 480
|-
| loot/loot_042 || 2
|-
| loot/loot_043 || 12
|-
| loot/loot_044 || 268
|-
| loot/loot_045 || 365
|-
| loot/loot_046 || 193
|-
| loot/loot_047 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_048 || 1
|-
| loot/loot_049 || 419
|-
| loot/loot_050 || 15
|-
| loot/loot_051 || 57
|-
| loot/loot_052 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_053 || 16
|-
| loot/loot_054 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_055 || 514
|-
| loot/loot_056 || 525
|-
| loot/loot_057 || 11
|-
| loot/loot_058 || 341
|-
| loot/loot_059 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_060 || 8
|-
| loot/loot_061 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_062 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_063 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_064 || 23
|-
| loot/loot_065 || 15
|-
| loot/loot_066 || 21
|-
| loot/loot_067 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_068 || 12
|-
| loot/loot_069 || 409
|-
| loot/loot_070 || 8
|-
| loot/loot_071 || 818
|-
| loot/loot_072 || 6
|-
| loot/loot_073 || 4
|-
| loot/loot_074 || 44
|-
| loot/loot_075 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_076 || 4
|-
| loot/loot_077 || 11
|-
| loot/loot_078 || 17
|-
| loot/loot_079 || 654
|-
| loot/loot_080 || 13
|-
| loot/loot_081 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_082 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_083 || 38
|-
| loot/loot_084 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_085 || 8
|-
| loot/loot_086 || 68
|-
| loot/loot_087 || 18
|-
| loot/loot_088 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_089 || 11
|-
| loot/loot_090 || 495
|-
| loot/loot_091 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_092 || 260
|-
| loot/loot_093 || 12
|-
| loot/loot_094 || 85
|-
| loot/loot_095 || 659
|-
| loot/loot_096 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_097 || 3
|-
| loot/loot_098 || 18
|-
| loot/loot_099 || 16
|-
| loot/loot_100 || 6
|-
| loot/loot_101 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_102 || 21
|-
| loot/loot_103 || 13
|-
| loot/loot_104 || 12
|-
| loot/loot_105 || 337
|-
| loot/loot_106 || 150
|-
| loot/loot_107 || 4
|-
| loot/loot_108 || 2
|-
| loot/loot_109 || 13
|-
| loot/loot_111 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_112 || 11
|-
| loot/loot_113 || 6
|-
| loot/loot_114 || 6
|-
| loot/loot_115 || 484
|-
| loot/loot_116 || 12
|-
| loot/loot_117 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_118 || 17
|-
| loot/loot_119 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_120 || 12
|-
| loot/loot_121 || 96
|-
| loot/loot_122 || 11
|-
| loot/loot_123 || 1
|-
| loot/loot_124 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_125 || 14
|-
| loot/loot_126 || 210
|-
| loot/loot_127 || 157
|-
| loot/loot_128 || 337
|-
| loot/loot_129 || 175
|-
| loot/loot_130 || 559
|-
| loot/loot_131 || 29
|-
| loot/loot_132 || 12
|-
| loot/loot_133 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_134 || 20
|-
| loot/loot_136 || 18
|-
| loot/loot_137 || 4
|-
| loot/loot_138 || 6
|-
| loot/loot_139 || 12
|-
| loot/loot_140 || 6
|-
| loot/loot_141 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_142 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_143 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_144 || 375
|-
| loot/loot_145 || 23
|-
| loot/loot_147 || 8
|-
| loot/loot_148 || 3
|-
| loot/loot_149 || 3
|-
| loot/loot_150 || 8
|-
| loot/loot_151 || 245
|-
| loot/loot_152 || 412
|-
| loot/loot_153 || 27
|-
| loot/loot_154 || 520
|-
| loot/loot_155 || 8
|-
| loot/loot_156 || 13
|-
| loot/loot_157 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_158 || 544
|-
| loot/loot_159 || 401
|-
| loot/loot_160 || 20
|-
| loot/loot_161 || 374
|-
| loot/loot_162 || 1241
|-
| loot/loot_163 || 356
|-
| loot/loot_164 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_165 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_166 || 25
|-
| loot/loot_167 || 676
|-
| loot/loot_168 || 11
|-
| loot/loot_169 || 15
|-
| loot/loot_170 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_171 || 29
|-
| loot/loot_172 || 14
|-
| loot/loot_173 || 63
|-
| loot/loot_174 || 39
|-
| loot/loot_175 || 664
|-
| loot/loot_176 || 12
|-
| loot/loot_177 || 2
|-
| loot/loot_178 || 20
|-
| loot/loot_179 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_180 || 39
|-
| loot/loot_181 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_182 || 8
|-
| loot/loot_183 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_184 || 13
|-
| loot/loot_185 || 310
|-
| loot/loot_186 || 1
|-
| loot/loot_187 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_188 || 8
|-
| loot/loot_189 || 1
|-
| loot/loot_190 || 3
|-
| loot/loot_191 || 445
|-
| loot/loot_192 || 642
|-
| loot/loot_193 || 2
|-
| loot/loot_194 || 1
|-
| loot/loot_195 || 379
|-
| loot/loot_196 || 4
|-
| loot/loot_197 || 456
|-
| loot/loot_198 || 21
|-
| loot/loot_199 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_200 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_201 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_202 || 48
|-
| loot/loot_203 || 184
|-
| loot/loot_204 || 19
|-
| loot/loot_205 || 411
|-
| loot/loot_206 || 53
|-
| loot/loot_207 || 14
|-
| loot/loot_208 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_209 || 429
|-
| loot/loot_210 || 308
|-
| loot/loot_211 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_212 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_213 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_214 || 206
|-
| loot/loot_215 || 15
|-
| loot/loot_216 || 548
|-
| loot/loot_217 || 13
|-
| loot/loot_218 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_219 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_220 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_221 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_222 || 4
|-
| loot/loot_223 || 6
|-
| loot/loot_224 || 9
|-
| loot/loot_225 || 6
|-
| loot/loot_226 || 6
|-
| loot/loot_227 || 13
|-
| loot/loot_228 || 258
|-
| loot/loot_229 || 343
|-
| loot/loot_230 || 23
|-
| loot/loot_231 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_232 || 110
|-
| loot/loot_233 || 10
|-
| loot/loot_234 || 27
|-
| loot/loot_235 || 28
|-
| loot/loot_236 || 2
|-
| loot/loot_237 || 395
|-
| loot/loot_239 || 46
|-
| loot/loot_240 || 8
|-
| loot/loot_241 || 14
|-
| loot/loot_242 || 4
|-
| loot/loot_243 || 5
|-
| loot/loot_244 || 4
|-
| loot/loot_245 || 240
|-
| loot/loot_246 || 254
|-
| loot/loot_247 || 398
|-
| loot/loot_248 || 18
|-
| loot/loot_249 || 3
|-
| loot/loot_250 || 4
|-
| loot/loot_251 || 7
|-
| loot/loot_252 || 8
|-
| loot/loot_253 || 563
|-
| loot/loot_div || 31
|-
| loot/loot_equals || 76
|-
| loot/loot_minus || 34
|-
| loot/loot_plus || 79
|-
| loot/loot_sqrt || 35
|-
| loot/loot_times || 56
|-
| loot/loot-words-birdlike || 9
|-
| loot/loot-words-boat || 3
|-
| loot/loot-words-castle || 4
|-
| loot/loot-words-cat || 3
|-
| loot/loot-words-cinematic || 1
|-
| loot/loot-words-collector || 3
|-
| loot/loot-words-cursed || 3
|-
| loot/loot-words-cycle || 3
|-
| loot/loot-words-doctor || 7
|-
| loot/loot-words-eater || 1
|-
| loot/loot-words-electric || 2
|-
| loot/loot-words-eruption || 3
|-
| loot/loot-words-farm || 4
|-
| loot/loot-words-flock || 2
|-
| loot/loot-words-flying || 1
|-
| loot/loot-words-free || 4
|-
| loot/loot-words-gamma || 1
|-
| loot/loot-words-ghost || 4
|-
| loot/loot-words-hair || 4
|-
| loot/loot-words-harry-potter-and-the || 2
|-
| loot/loot-words-horse || 5
|-
| loot/loot-words-imminent || 5
|-
| loot/loot-words-inspector || 1
|-
| loot/loot-words-ionized || 3
|-
| loot/loot-words-jet || 2
|-
| loot/loot-words-laser || 4
|-
| loot/loot-words-launcher || 3
|-
| loot/loot-words-lifelike || 2
|-
| loot/loot-words-ominous || 2
|-
| loot/loot-words-plasma || 2
|-
| loot/loot-words-sale || 5
|-
| loot/loot-words-sudden || 3
|-
| loot/loot-words-surprise || 10
|-
| loot/loot-words-swarm || 1
|-
| loot/loot-words-sword || 4
|-
| loot/loot-words-teleporter || 4
|-
| loot/loot-words-turtle || 5
|-
| loot/loot-words-unlicensed || 2
|-
| loot/loot-words-vortex || 4
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-birdlike || 12
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-boat || 16
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-castle || 18
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-cat || 7
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-cinematic || 21
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-collector || 8
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-cursed || 15
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-cycle || 7
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-dispenser || 4
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-doctor || 6
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-eater || 12
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-electric || 10
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-eruption || 6
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-farm || 6
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-flock || 4
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-flying || 12
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-free || 5
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-gamma || 12
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-ghost || 14
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-hair || 6
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-harry-potter-and-the || 11
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-horse || 25
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-house || 12
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-imminent || 14
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-inspector || 10
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-ionized || 17
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-jet || 13
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-laser || 8
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-launcher || 11
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-lifelike || 49
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-ominous || 9
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-plasma || 10
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-sale || 7
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-sudden || 10
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-surprise || 9
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-swarm || 9
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-sword || 19
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-teleporter || 12
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-turtle || 36
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-unlicensed || 7
|-
| loot/miniloot-words-vortex || 12
|-
| loot/transparent || 30
|}

; orphaned page

[[2288: Collector's Edition/Stickers]] is an orphaned page, and should probably either be linked to on this page, or deleted. what do you guys think? [[Special:Contributions/108.162.237.87|108.162.237.87]] 13:07, 22 November 2021 (UTC)BUmpf

; Connection to Polandball

The setup of the comic looks a lot like the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countryballs#Origin original "Polandball"].--[[Special:Contributions/172.69.246.142|172.69.246.142]] 18:14, 1 April 2024 (UTC)

Talk:3065: Square Units

2025-03-19T21:20:11Z

172.70.163.70:

I like this one :) reminds me of trying to use recipes in imperial units with metric equipment [[Special:Contributions/162.158.108.29|162.158.108.29]] 19:48, 19 March 2025 (UTC)

I so want to stand outside Randall's office holding up {{tl|citation needed}} for not giving an actual citation on the title text. [[Special:Contributions/162.158.175.159|162.158.175.159]] 20:07, 19 March 2025 (UTC)

We should start using ares as a common unit of measure. https://www.britannica.com/science/are [[Special:Contributions/172.69.135.15|172.69.135.15]] 20:09, 19 March 2025 (UTC)
:We have done, some still do: {{w|Hectare#Are}} [[Special:Contributions/172.70.163.70|172.70.163.70]] 21:20, 19 March 2025 (UTC)

3053: KM3NeT

2025-02-20T09:11:32Z

172.70.163.70: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3053
| date = February 19, 2025
| title = KM3NeT
| image = km3net_2x.png
| imagesize = 313x436px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Unfortunately, KM3NeT led to the discovery of the Pauli anglerfish, which emits Cherenkov radiation to prey on neutrino researchers.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a CHERENKOV ANGLERFISH WITH C-SICKNESS - Please continue to expand the explanation, and explain the title text. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}
{{w|KM3NeT}} is a telescope under the {{w|Mediterranean Sea}}. As [[Ponytail]] explains, its goal is to detect {{w|neutrino}} interactions with the seawater. Neutrinos mostly originate from the sun and cosmic radiation. Neutrinos interact with solid matter only very rarely, so a telescope looking for them needs a lot of matter, in this case seawater, to spot collisions in. When such a collision happens, it can release a spray of other particles moving at close to the {{w|speed of light}} in a vacuum (''c''). In seawater, however, the speed of light is slower, and particles moving faster than it cause the emission of a type of light called {{w|Cherenkov radiation}}, which the telescope detects as a blue flash.

When [[Cueball]] questions the rationale by pointing out the existence of {{w|Bioluminescence|bioluminescent}} fish, which might also produce blue light, Ponytail responds with a pun: Cherenkov radiation is produced only by particles exceeding the speed of light in the local medium; since fish, a type of undersea life, move much slower than this, they are also "under-c" life, as well as being "undersea" life (though technically they are in the sea, rather than under it).

The title text claims that the KM3NeT telescope discovered a type of fish that emits Cherenkov-like radiation: The 'Pauli anglerfish'. {{w|Anglerfish}} have specialized organs that emit flashes of light to attract or startle their prey. This is described as unfortunate, because the Pauli anglerfish uses its radiation emissions to prey on neutrino researchers. Thus the first to discover the fish was likely attacked, if not eaten, by it. The known types of angler fish are much smaller than humans and they do not prey on researchers.{{cn}} The mythical 'Pauli anglerfish' of the comic is presumably named after the theoretical physicist {{w|Wolfgang Pauli}}, who first {{w|Neutrino#Pauli's proposal|proposed a neutrino-like particle}}, in part to preserve ''angular'' momentum during nuclear decay.

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

:[Ponytail is presenting to Cueball and Megan on a drop down screen.]
:[On the screen is a side view of a deep-water telescope, attached to the bedrock, floating in the ocean. It looks like four series of circles stringed together from the ground.]
:Ponytail: The KM3NeT deep-water telescope detects the flashes of Cherenkov light from neutrino interactions.
:Cueball: How do you know you aren't just seeing bioluminescent fish?
:Ponytail: Cherenkov radiation is only emitted when things exceed the local speed of light, so it can't be produced by under-c life.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Telescopes]]
[[Category:Physics]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Puns]]

3047: Rotary Tool

2025-02-06T11:26:44Z

172.70.163.70: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3047
| date = February 5, 2025
| title = Rotary Tool
| image = rotary_tool_2x.png
| imagesize = 528x468px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = It was great until my thumb slipped and I accidentally launched my telescope into the air at Mach 8.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Created by a NEWLY LAUNCHED ORBITAL TELESCOPE BOT. Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}}

It is common to find multipurpose handheld tools that can function as higher-speed drills and lower-speed screwdrivers, switching between modes with a slider. The tool in this comic appears to have extended that concept to the extreme, covering both very high-speed and very low-speed tools. Presumably the tool has a rotating part at one end that can accept multiple attachments to facilitate the different uses.

All of these speeds are sensible for the specified uses. However, engineering a single tool to perform reliably across the required range of speeds is likely to be deeply impractical. Equally, designing the base unit such that it can be usefully employed to all these purposes would be a substantial challenge. For example, a household drill needs to be both portable and reasonably bulky, whereas a record player needs good stability, and a dental drill needs to be small enough to moved flexibly and delicately. In any case, it's highly unlikely that any individual would have a need for all these uses, so the market for such a tool would be extremely limited.

The title text highlights one of the downsides of combining functions in this way — the potential for using the wrong setting for the task at hand, by carelessness or clumsiness, with detrimental effects. In this case, while attempting to use the "sidereal telescope mount" option with an actual telescope, the user accidentally changed the tool to a much higher speed setting, launching it into the air at a {{w|hypersonic speed}}.

The speed of the dental drill might seem excessive, but according to [https://sableindustriesinc.com/what-is-a-high-speed-handpiece-how-it-works-speed-more/ Sable Industries], a manufacturer of high-speed dental drills, they can run "at speeds of between 300,000 and 450,000 RPM." They squirt water as they rotate to cool the bits down, so they don't overheat.

The precession setting refers to the {{w|precession of the equinoxes}}, which happens on a 26,000-year cycle that corresponds to the RPM rate shown. The average person does not need to adjust their telescope for such minor shifts, certainly not on a constant basis.{{cn}} This may be beneficial for scientists making precise measurements but they would have more powerful and dedicated tools to this end. For commercial use by the public, this would not be remotely necessary.

The speeds labeled "record player" are intended to correspond to standard rotational speeds of {{w|Phonograph record|phonograph records}}. The intended playback speed standardized at 78 rpm (not 72 rpm as depicted in the comic) in the 1920s, with a diameter of 10 inches. The speed and size, as well as the required width of the groove encoding the music, dictated a playing time of about 3 1/2 minutes per side. Beginning in the late 1940s, records designed to be played back at 33 1/3 rpm (close enough to the 33 rpm in the comic) were produced, to allow longer play times (hence the LP designation, for "long play") on similar-sized records, which standardized on a 12 inch diameter. This was commonly used to release an "album" of songs, totaling about 22 minutes per side. Concurrently, an alternate format, 7 inch diameter records designed to be played at 45 rpm, was produced, allowing about 5 minutes per side. This was often used to release "singles" (a single song on each side of the record). The 33 1/3 and 45 rpm playback speeds supplanted 78 rpm, and remain the standards today.

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

:Multi-function rotary tool

:[A slider on the side of a tool with various settings.]
:Speed (rpm) Function
:0.000000000073: Sidereal mount precession adapter
:0.00070: Sidereal telescope mount
:[Following three are labeled "clock hands":]
:0.0014: h
:0.017: m
:1: s
:[Following three are labeled "record player":]
:33: 33
:45: 45
:72: 72
:300: Screwdriver [Current setting]
:1500: Drill
:2500: Airplane propeller
:35 000: Dremel
:60 000: Uranium enrichment centrifuge
:300 000: Dental drill

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Telescopes]]

Template:blog

2025-01-31T19:56:05Z

172.70.163.70: Redocumented, to cover the apparent edge-cases now catered for. Pondering conversion to use "article=", "YYYY=", "MM=", "DD=" and "late=" usage, to simplify the mix of mostly numbered and single named params, but... not now, with just one archive outlier.

<includeonly> data-sort-value="{{#expr:{{formatnum:{{{1|0}}}|R}}}}" {{#if:{{{archiveOnly|}}}||style="background-color:#cceeff;"}}|'''{{ordinal|{{{1|0}}}}}''' blog article{{#if:{{{2|}}}|, on {{#iferror:{{#time:Y‑m‑d|{{{2|}}}-{{{3|}}}-{{{4|}}}}}| {{{2|}}}‑{{{3|}}}‑{{{4|}}}}}}}{{#if:{{{5|}}}| ''({{{5|}}})''}}{{#if:{{{archiveOnly|}}}| (Removed: see [{{{archiveOnly}}} archive link])}}</includeonly><noinclude>Used in the [[What If? chapters|''what if?'' index]], to mark the article number, date of release, and how late/early the article was. It also colors the cell blue. For the books and the YouTube videos, use {{template|book}} instead. The number is required, and the date is always needed if known.

===Usage===
<nowiki>{{blog|ARTICLE-NUMBER|YYYY|MM|DD|</nowiki>'''''LATE-OR-EARLY'''''}}
*If there is no valid ARTICLE-NUMBER, for some reason, it becomes the 'zeroth' blog article.
*Date details are optional, but require ''at least'' a prior blank ARTICLE-NUMBER field
*LATE-OR-EARLY is optional (e.g. if 'on schedule'), but requires all prior fields (which can be left blank)

If the blog concerned is only now available from an archive location, give the appropriate URL by appending it to the named <code>archiveOnly=</code> parameter. This does not depend upon any other details.
<nowiki>{{blog|ARTICLE-NUMBER|YYYY|MM|DD|</nowiki>'''''LATE-OR-EARLY'''''|archiveOnly='''''URL'''''}}

===Examples===

<nowiki>{{blog|69|YYYY|MM|DD|1m 19d late}}</nowiki>

'''''Produces:'''''

{{blog|69|YYYY|MM|DD|1m 19d late}}

and

<nowiki>{{blog|69|YYYY|MM|DD}}</nowiki>

'''''Produces:'''''

{{blog|69|YYYY|MM|DD}}

and

<nowiki>{{blog|69}}</nowiki>

'''''Produces:'''''

{{blog|69}}

and

<nowiki>{{blog}}</nowiki>

'''''Produces:'''''

{{blog}}

and

<nowiki>{{blog|||||Very late!}}</nowiki>

'''''Produces:'''''

{{blog|||||Very late!}}

and

<nowiki>{{blog|69|YYYY|MM|DD|1m 19d late|archiveOnly=https://archive.site/article69}}</nowiki>

'''''Produces:'''''

{{blog|69|YYYY|MM|DD|1m 19d late|archiveOnly=https://archive.site/article69}}

and

<nowiki>{{blog|archiveOnly=https://archive.site/article69}}</nowiki>

'''''Produces:'''''

{{blog|archiveOnly=https://archive.site/article0}}

{| class="sortable wikitable"
!Thumbnail
!Title
!Reader's question
!Randall's answer
!Blog
!Books
!YouTube
|-
|[[File:Relativistic Baseball.png|100px]]
|'''{{what if|1|Relativistic Baseball}}'''
|''"What would happen if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90% the speed of light?"''
|The ball would create plasma and reach home plate by about 70 nanoseconds. The result would be some kind of nuclear explosion, destroying everything about a mile from the field. A ruling of "{{w|hit by pitch}}" could be interpreted in this situation.
|{{blog|8|2012|07|10|10d early}}
|{{book|1|2}}
|{{book|5|2024|02|06|3EI08o-IGYk|What if you threw a baseball at nearly light speed?}}
|-
|[[File:SAT Guessing.png|100px]]
|'''{{what if|2|SAT Guessing}}'''
|''"What if everyone who took the SAT guessed on every multiple-choice question? How many perfect scores would there be?"''
|No one would get a perfect score. The odds of guessing correctly on every question would be less than the odds of every ex-living president at that time and the main cast of [[:Category:Firefly|Firefly]] getting struck by lightning on the same day.
|{{blog|69|YYYY|MM|DD|1m 19d late}}
|
|
|-
|[[File:Yoda.png|100px]]
|'''{{what if|3|Yoda}}'''
|''"How much Force power can Yoda output?"''
|Yoda can output about 19.2 kilowatts, or 25 horsepower. "Yoda power" would cost about $2/hour.
|{{blog|420}}
|
|
|-
|[[File:A Moles of Moles.png|100px]]
|'''{{what if|4|A Mole of Moles}}'''
|''"What would happen if you were to gather a mole (unit of measurement) of moles (the small furry critter) in one place?"''
|As a mole is such a high number this would be tricky. They would condense into a pressurized sphere of meat that would freeze and occasionally explode from gases.
|{{blog|4|2025|07|24}}
|
|
|-
|[[File:Robot Apocalypse.png|100px]]
|'''{{what if|5|Robot Apocalypse}}'''
|''"What if there was a robot apocalypse? How long would humanity last?"''
|Humanity would survive if the robots cared about keeping themselves alive as well. If not, then we would all die.
|{{blog|56|2012|07|31}}
|
|
|-
|[[File:Glass Half Empty.png|100px]]
|'''{{what if|6|Glass Half Empty}}'''
|''"What if a glass of water was, all of a sudden, literally half empty?"''
|If the vacuum were on the bottom half, it would explode, but if it were on the top half, the air rushes in and it becomes normal water.
|{{blog|100|2012|08|07}}
|
|
|-
|[[File:Glass Half Empty.png|100px]]
|'''Test 'removed' article (#9876)'''
|''"What if an article was, for some reason, deleted?"''
|If the vacuum were on the bottom half, it would explode, but if it were on the top half, the air rushes in and it becomes normal water.
|{{blog|9876|2061|07|28|archiveOnly=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2061:_Odyssey_Three}}
|
|
|}
[[Category:Templates]]</noinclude>