explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

1568: Synonym Movies 2

2015-08-24T04:59:28Z

173.245.54.158: /* Table of the titles */

{{comic
| number = 1568
| date = August 24, 2015
| title = Synonym Movies 2
| image = synonym_movies_2.png
| titletext = There's also the TV show based on the hit Hot and Cold Music books: Fun With Chairs, Royal Rumble, Knife Blizzard, Breakfast for Birds, and Samba Serpents.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Still working on table.}}

This comic is a continuation of [[1563: Synonym Movies]] with a new set of movie series. As with the previous comic, the titles aren't always synonymous with the original (Indiana Jones as Professor Whip).

This set includes Wandboy (Harry Potter), Puncher (Rocky), Tropical Boaters (Pirates of the Caribbean), and Professor Whip (Indiana Jones).

The Wandboy series contains:
Wandboy and the Magic Rock (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (or Philosopher's Stone in the UK))
Wandboy and the Hidden Room (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
Wandboy and the Fugitive (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)
Wandboy and the Burning Cup (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)
Wandboy and the Firebird Club (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
Wandboy and the Book Owner (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (1/2) (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1)
Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (2/2) (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2)

The Puncher series contains:
Puncher (Rocky)
Puncher II (Rocky II)
Puncher III (Rocky III)
Puncher IV (Rocky IV)
Puncher V (Rocky V)
Puncher Lastname (Rocky Balboa)

The Tropical Boaters series contains:
Tropical Boaters: Spooky Boat (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl)
Tropical Boaters: Angry Wormface (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest)
Tropical Boaters: Boats Everywhere (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End)
Tropical Boaters: Vitamin Water (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides)

The Professor Whip series contains:
Professor Whip and the Box of God (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark)
Professor Whip and the Scary Church (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom)
Professor Whip Looks for a Cup (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
Professor Whip is in Another Movie (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)

The title text is a reference to the TV series A Game of Thrones, based on the book series A Song of Ice and Fire.
The Hot and Cold music series contains:
Fun With Chairs (A Game of Thrones)
Royal Rumble (A Clash of Kings)
Knife Blizzard (A Storm of Swords)
Breakfast for Birds (A Feast for Crows)
Samba Serpents (A Dance with Dragons)

==Table of the titles==
*All cases of ''Harry Potter'' have turned into ''Wandboy''.
*''Rocky'' to ''Puncher''.
*''Pirates of the Caribbean'' has been changed to ''Tropical Boaters.''
*''Indiana Jones'' has been turned into ''Professor Whip.''
*''A Song of Ice and Fire'' has been turned into ''Hot and Cold Music.''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=12em| Synonym
!width=12em| Real Title
! Notes
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Rock''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Hidden Room''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Fugitive''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Burning Cup''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Firebird Club''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Book Owner''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Stuf (1/2)''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (2/2)''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2}}''
|
|-
|colspan=3| 
|-
| ''Puncher''
| ''{{w|Rocky}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher II'
| ''{{w|Rocky II}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher III''
| ''{{w|Rocky III}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher IV''
| ''{{w|Rocky IV}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher V''
| ''{{w|Rocky V}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher Lastname''
| ''{{w|Rocky Balboa}}''
|
|-
|colspan=3| 
|-
| ''Fun With Chairs''
| ''{{w|A Game of Thrones}}''
|
|-
| ''Royal Rumble''
| ''{{w|A Clash of Kings}}''
|
|-
| ''Knife Blizzard''
| ''{{w|A Storm of Swords}}''
|
|-
| ''Breakfast for Birds''
| ''{{w|A Feast for Crows}}''
|
|-
| ''Samba Serpents''
| ''{{w|A Dance with Dragons}}''
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

1568: Synonym Movies 2

2015-08-24T04:57:40Z

173.245.54.158:

{{comic
| number = 1568
| date = August 24, 2015
| title = Synonym Movies 2
| image = synonym_movies_2.png
| titletext = There's also the TV show based on the hit Hot and Cold Music books: Fun With Chairs, Royal Rumble, Knife Blizzard, Breakfast for Birds, and Samba Serpents.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|Still working on table.}}

This comic is a continuation of [[1563: Synonym Movies]] with a new set of movie series. As with the previous comic, the titles aren't always synonymous with the original (Indiana Jones as Professor Whip).

This set includes Wandboy (Harry Potter), Puncher (Rocky), Tropical Boaters (Pirates of the Caribbean), and Professor Whip (Indiana Jones).

The Wandboy series contains:
Wandboy and the Magic Rock (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (or Philosopher's Stone in the UK))
Wandboy and the Hidden Room (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
Wandboy and the Fugitive (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban)
Wandboy and the Burning Cup (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)
Wandboy and the Firebird Club (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)
Wandboy and the Book Owner (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)
Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (1/2) (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1)
Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (2/2) (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2)

The Puncher series contains:
Puncher (Rocky)
Puncher II (Rocky II)
Puncher III (Rocky III)
Puncher IV (Rocky IV)
Puncher V (Rocky V)
Puncher Lastname (Rocky Balboa)

The Tropical Boaters series contains:
Tropical Boaters: Spooky Boat (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl)
Tropical Boaters: Angry Wormface (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest)
Tropical Boaters: Boats Everywhere (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End)
Tropical Boaters: Vitamin Water (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides)

The Professor Whip series contains:
Professor Whip and the Box of God (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark)
Professor Whip and the Scary Church (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom)
Professor Whip Looks for a Cup (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
Professor Whip is in Another Movie (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)

The title text is a reference to the TV series A Game of Thrones, based on the book series A Song of Ice and Fire.
The Hot and Cold music series contains:
Fun With Chairs (A Game of Thrones)
Royal Rumble (A Clash of Kings)
Knife Blizzard (A Storm of Swords)
Breakfast for Birds (A Feast for Crows)
Samba Serpents (A Dance with Dragons)

==Table of the titles==
*All cases of ''Harry Potter'' have turned into ''Wandboy''.
*''Rocky'' to ''Puncher''.
*''Pirates of the Caribbean'' has been changed to ''Tropical Boaters.''
*''Indiana Jones'' has been turned into ''Professor Whip.''
*''A Song of Ice and Fire'' has been turned into ''Hot and Cold Music.''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!width=12em| Synonym
!width=12em| Real Title
! Notes
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Rock''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Hidden Room''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Fugitive''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Burning Cup''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Firebird Club''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Book Owner''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Stuf (1/2)''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1}}''
|
|-
| ''Wandboy and the Magic Stuff (2/2)''
| ''{{w|Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2}}''
|
|-
|colspan=3| 
|-
| ''Puncher''
| ''{{w|Rocky}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher II'
| ''{{w|Rocky II}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher III''
| ''{{w|Rocky III}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher IV''
| ''{{w|Rocky IV}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher V''
| ''{{w|Rocky V}}''
|
|-
| ''Puncher Lastname''
| ''{{w|Rocky Balboa}}''
|
|-
| ''Fun With Chairs''
| ''{{w|A Game of Thrones}}''
|
|-
| ''Royal Rumble''
| ''{{w|A Clash of Kings}}''
|
|-
| ''Knife Blizzard''
| ''{{w|A Storm of Swords}}''
|
|-
| ''Breakfast for Birds''
| ''{{w|A Feast for Crows}}''
|
|-
| ''Samba Serpents''
| ''{{w|A Dance with Dragons}}''
|}

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript}}

{{comic discussion}}

295: DNE

2015-03-19T22:42:26Z

173.245.54.158: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number =295
| date =July 27, 2007
| title =DNE
| image =dne.png
| titletext =I've seen advertisers put their URLs on chalkboards, encircled with a DNE. They went unerased for months. If you see this, feel free to replace the URL with xkcd.com.
}}

==Explanation==
DNE stands for "do not erase", and is commonly used on school whiteboards to let the sanitation staff and other teachers know not to erase that particular area of the board. DNE circles often encompass important information such as test dates or the teacher's name.

It is easy to see how leaving things marked with DNE can become automatic for anyone often erasing boards, so that they don't notice what the message actually says, or reflect on whether the DNE-marking is reasonable for it. [[Cueball]]'s dissatisfactory note is not very subtle, but [[Randall]] notes that advertisers have successfully used the same tactic for less conspicuous {{w|URL}}s to their sites.

On the bottom half of the board is a crossed out 2x2 {{w|matrix (mathematics)|matrix}}, and two {{w|function (mathematics)|functions}} for {{w|exponential decay}}.

In the title text it is pointed out that many advertisers would just write down a website address, circle it, and then add a DNE marking. It also kindly asks you to replace those messages with xkcd.com to get some free advertising.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is in an empty classroom writing on the whiteboard. In the top right corner in large print is written "Fuck This Place!." It is circled, and underneath he is writing "DNE".]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Sarcasm]]

Talk:963: X11

2014-11-25T00:38:51Z

173.245.54.158:

Come on Randall, it's not ''that'' hard, it's only 273 flags that you have to memorize. A child could do that. '''[[User:Davidy22|{{Color|purple|David}}y²²]]'''[[User talk:Davidy22|<tt>[talk]</tt>]] 09:00, 9 March 2013 (UTC)
:I think the comics might be about the fact that modern-day X.Org doesn't need <nowiki>xorg.conf</nowiki> at all... well, usually (i.e. almost always you can get with autodetection and without xorg.conf at all) --[[User:JakubNarebski|JakubNarebski]] ([[User talk:JakubNarebski|talk]]) 20:57, 27 June 2013 (UTC)
::Oh, ''<nowiki>xorg.conf</nowiki>'' was fun for me the last twenty years. I miss it...LOL--[[User:Dgbrt|Dgbrt]] ([[User talk:Dgbrt|talk]]) 21:23, 27 June 2013 (UTC)

Good grief finding the actual Jefferson quote was hard. So many people saying things about the quotation without actually linking to the quotation. It took a bit of digging, [http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Thomas_Jefferson#1780s Wikiquote] has [http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff1340.htm a link] to what I think would have been the full text of the letter, but [http://virginia.edu UVa] must have switched CMS' so now all their links are different and you just get redirected to the front page of University of Virginia's Library. So much for permalinks. With a little bit more digging I found the full text published online by the [http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch2s23.html University of Chicago]. The text is thick, as should be expected of 18th century writing, but if you squint hard enough at a particular paragraph and twist the words a little you can come up with the sentiment that Randall refers to in the title text. [[User:Lcarsos|lcarsos]]_a ([[User talk:Lcarsos|talk]]) 20:17, 7 January 2014 (UTC)
:Did you not think of using the [http://web.archive.org Wayback Machine]? The UVa page you were looking for is [http://web.archive.org/web/20101205225845/http://etext.virginia.edu/jefferson/quotations/jeff1340.htm here]. [[User:NealCruco|NealCruco]] ([[User talk:NealCruco|talk]]) 02:44, 10 August 2014 (UTC)
Personally I like having the options [[Special:Contributions/173.245.54.158|173.245.54.158]] 00:38, 25 November 2014 (UTC)

838: Incident

2014-11-16T20:48:46Z

173.245.54.158:

{{comic
| number = 838
| date = December 24, 2010
| title = Incident
| image = incident.png
| titletext = He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he's copied on /var/spool/mail/root, so be good for goodness' sake.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic was posted on {{w|Christmas Eve}} in the {{w|United States}}. While {{w|Christmas}} is principally a {{w|Christian}} holiday celebrating the birth of {{w|Jesus}} on December 25, there are many tradition around the holiday, among them {{w|Christmas Eve#Gift_giving|a tradition}} in {{w|United States}} that in {{w|Christmas Eve}} {{w|Santa Claus}} will make his round delivering gifts to good children.

[[Rob]] sits behind a Linux computer and tried to change his user account from his normal access to the access of a super user by using the command "{{w|sudo|sudo su}}". Sudo is a famous phrase in xkcd lore, made famous by comic [[149: Sandwich]]. When Rob is unable to use "sudo" because his account is not authorized, the system says that the incident "will be reported" (usually to the system administrator, so he can see if someone is making repeated attempts at accessing administrator privileges).

In the comic, however, Sudo and the system report the incidents to {{w|Santa Claus}}, who in Christmas lore makes a list of who is naughty and who is nice. If you are nice, you get presents, if you are naughty, you get a lump of coal. When sudo reports to Santa that Rob's account is not authorized, he puts Rob on the naughty list.

In the title text, which is a parody of the famous Christmas song, "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town", <code>/var/spool/mail/root</code> is the root (superuser) mailbox on a Linux system.

==Transcript==
:[Rob is sitting at a computer. The computer's prompt is shown.]
robm@homebox~$ sudo su
Password:
robm is not in the sudoers file. This incident will be reported.
robm@homebox~$ █
:[Megan approaches.]
:Rob: Hey — who does sudo report these "incidents" ''to''?
:Megan: You know, I've never checked.
:[Santa Claus is sitting at a desk supported by candy canes, with a red monitor. On the wall are two lists labeled 'naughty' and 'nice'. He is adding a name to the 'naughty' list.]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Rob]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]
[[Category:Linux]]
[[Category:Christmas]]

827: My Business Idea

2014-11-16T14:01:22Z

173.245.54.158:

{{comic
| number = 827
| date = November 29, 2010
| title = Business Idea
| image = business_idea.png
| titletext = We didn't believe you at first, but we asked like three people who were at that party. They not only corroborated your story, but even said you totally mentioned wanting to start a company someday. Sorry! If this isn't enough money, let us know.
}}

==Explanation==
Many people have shared [[Cueball]]'s experience of seeing someone else make profit from an idea that they themselves had. This comic plays with the thought of what would happen if a company using someone else's {{w|intellectual property}} actually cared about them. In reality this would never happen but it is a nice thing to think about. Having a good idea is a big part of starting a company, without a good idea, no matter how much work you put in a business will never succeed.

The delivery guy is from {{w|FedEx}}. [[960: Subliminal]] is about hidden messages in their logo.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is sitting at his desk, pointing at his laptop.]
:Cueball: Dude! I had this idea like five years ago, and some company just got rich doing it! - I want my cut.

:[Cueball starts typing.]
:Person off-screen: That's not how it works.
:Cueball: Sure it is. I'm applying for my share now.
:Person: Wait, what?

:[A browser window with the title 'Department of Ideas'. It has a series of text boxes.]
:Date you had the idea:
::Like five years ago.
:Proof you had it:
::I told my friend Mike - you can ask him! I was all "you know what would make a great business idea?" and he was all...
:Their profit so far:
::$20,000,000
:Share you deserve (be fair!):
::[Drop-down.]
:::25%
:::'''30%'''
:::35%
:Mailing address:
::137 Ash Tree Ln

:[Cueball still at the laptop, above him is a SUBMIT button, and it shows a pointing hand cursor.]
:CLICK

:[Last panel set slightly lower than the rest.]
:[Cueball is in front of an open box full of cash, with cash in his hand. A FedEx delivery guy is on the other side of the box with his little electronic signing thing.]
{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics with color]]

787: Orbiter

2014-11-15T19:46:52Z

173.245.54.158: Added explanation for polar orbit. Removed last sentence, it was not needed.

{{comic
| number = 787
| date = September 1, 2010
| title = Orbiter
| image = orbiter.png
| titletext = Normally, the Shuttle can't quite safely reach the orbital inclination required to pass over both those points from a Canaveral launch, but this is an alternate history in which either it launches from Vandenburg or everyone hates the Outer Banks.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic is about disputed territories and {{w|Polar orbit|polar orbits}}.

At mission control, the main controller is planning the next check-in with the space shuttle, which is set to occur at [https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=32.0N+35.5E&hl=en&ll=32.001089,35.499573&spn=1.579171,3.339844&sll=31.995993,35.505409&sspn=0.049353,0.10437&t=h&z=9 32.0N 35.5E], approx 20 miles north-east of Jerusalem, over the hotly contested {{w|Israeli–Palestinian conflict|Israeli-Palestinian territories}}. Frank and the other off-screen character start to dispute the ownership of this geographical location, and rather than getting involved in an argument, the main character decides to change the check-in to [https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=35.2N+96.6W&hl=en&ll=35.200745,-96.602783&spn=6.085197,13.359375&sll=32.001089,35.499573&sspn=1.579171,3.339844&t=h&z=7 35.2N 96.6W], approximately 50miles East of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which he considers to be a neutral and non-disputed location. Unfortunately, Frank is a dick, and he then starts to make the claim that {{w|Greer County, Texas|part of Oklahoma in fact should belong to Texas}}.

The satellite would probably require a polar orbit (a "vertical" orbit passing the polls of the earth with each orbit) to reach both Palestine and Oklahoma, which cannot be achieved from a launch at {{w|Kennedy Space Center|Cape Caneveral}}, as the launch trajectories would cause debris and spent fuel tanks from the Shuttle during its ascent to fall in heavily populated areas.

In the title text Randall mentions an alternate history in which the Space Shuttles launch from {{w|Vandenberg Air Force Base|Vandenburg}}, this is a reference to the plans to launch shuttles from there before the {{w|Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|Challenger accident}} occurred. After Challenger was lost, the polar orbiting missions were scrapped and Cape Canaveral became the sole launch site for the {{w|Space Shuttle}}. Another possibility in this alternate history is that the rules forbidding orbital launches from Caneveral to a polar inclination don't exist, because nobody likes the {{w|Outer Banks}} (which would be in the flight path) and thus don't care about space debris falling on them.
==Transcript==
:Cueball: Okay, people. The orbiter is passing south of Iceland. The next scheduled check-in will be at 32.0N 35.5E, over the Palestinian territories.
:Off-screen character: You mean over Palestine?
:Frank (off-screen): You mean over Israel?
:[Beat panel.]
:Cueball: I've rescheduled the check-in for 35.2N 96.6W, over Oklahoma.
:Frank (off-screen): You mean occupied North Texas?
:Cueball: Dammit, Frank.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]

1242: Scary Names

2014-08-14T16:40:02Z

173.245.54.158:

{{comic
| number = 1242
| date = July 24, 2013
| title = Scary Names
| image = scary_names.png
| titletext = Far off to the right of the chart is the Helvetica Scenario.
}}

==Explanation==
This chart humorously explores the 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. IE: Chernobyl Packet, Demon Core.

On the chart, things toward the right are scary/dangerous/very bad, while things toward the top ''sound'' scary without ''necessarily'' being scary.

The table below list the entries from least to most scary, including the ''entry'' mentioned in the title text. The assigned percentage values assumes a linear scale and assigns ''flesh eating bacteria'' with the point (100%, 100%). This is simply the easiest way to list the entries as there is no mention of the scale. 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"
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| Name
! scope="col" class="headerSortUp"| Apparent Scariness
! scope="col"| True Scariness
! scope="col" class="unsortable"|Description
|-
|{{Nowrap|[http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/C/Chernobyl-packet.html Chernobyl Packet]}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}95%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|a !}}4%}}
|A network packet that induces a broadcast storm or network meltdown. Despite the name, it does not necessarily refer to the {{w|Chernobyl disaster}}.
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{w|Calorimeter#Bomb calorimeters|Bomb Calorimeters}}}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}67%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|b !}}28%}}
|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.
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{w|Sulfur mustard|Mustard Gas}}}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|f !}}47%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|c !}}50%}}
|A chemical warfare agent which causes blisters and severe irritation on skin and lung tissue.
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{w|Kessler syndrome|Kessler Syndrome}}}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}87%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|d !}}53%}}
|A hypothetical scenario where low Earth orbit objects collide, creating space debris which increases the risk of more collisions, leading to a cascade effect which could severely hinder space exploration and satellite technologies for many years.
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{w|Soil liquefaction|Soil Liquefaction}}}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|c !}}16%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|e !}}54%}}
|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.
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{w|Grey goo|Grey Goo}}}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|b !}}5%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|f !}}68%}}
|A hypothetical end-of-world scenario where self-replicating nanobots consume all matter.
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{w|Avian influenza virus|Bird Flu}}}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}57%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|g !}}72%}}
|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.
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{w|Demon core|Demon Core}}}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|j !}}90%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|h !}}73%}}
|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.
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{w|Criticality accident|Criticality Incident}}}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|d!}}22%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|i !}}74%}}
|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).
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{w|Antibiotic resistance|Superbug}}}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|e !}}39%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|j !}}83%}}
|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}}.
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{w|Nuclear football|Nuclear Football}}}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|g !}}52%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|k !}}94%}}
|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.
|-
|{{Nowrap|{{w|Necrotizing fasciitis|Flesh-eating bacteria}}}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|m !}}100%}}
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|l !}}100%}}
|As the name suggests, bacteria that eats (or more accurately, releases toxins that destroy) your skin and muscle.
|-class="sortbottom"
|Helvetica Scenario (from the title text)
|{{Nowrap|{{Hs|z !}}N/A}}
|{{Hs|m !}}Literally Off-The-Chart
|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 molecule 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 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.
|}

==Transcript==
:[A scatterplot, with the y-axis labeled "scariness of name" and the x-axis labeled "scariness of thing name refers to.
:At the top-left is "chernobyl packet".
:Slightly right and downwards of that is "bomb calorimeter".
:Towards the middle-top is "kessler syndrome".
:Towards the middle-bottom is "soil liquefaction".
:Towards the center is "mustard gas".
:Along the bottom, two-thirds of the way to the right, is "grey goo".
:Slightly up and to the right from that is "criticality incident".
:About midway up from there is "bird flu".
:Further up, not quite at the top, is "demon core".
:Back towards the middle vertically, but slightly farther to the right, is "superbug".
:Almost all the way to the right but still near the middle vertically is "nuclear football".
:At the far top-right is "flesh-eating bacteria".]

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Charts]]

683: Science Montage

2014-08-14T16:36:31Z

173.245.54.158: /* Explanation */ Updating to a working source video

{{comic
| number = 683
| date = January 1, 2010
| title = Science Montage
| image = science_montage.png
| titletext = The rat's perturbed; it must sense nanobots! Code grey! We have a Helvetica scenario!
}}

==Explanation==
This comic makes fun of the artificially dramatized and simplified depiction of science in movies. The unstated premise seems to be that the scientists are trying to get information about a murderer based on a sample obtained from his clothing. The movie version of events involves the characters doing exciting things with a computer display, lab rats, a laser, and a complicated chemical apparatus. The characters quickly arrive at the firm conclusion that paint on the clothes is from an "antimatter factory" in Belgrade, Serbia.

The actual science version shows the scientists putting a sample into a machine (likely a {{w|centrifuge}}, but perhaps a {{w|mass spectrometer}}). The machine apparently takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to analyze the sample (according to the clock on the wall). At the end of this process, the only thing learned is that there is ''probably'' no {{w|barium}} or {{w|radium}} in the sample. This conclusion is not very helpful, and is not even very certain.

There are several major concepts about science and technology that movies tend to distort for the purposes of a more exciting plot, both illustrated here. One is that the work involves a lot of different exciting-looking gadgets. Another is that the analysis can be done very quickly, and results in very certain and significant conclusions. Besides this, the scientists often seem to have access to a database full of trivial information from around the world. In reality, a scientific analysis of some sample or data often only requires a single boring-looking machine, takes quite some time, and provides a limited result that must be interpreted very carefully to have any meaning at all.

The title text further illustrates movie science, depicting one deducing the presence of {{w|nanobots}} simply by observing the behavior of a lab rat. The Helvetica Scenario is a fictional experiment, presented in Switzerland (Helvetica), which assumes that removing only the nucleus (the center of an atom) of a "calcium molecule" 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 here] (at 6:10). "Code grey" may refer to {{w|Grey goo}}, a hypothetical doomsday scenario involving nanobots.

==Transcript==
:Movie Science Montage

:[Male scientist passes a test tube to a female scientist sitting at a machine. Both are wearing lab coats and goggles. Lights and screens are shining, and a hamster ball and a Newton's cradle stand on a shelf behind them.]

:[A glowing sample next to a rat in a cage. Female scientist is holding a glowing implement; she has another rat in her hand and one on her head. The male scientist is on the phone.]
:Caged Rat: Squeak!

:[Female scientist pulls levers on another machine, which is shooting a laser beam of some sort downwards onto a sample.]

:[Male scientist is operating a complicated-looking chemical apparatus with a scope, flasks, coils, and bubbles.]
:Male Scientist: Paint flecks from the killer's clothing match an antimatter factory in Belgrade!
:Female Scientist (off panel): Let's go!

:Actual Science Montage

:[Two scientists in lab coats and goggles place a sample into a machine. An analog clock on the wall reads 9:05.]

:[The scientists are still standing in front of the machine. The clock now reads 10:10.]
:Machine: ''...whirrrrrr...''

:[The clock now reads 11:25. The male scientist has removed his goggles.]
:Machine: ''...whirrrr...bing!''

:[They examine the sample.]
:Male Scientist: Okay, we've determined there's neither barium nor radium in this sample.
:Female Scientist: Probably.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Chemistry]]
[[Category:Science]]

683: Science Montage

2014-08-14T16:34:55Z

173.245.54.158: /* Explanation */ Updating to a working source video

{{comic
| number = 683
| date = January 1, 2010
| title = Science Montage
| image = science_montage.png
| titletext = The rat's perturbed; it must sense nanobots! Code grey! We have a Helvetica scenario!
}}

==Explanation==
This comic makes fun of the artificially dramatized and simplified depiction of science in movies. The unstated premise seems to be that the scientists are trying to get information about a murderer based on a sample obtained from his clothing. The movie version of events involves the characters doing exciting things with a computer display, lab rats, a laser, and a complicated chemical apparatus. The characters quickly arrive at the firm conclusion that paint on the clothes is from an "antimatter factory" in Belgrade, Serbia.

The actual science version shows the scientists putting a sample into a machine (likely a {{w|centrifuge}}, but perhaps a {{w|mass spectrometer}}). The machine apparently takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes to analyze the sample (according to the clock on the wall). At the end of this process, the only thing learned is that there is ''probably'' no {{w|barium}} or {{w|radium}} in the sample. This conclusion is not very helpful, and is not even very certain.

There are several major concepts about science and technology that movies tend to distort for the purposes of a more exciting plot, both illustrated here. One is that the work involves a lot of different exciting-looking gadgets. Another is that the analysis can be done very quickly, and results in very certain and significant conclusions. Besides this, the scientists often seem to have access to a database full of trivial information from around the world. In reality, a scientific analysis of some sample or data often only requires a single boring-looking machine, takes quite some time, and provides a limited result that must be interpreted very carefully to have any meaning at all.

The title text further illustrates movie science, depicting one deducing the presence of {{w|nanobots}} simply by observing the behavior of a lab rat. The Helvetica Scenario is a fictional experiment, presented in Switzerland (Helvetica), which assumes that removing only the nucleus (the center of an atom) of a "calcium molecule" 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 here] (at 6:10). "Code grey" may refer to {{w|Grey goo}}, a hypothetical doomsday scenario involving nanobots.

==Transcript==
:Movie Science Montage

:[Male scientist passes a test tube to a female scientist sitting at a machine. Both are wearing lab coats and goggles. Lights and screens are shining, and a hamster ball and a Newton's cradle stand on a shelf behind them.]

:[A glowing sample next to a rat in a cage. Female scientist is holding a glowing implement; she has another rat in her hand and one on her head. The male scientist is on the phone.]
:Caged Rat: Squeak!

:[Female scientist pulls levers on another machine, which is shooting a laser beam of some sort downwards onto a sample.]

:[Male scientist is operating a complicated-looking chemical apparatus with a scope, flasks, coils, and bubbles.]
:Male Scientist: Paint flecks from the killer's clothing match an antimatter factory in Belgrade!
:Female Scientist (off panel): Let's go!

:Actual Science Montage

:[Two scientists in lab coats and goggles place a sample into a machine. An analog clock on the wall reads 9:05.]

:[The scientists are still standing in front of the machine. The clock now reads 10:10.]
:Machine: ''...whirrrrrr...''

:[The clock now reads 11:25. The male scientist has removed his goggles.]
:Machine: ''...whirrrr...bing!''

:[They examine the sample.]
:Male Scientist: Okay, we've determined there's neither barium nor radium in this sample.
:Female Scientist: Probably.

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Chemistry]]
[[Category:Science]]