https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=2401%3AD002%3A8404%3AC900%3AE8CD%3A26D1%3A3D16%3AF675explain xkcd - User contributions [en]2026-05-22T19:52:14ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=Talk:3218:_Subduction_Retrieval&diff=408004Talk:3218: Subduction Retrieval2026-03-12T06:33:33Z<p>2401:D002:8404:C900:E8CD:26D1:3D16:F675: </p>
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I win.<br />
:I lost {{w|The Game (mind game)|The Game}}. [[Special:Contributions/2A04:4E41:320E:C27C:0:0:885F:A27C|2A04:4E41:320E:C27C:0:0:885F:A27C]] 04:47, 12 March 2026 (UTC)<br />
:: @&$! [[Special:Contributions/47.146.30.92|47.146.30.92]] 05:33, 12 March 2026 (UTC)<br />
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By some coincidence this article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy03jw0pwx1o was on the BBC news website Wed 11th March (UK)- the evening before (9pm local time) this was added [[Special:Contributions/2A00:23C7:B524:F801:4041:29F9:A548:6CDE|2A00:23C7:B524:F801:4041:29F9:A548:6CDE]] 06:08, 12 March 2026 (UTC)<br />
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I added my first explanation on this website! Please feel free to correct/improve it. [[Special:Contributions/2401:D002:8404:C900:E8CD:26D1:3D16:F675|2401:D002:8404:C900:E8CD:26D1:3D16:F675]] 06:33, 12 March 2026 (UTC)</div>2401:D002:8404:C900:E8CD:26D1:3D16:F675https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php?title=3218:_Subduction_Retrieval&diff=4080033218: Subduction Retrieval2026-03-12T06:32:01Z<p>2401:D002:8404:C900:E8CD:26D1:3D16:F675: first time writing an explanation</p>
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<div>{{comic<br />
| number = 3218<br />
| date = March 11, 2026<br />
| title = Subduction Retrieval<br />
| image = subduction_retrieval_2x.png<br />
| imagesize = 502x347px<br />
| noexpand = true<br />
| titletext = Aww, the oceanic crust and the continental crust are getting married!<br />
}}<br />
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==Explanation==<br />
{{incomplete|This page was created recently by a SUBDUCTION LICENSE. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
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This comic is a {{w|public service announcement}} (PSA) telling the reader to stay out of the Pacific Ocean on the current day. The reason for this is explained to be that someone has lost their wedding ring in a {{w|subduction zone}}. A subduction zone is a boundary where two {{w|tectonic plates}} in the Earth's crust collide, and one plate dives beneath the other into the {{w|Earth's mantle}}.<br />
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As a result, the USGS ({{w|United States Geological Survey}}) is "pulling the plate back up" to retrieve the ring.<br />
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The joke is that this would be a ridiculous idea, since no man-made machine like the one depicted in the comic is capable of moving entire tectonic plates {{cn}}. Additionally, even if it were possible, it is unlikely that the USGS, a national organisation, would invest the time and effort required for such an operation for the relatively trivial purpose of retrieving a wedding ring.<br />
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The title text jokes that since the wedding ring lies on the lower (oceanic) plate, the oceanic crust and continental crust are "getting married".<br />
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==Transcript==<br />
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br />
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[Caption below panel:]<br />
PSA: Please stay out of the Pacific Ocean today. Someone lost their wedding ring in a subduction zone and USGS is pulling the plate back up to retrieve it. <br />
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{{comic discussion}}<noinclude></div>2401:D002:8404:C900:E8CD:26D1:3D16:F675