explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:3118: iNaturalist Animals and Plants

2025-07-22T20:23:12Z

2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C: Comic =/ funny

we probably need to add something about how bacteria are more common but not observable to the average person [[Special:Contributions/72.203.83.113|72.203.83.113]] 16:36, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
:Why? Bacteria are not animals or plants. [[Special:Contributions/2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C|2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C]] 17:45, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
:The lack of fungi is perhaps more noteworthy. --[[Special:Contributions/86.13.226.126|86.13.226.126]] 16:44, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
::Why? Should they have appeared as significantly noted animals? [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.2|82.132.244.2]] 17:13, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

Why are some states missing their postal code? IA, FL, AK, HI don't have them. [[User:Nolanmeyer|Nolanmeyer]] ([[User talk:Nolanmeyer|talk]]) 18:27, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
:Probably human error. [[Special:Contributions/2001:4C4E:1C00:BF00:658B:2EF0:F9ED:69A|2001:4C4E:1C00:BF00:658B:2EF0:F9ED:69A]] 12:27, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
:Added a trivia section! --[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 13:52, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

I am curious which animal and which plant are mentioned for the most states? [[User:Rtanenbaum|Rtanenbaum]] ([[User talk:Rtanenbaum|talk]]) 18:43, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
:Common Eastern Bumble Bee with 7 states [CT, IL, MD, MA, MN, VT, WI] and Common Milkweed with 6 states [IL, IA, MI, MN, NE, WI][[User:Nolanmeyer|Nolanmeyer]] ([[User talk:Nolanmeyer|talk]]) 18:53, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
:White-tailed Deer also has 7 states [IO, MI, MT, NH, PA, VI, WV] [[User:Rtanenbaum|Rtanenbaum]] ([[User talk:Rtanenbaum|talk]]) 19:16, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
:You're right! My python script missed Iowa because of a capitalization error in the transcription. [[User:Nolanmeyer|Nolanmeyer]] ([[User talk:Nolanmeyer|talk]]) 19:32, 21 July 2025 (UTC)

Is there a hidden joke in this one that needs explaining, or is it simply an interesting data map? [[Special:Contributions/37.19.197.233|37.19.197.233]]
: Looks like just an interesting map. Nothing wrong with that. --[[Special:Contributions/81.96.108.67|81.96.108.67]] 20:50, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
:: Wrong. What's wrong with it is that there's no joke. It's not "comic" in any way. {{unsigned ip|70.16.143.48|22:03, 21 July 2025 (UTC)}}
::: It may have derived from the earlier use of 'comic' implying a joke or humour, but the modern use of 'comic' for the artform does not. For example, Wikipedia refers to it as "a medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information", which is exactly what this is. [[Special:Contributions/82.13.184.33|82.13.184.33]] 10:41, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
:::How often did Prince Valiant or Spider Man have a joke? Also, so many of the zombine strips on the "funny" pages haven't been humourous for years. [[Special:Contributions/2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C|2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C]] 20:23, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

Big question: what does "most-observed" mean? Most reported? Most likely for a resident to see? Most likely for a resident to pay attention to? -- [[User:Dtgriscom|Dtgriscom]] ([[User talk:Dtgriscom|talk]]) 19:38, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
:The comic already answers that question: "Not the most common species in the state, just the one people have reported the most times." [[Special:Contributions/174.53.211.85|174.53.211.85]] 20:06, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
:iNaturalist is a phone app used by people to help contribute to citizen science (i.e. help collect data for research), so people scan animals/plants that they see to send to iNaturalist databases to be identified automatically. Most-observed means the species that are most reported to the database (so the species with the most scans). The comic notes most reported ≠ most common since many people just ignore species of animals/plants they don't believe to be notable enough to take the effort to scan such as grass. [[Special:Contributions/97.126.175.170|97.126.175.170]] 20:10, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
::If people were reporting common animals they see, they'd probably be dogs and cats. And even more common would be insects -- a backyard probably has hundreds of ants living in it. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 23:30, 21 July 2025 (UTC)
::: "''reporting common animals they see,''" iNat members report what they think is worth reporting. I aint got time to figure if I see more cedar or maple-- in fact I reported a maple only cuz I found a spectaculary colorful maple leaf, a great picture. It is casual observations, not a strict census. (Yes, some observers get a bit obsessive, but still.......) Yes, dogs get reported a lot-- it is a great way to learn the process and you may already have good photos of Rover.
:::: Does this app double as an identification tool? In that case it might also be animals/plants that people don't know and are curious about. (I live in Germany and have a similar app for plants, but I admit I mostly use it for stuff that catches my eye, not for stuff I think is scientifically worth reporting.)--[[Special:Contributions/176.199.208.178|176.199.208.178]] 07:36, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

For the other {{w|U.S. Territories}} not mentioned (sorted animal, plant):
* Guam: Hawaiian Garden Spider, Coconut Palm
* Northern Marianas: Mariana Kingfisher, Alim
* American Samoa: Striped Surgeonfish, Fish Poison Tree
* US Virgin Islands: Green Iguana, Portia Tree

United States Minor Outlying Islands (collectively): Laysan Albatross, Stalky Grass
* Baker Island: Painted Lady, Rugosa Rose
* Howland Island: (not a valid location in iNat)
* Jarvis Island: Masked Booby, Sooty Tern (tie), (no plant)
* Johnston Atoll: Great Frigatebird, Beach Plant
* Kingman Reef: (no animal or plant)
* Midway Atoll: Laysan Albatross, Beach Naupaka
* Navassa Island: (not a valid location in iNat)
* Palmyra Atoll: Red-Footed Booby, Grand-Devil's Claws
* Wake Island: (not a valid location in iNat)
[[Special:Contributions/122.56.85.105|122.56.85.105]] 21:44, 21 July 2025 (UTC)

The surprising part is that palmettos isn't South Carolina's and deer isn't Maine's, and ''Virginia'' Springbeauty is in Ohio. [[User:Strontium|Strontium]] ([[User talk:Strontium|talk]]) 03:21, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

Is there a category for the very rare XKCD strips which don't include any humour, even in the alt text? I can't think of any from recent years, which makes this one extraordinary, but I might be forgetting some obvious examples. [[Special:Contributions/82.42.161.198|82.42.161.198]] 16:29, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
:: Now counts I think? Both Money and the Election Challengers map have some humor iirc. [[Special:Contributions/2600:1700:BF20:D10:1C87:359:5132:6A85|2600:1700:BF20:D10:1C87:359:5132:6A85]] 16:46, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

@<yourfavouriteAI> please write a python script that replaces each name of a State, Plant, or Animal in this list by a link to en.wikipedia.org. (Or just do it directly.) --[[Special:Contributions/2001:16B8:CC3A:C700:452A:E6C7:F2AE:A2F8|2001:16B8:CC3A:C700:452A:E6C7:F2AE:A2F8]] 18:14, 22 July 2025 (UTC)
:Not as the page currently stands. The only mention, currently, of the ''entire'' list is in the Transcript. Which should ''not'' be linked to anywhere.
:This is actually an ideal article to use a (sortable) table for, in the Explanation itself. Three columns: State, Animal and Plant. In that, you can link each state and the first (and perhaps only) appearance of any wikilinkable fauna/flora. (You could add a symbol/key to each entry that's an invasive species, or use cell hues on a scale of green=natural to red=devestatingly displacing. ''Maybe'' fourth/fifth columns for such notes about the iNaturalist data, including what ''actually'' is officially the most common thing, objectively. But maybe not, if it clutters things up too much.)
:And I also wouldn't trust an AI to write a script to do this. (Why not just ask the AI to give you the result directly, if you're so inclined?) Nor would I think it worthwhile to do such a convoluted way of doing such a simple task that's not even being reliably automated so that you could [[1205: Is It Worth the Time?|repeat it]]. Just think/act for yourself, in cases like these. AI is the new [[2267: Blockchain]], and still not in a good way. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.114|82.132.244.114]] 19:28, 22 July 2025 (UTC)

3118: iNaturalist Animals and Plants

2025-07-21T18:02:57Z

2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C: /* Explanation */ iNaturalist - brief what is, also claim about national animal needs source/relevance

{{comic
| number = 3118
| date = July 21, 2025
| title = iNaturalist Animals and Plants
| image = inaturalist_animals_and_plants_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x508px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Washington, DC: Eastern gray squirrel, Amur honeysuckle. Puerto Rico: Crested anole, sea grape. US as a whole: Mallard, eastern poison ivy.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created AS IT WAS MOST REPORTED, NOT AS IT MOST COMMONLY OCCURS. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic shows a map of the United States with the name of the most commonly-reported animal and plant on {{w|iNaturalist}} listed. As the comic notes, these are not the most most-encountered species, just the most reported on iNaturalist. iNaturalist is a citizen science social network, sharing observations of biodiversity. Many people believe a region's "national animal" and "national flower" to be one that can be found in abundance in that region.{{Actual citation needed}} In some cases the species most reported are an invasive species causing concern, for example great mullein and Amur honeysuckle.

For some states, the names are listed with a connector. The District of Columbia is too small to clearly print such information on the state itself, and in an awkward location for a connector; its listing is given in the title text, along with those for Puerto Rico (an unincorporated U.S. territory not normally shown on such maps) and for the U.S. as a whole.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category:Maps]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Biology]]

3118: iNaturalist Animals and Plants

2025-07-21T17:55:26Z

2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C: /* Explanation */ iNaturalist

{{comic
| number = 3118
| date = July 21, 2025
| title = iNaturalist Animals and Plants
| image = inaturalist_animals_and_plants_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x508px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Washington, DC: Eastern gray squirrel, Amur honeysuckle. Puerto Rico: Crested anole, sea grape. US as a whole: Mallard, eastern poison ivy.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created AS IT WAS MOST REPORTED, NOT AS IT MOST COMMONLY OCCURS. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic shows a map of the United States with the name of the most commonly-reported animal and plant on {{w|iNaturalist}} listed. As the comic notes, these are not the most most-encountered species, just the most reported on iNaturalist. Many people believe a region's "national animal" and "national flower" to be one that can be found in abundance in that region.

For some states, the names are listed with a connector. The District of Columbia is too small to clearly print such information on the state itself, and in an awkward location for a connector; its listing is given in the title text, along with those for Puerto Rico (an unincorporated U.S. territory not normally shown on such maps) and for the U.S. as a whole.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category:Maps]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Biology]]

3118: iNaturalist Animals and Plants

2025-07-21T17:52:08Z

2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C: /* Explanation */ not most common

{{comic
| number = 3118
| date = July 21, 2025
| title = iNaturalist Animals and Plants
| image = inaturalist_animals_and_plants_2x.png
| imagesize = 740x508px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = Washington, DC: Eastern gray squirrel, Amur honeysuckle. Puerto Rico: Crested anole, sea grape. US as a whole: Mallard, eastern poison ivy.
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created AS IT WAS MOST REPORTED, NOT AS IT MOST COMMONLY OCCURS. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic shows a map of the United States with its most commonly-reported animal and plant listed, either on the state itself or with a connector. As the comic notes, these are not the most most-encountered species, just the most reported on iNaturalist. Many people believe a region's "national animal" and "national flower" to be one that can be found in abundance in that region.

The District of Columbia is too small to clearly print such information on the state itself, and in an awkward location for a connector; its listing is given in the title text, along with those for Puerto Rico (an unincorporated U.S. territory not normally shown on such maps) and for the U.S. as a whole.

==Transcript==
{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>
[[Category:Maps]]
[[Category:Animals]]
[[Category:Biology]]

Talk:3118: iNaturalist Animals and Plants

2025-07-21T17:45:57Z

2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C: Bacteria aren't animals/plants

3115: Unsolved Physics Problems

2025-07-15T17:39:50Z

2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C: /* Explanation */ metal wiskers - causes many practical problems

{{comic
| number = 3115
| date = July 14, 2025
| title = Unsolved Physics Problems
| image = unsolved_physics_problems_2x.png
| imagesize = 699x422px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = 'Tin pest' makes more sense to me. Tin just doesn't want to be locked down in a shape like that. I get it. But why would any metal want to grow hair??
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by A CURSED METAL FIGURE OF HAIRY. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic is a sequel to comic [[2529: Unsolved Math Problems]], which follows the same format.

{{w|Quantum gravity}} is the problem of determining how {{w|gravity}} interacts with {{w|Quantum_mechanics|quantum physics}}. There are {{w|General_relativity#Relationship_with_quantum_theory|contradictions}} between the two theories, as currently understood. Gravity is well characterized at large scales and is described well by {{w|General_relativity|relativity theory}}, while quantum physics is easiest to observe at very small scales. This makes it hard to conduct an experiment that includes both phenomena. This has led to a wide range of unifying theories which are difficult to experimentally confirm or refute.

The second phenomenon, the {{w|Soviet%E2%80%93American_Gallium_Experiment#Gallium_anomaly|Gallium Anomaly}}, is an example of a precise experiment to understand a specific phenomenon. The difference between the expectation and reality is small, but significant, and indicates our models of physics are inaccurate.

The third problem concerns {{w|Whisker_(metallurgy)|zinc whiskers}} — a phenomenon, that sounds extremely strange at first sight, where a piece of metal (in this case zinc) can 'grow' hair-like filaments on its surface. Hair is usually thought of as an organic structure, and spontaneous change in a block of metal is not a problem most people would expect. Thus [[Randall]] considers this phenomenon [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Comics_with_cursed_items cursed]. Metal whiskers can cause problems in a lot of electronics, where metal hairs create unwanted electrical connections, or act as antennae. It is hard to see how the other two problems affect most people. Since electronics are ubiquitous, the prevention of metal whiskers is a challenge that affects us widely. Led has been widely used as an additive to solder for whisker prevention, however led is toxic.

The title text mentions {{w|tin pest}} — a transformation which causes deterioration of moldable white tin into brittle powdery grey tin in cold weather. Randall considers this an understandable rebellion of the tin against being forced into shapes that we want it to take, whereas he cannot understand the motivation of zinc to grow hair. In reality, metallic elements do not have motivations and intentions.{{cn}}

All of these are real phenomena.

==Transcript==

{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
: The Three Types of Unsolved Physics Problem

: Vague
: [A Feynman diagram of two particles interacting via the electromagnetic force is to the right of Cueball. The diagram is drawn on a curved surface]
: Cueball: What is the nature of time in quantum gravity? Is it a background parameter, a dynamic aspect of spacetime, or an emergent phenomenon?

: Precise
: [A scientific instrument and a nuclear reaction equation of gallium-71 becoming germanium-71 are to Megan's left. The equation says: 71Ga + νe → 71Ge + e- .]
: Megan: Why does the ''S.A.G.E.'' Gallium Neutrino Capture Experiment produce only 75% as much germanium as predicted?

: Cursed
: [A rectangular block of zinc, with whiskers growing out of it, is visible to the right of White Hat]
: White Hat: Why does some metal randomly grow hairs?
: White Hat: It keeps causing short circuits and we have no idea what's going on.
: Voice from off-panel: Is this a joke?
: White Hat: No! Please help!

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics with cursed items]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]

3115: Unsolved Physics Problems

2025-07-15T17:06:55Z

2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:2C: /* Explanation */ gravity -

{{comic
| number = 3115
| date = July 14, 2025
| title = Unsolved Physics Problems
| image = unsolved_physics_problems_2x.png
| imagesize = 699x422px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = 'Tin pest' makes more sense to me. Tin just doesn't want to be locked down in a shape like that. I get it. But why would any metal want to grow hair??
}}

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created by A CURSED METAL FIGURE OF HAIRY. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}

This comic is a sequel to comic [[2529: Unsolved Math Problems]], which follows the same format.

{{w|Quantum gravity}} is the problem of determining how {{w|gravity}} interacts with {{w|Quantum_mechanics|quantum physics}}. There are {{w|General_relativity#Relationship_with_quantum_theory|contradictions}} between the two theories, as currently understood. Gravity is well characterized at large scales and is described well by {{w|General_relativity|relativity theory}}, while quantum physics is easiest to observe at very small scales. This makes it hard to conduct an experiment that includes both phenomena. This has led to a wide range of unifying theories which are difficult to experimentally confirm or refute.

The second phenomenon, the {{w|Soviet%E2%80%93American_Gallium_Experiment#Gallium_anomaly|Gallium Anomaly}}, is an example of a precise experiment to understand a specific phenomenon. The difference between the expectation and reality is small, but significant, and indicates our models of physics are inaccurate.

The third question concerns {{w|Whisker_(metallurgy)|zinc whiskers}} — a phenomenon, that sounds extremely strange at first sight, where a piece of metal (in this case zinc) can 'grow' hair-like filaments on its surface. Hair is usually thought of as an organic property, and spontaneous change in a block of metal would not be a typical problem most people would expect. Thus [[Randall]] considers this phenomenon [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/Category:Comics_with_cursed_items cursed].

The title text mentions {{w|tin pest}} — a transformation which causes deterioration of moldable white tin into brittle powdery grey tin in cold weather. Randall considers this an understandable rebellion of the tin against being forced into shapes that we want it to take, whereas he cannot understand the motivation of zinc to grow hair. In reality, metallic elements do not have motivations and intentions.{{cn}}

All of these are real phenomena.

==Transcript==

{{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
: The Three Types of Unsolved Physics Problem

: Vague
: [A Feynman diagram of two particles interacting via the electromagnetic force is to the right of Cueball. The diagram is drawn on a curved surface]
: Cueball: What is the nature of time in quantum gravity? Is it a background parameter, a dynamic aspect of spacetime, or an emergent phenomenon?

: Precise
: [A scientific instrument and a nuclear reaction equation of gallium-71 becoming germanium-71 are to Megan's left]
: Megan: Why does the ''S.A.G.E.'' Gallium Neutrino Capture Experiment produce only 75% as much germanium as predicted?

: Cursed
: [A rectangular block of zinc, with whiskers growing out of it, is visible to the right of White Hat]
: White Hat: Why does some metal randomly grow hairs?
: White Hat: It keeps causing short circuits and we have no idea what's going on.
: Voice from off-panel: Is this a joke?
: White Hat: No! Please help!

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>

[[Category:Comics with cursed items]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
[[Category:Comics featuring White Hat]]