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<p>2601:147:4982:D290:BD1F:CE85:8E6F:2056: /* Explanation */ added links</p> <hr /> <div>{{comic<br /> | number = 3255<br /> | date = June 5, 2026<br /> | title = Planetary Science<br /> | image = planetary_science_2x.png<br /> | imagesize = 277x388px<br /> | noexpand = true<br /> | titletext = The research was overseen by the Institutional Review Board, which is what I named my surfboard.<br /> }}<br /> <br /> ==Explanation==<br /> {{incomplete|This comic was found on a planet with internet on it!}}<br /> This comic is presented as a scientific article in which astronomers claim to have discovered &quot;evidence for liquid water on the surface of a {{w|terrestrial planet}} in the {{w|habitable zone}}&quot; -- however, as the accompanying photos (four people on a beach, of whom two are sitting under an umbrella and one is making sand castles) show, the planet in question is {{w|Earth}}. This would not be considered a noteworthy discovery.{{cn}} Finding other planets that have liquid water is a notable result, as water is necessary to support Earth-like life, so a planet with water could possibly have life on it. However, we already know about life on Earth existing, so this article is hardly useful or practical.<br /> <br /> There is value in using Earth as an example of a planet in a habitable zone, such as [https://www.nasa.gov/universe/atacama-rover-astrobiology-drilling-studies-arads/ testing life-detection experiments in remote inhospitable environments] or [https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-would-we-know-theres-life-on-earth-this-bold-experiment-found-out/ as a proxy for future astronomical observations], but not in-situ photographic investigation. Maybe the astronomers should have brought their {{w|spectrometer}} on vacation.<br /> <br /> An {{w|institutional review board}} is a committee of researchers which ensures that research carried out at their institution is ethical. In the title text, this is referenced to be the literal name of a {{w|surfboard}}, which is a board used for the recreational activity of {{w|surfing}}, not serious academic activities. Presumably one of the researchers used this as an excuse to post their pictures of a surfing holiday. Of course, 'the Institutional Review Board' is a very strange name for a surfboard,{{Citation needed}} and its only purpose would be for this (somewhat bad) excuse.<br /> <br /> ==Transcript==<br /> {{incomplete transcript|Don't remove this notice too soon.}}<br /> :[An article from a journal is shown.]<br /> :[Title of journal article:] Evidence for Liquid Water on the Surface of a Terrestrial Planet in the Habitable Zone<br /> :[Below the title are four lines of blurred text presumably representing the name of the author or authors and their affiliations. Below that, the text of the article is blurred, displayed in two columns. There are three sections of blurred text each with a blurred boldface heading. Two pictures are included amid the blurred text. The picture in the left column shows the sea running alongside a beach. The picture in the right column shows Jill and Kidball playing at the beach, with Jill running and Kidball building a sandcastle, while Cueball and Megan are sitting under a beach umbrella watching them.]<br /> :[Caption below the article:]<br /> :Planetary science journals have asked astronomers to please stop submitting their vacation photos.<br /> <br /> {{comic discussion}}&lt;noinclude&gt;<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring children]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Kidball]]<br /> [[Category:Comics featuring Jill]]<br /> [[Category:Scientific research]]<br /> [[Category:Astronomy]]</div>

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