explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:3112: Geology Murder

2025-07-12T18:30:50Z

76.180.44.2:

Is it just me, or is xkcd.com being non-responsive? Obviously, it has been successfully grabbed from by the BOT, and I even checked a few "is it down" sites... which say that it's up. But I'm getting nothing back but spinny cursors, going to either xkcd.com or any xkcd.com/<number> ...with no other reason to believe that 'it ''is'' just me', like other clearly running places also not being reachable in my own case. [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.228|92.23.2.228]] 20:09, 7 July 2025 (UTC)
:It worked fine for me on the first attempt, so I guess it's just you. But when I was submitting the transcript here I got a "make sure you're logged in" error. Resubmitting (without having to re-login) worked. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 20:25, 7 July 2025 (UTC)
:And I got the same error when first submitting the above comment. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 20:25, 7 July 2025 (UTC)
:The transcript silently corrects the spelling error (?) in uncomformably. [[Special:Contributions/208.82.100.219|208.82.100.219]] 21:00, 7 July 2025 (UTC)
::The transcript has been fixed, and it was not a spelling error - it's a geology word. [[Special:Contributions/208.82.100.219|208.82.100.219]] 03:52, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
:It's been intermittently non-responsive and/or landing on error pages for over a month. Speculation ranges from issues with the server to issues with the content-delivery-network (CloudFlare), to a deliberate attack, to AI-scraping bots, to an iron-rich penetration from an alternate universe (just added that one to the list), and probably more. [[Special:Contributions/64.201.132.210|64.201.132.210]] 21:07, 7 July 2025 (UTC) [Update: I meant explainxkcd is intermittently non-responsive. xkcd seems as responsive as the rest of the web lately. [[Special:Contributions/64.201.132.210|64.201.132.210]] 16:08, 8 July 2025 (UTC)]
::Unless you mean explainxkcd.com (which I know is suffering, in those ways, but for longer), I actually haven't seen xkcd.com itself be like this. Recently or otherwise. Anyway, still not working for me, still ''is'' working for the "is it down" sites. Nor have I got anything strangely redirecting in my <code>hosts</code> file, etc. Also can ping (www.)xkcd.com perfectly happily, tracert gives no particular surprises (e.g. signs of being inconsistently MITMed), and I seem to get 100% connectivity with a ''different'' device at the same time as 0% with this one. So, it looks like "it's just me" in a weird way that ...I shall have to spend some personal time/effort getting a rational explanation for. Hmmm. [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.228|92.23.2.228]] 22:06, 7 July 2025 (UTC)
::: >''"100% connectivity with a different device at the same time as 0% with this one."'' This month, Cloudflare has been snooty, just at my favorite desktop. And on several sites, from APnews to odd hobby sites. All my newer laptops get in fine. I think Cloudflare is complaining about my aging O/S, which is silly ('''I''' am gonna infect '''them'''??) However I usually get the same robot-check, not a stall or spinner.
:I haven't noticed xkcd.com being non-responsive but I have noticed ''this'' site non-responsive from time-to-time. [[Special:Contributions/47.248.235.170|47.248.235.170]] 22:05, 7 July 2025 (UTC)Pat

Hmm. If material from the banded iron formations was mixed with coal, and subjected to the heat and pressure that create metamorphic rock, would iron be created? There would still be the problem of keeping it free of ground water so it didn't go back to iron oxides. [[User:BunsenH|BunsenH]] ([[User talk:BunsenH|talk]]) 04:48, 8 July 2025 (UTC)

Honestly, it feels like the level of evidence and rigor for a lot of evolutionary theory is about on par with the title text. Though I doubt that that was Randall's intent. [[Special:Contributions/2001:8003:6490:9700:66ED:199B:93A7:45ED|2001:8003:6490:9700:66ED:199B:93A7:45ED]] 06:43, 8 July 2025 (UTC)

Haemoglobin is not particularly iron-rich - it contains a single atom of iron. Blood is iron-rich because it contains a lot of haemoglobin. [[Special:Contributions/148.64.15.78|148.64.15.78]] 07:54, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
:Each {{w|Heme}} group has a single iron, but there are multiple hemes(/haemes/hæmes) in a full hemoglobin(/haemoglobin/hæmoglobin) protein structure. (Yes, vastly outnumbered by the rest of the carbons, etc, but still not a singular iron.) [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.228|92.23.2.228]] 20:50, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
:: The Earths crust is about 5% iron by mass. To a geologist "iron rich" would normally be somewhat over that, say 15%. In comparison the human body is below 0.01% iron (4g/50kg) and blood is perhaps 0.1% iron. Not sure if a geologist would be impressed that blood is perhaps 10 times the concentration of the surroundings, or so depleted compared to most of the materials they study.[[Special:Contributions/76.180.44.2|76.180.44.2]] 18:30, 12 July 2025 (UTC)

Would it be worth pointing out that geologist are unlikely to act with the urgency required by a murder investigation?[[Special:Contributions/2602:FF4D:128:D56:11B8:2B25:5D50:F4D5|2602:FF4D:128:D56:11B8:2B25:5D50:F4D5]] 23:56, 8 July 2025 (UTC)
:They'll get there eventually. Implacably. Leaving no stone unturned. [[User:BunsenH|BunsenH]] ([[User talk:BunsenH|talk]]) 04:32, 9 July 2025 (UTC)

Where does the part about "pipes carrying iron-rich fluid" come from? I don't see that in the comic or title text or transcript. [[User:Bmwiedemann|Bmwiedemann]] ([[User talk:Bmwiedemann|talk]]) 06:40, 9 July 2025 (UTC)
: Check the title text on the comic: "After determining that his body was full of pipes carrying iron-rich fluid, our current theory is that the dagger-shaped object precipitated within the wound." [[Special:Contributions/163.116.145.31|163.116.145.31]] 14:20, 9 July 2025 (UTC)

Talk:3109: Dehumidifier

2025-07-05T16:35:26Z

76.180.44.2:

Having network access can have some use for a dehumidifier, e.g. to remotely set the target humidity level, or get notifications when the water tank needs to get emptied. But having devices that depend on a specific app or a vendor-provided remote service risks having a useless device after a while ... --[[Special:Contributions/134.102.219.31|134.102.219.31]] 13:19, 30 June 2025 (UTC)
:Humidifiers typically have a physical control to set a target humidity level, and even the most basic models turn off when the water tank gets full. Since humans can't really tell the difference between 40-60%, which is the range of most humidifiers, there is no need for a remote control to change the humidity levels on a machine. As for the water tank, regular use of the humidifier will teach the user about how long it can run before turning off and needing to be emptied. {{unsigned ip|136.62.110.93|13:58, 30 June 2025 (UTC)}}
::Though there might be a device that attempts to do [[2753: Air Handler|both jobs]], note that this is a {{w|dehumidifier}} (as you functionally refer to) and not ''necessarily'' also a capable {{w|humidifier}} (as you namechecked it). [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.228|92.23.2.228]] 17:53, 30 June 2025 (UTC)
:::uh, I forgot the leading 'de' . we're currently dealing with a semi-functional a/c unit in our business warehouse/office space. having to keep running the DEhumidifier to keep the temp reasonable during work hours. not enough condensate capacity to run over night, so it shuts off after about 10-12 hours. at least it runs on simple mechanical controls with no reliance on wi-fi 13:40, 1 July 2025 (UTC)
::: i had a good laugh at this comic, as i am designing dehumidifiers and they include wireless connectivity.....but there are reasons for this. But is more for monitoring, like e.g. in a water damage case the resoration company can see if the room is dry without having a technician drive to the location.
:::this comic will end up on our wall, together with [https://xkcd.com/242/ xkcd:242 The Difference]--[[Special:Contributions/84.46.99.18|84.46.99.18]] 06:41, 1 July 2025 (UTC)

"if they discover a new kind of water" - There are several varieties of heavy water (common Hydrogen deuterium, tritium; common oxygen, various other isotopes), not to mention several [wiki:Phases of ice|phases of ice]. [[Special:Contributions/64.201.132.210|64.201.132.210]] 20:31, 30 June 2025 (UTC)
:I restored the part about phases of ice, because dehumidifiers do deal with ice (when icing up, and if the ambient temperature gets low). Mostly put it back because I thought a mention of {{w|ice-nine}} would be fun. [[Special:Contributions/2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:B2|2600:387:4:803:0:0:0:B2]] 20:42, 30 June 2025 (UTC)

Is the salesman Hairy? Seems similar but not quite enough hair, I'm not sure who he's supposed to be --[[User:Darth Vader|Darth Vader]] ([[User talk:Darth Vader|talk]]) 21:17, 30 June 2025 (UTC)
: I'd say it's him.--[[User:FaviFake|FaviFake]] ([[User talk:FaviFake|talk]]) 22:19, 30 June 2025 (UTC)

hydrogen peroxide.--[[User:Bb777|me, hi]] ([[User talk:Bb777|talk]]) 01:12, 1 July 2025 (UTC)
:It's made of the same elements, but it isn't water. [[User:BunsenH|BunsenH]] ([[User talk:BunsenH|talk]]) 02:29, 1 July 2025 (UTC)
:still liquid. --[[User:Bb777|me, hi]] ([[User talk:Bb777|talk]]) 21:44, 2 July 2025 (UTC)
::better patch that hole i made with hydrogen peroxide.--[[User:Bb777|me, hi]] ([[User talk:Bb777|talk]]) 21:49, 2 July 2025 (UTC)
:Hydrogen peroxide is not to be confused with {{w|DHMO|Dihydrogen Monoxide}} --[[Special:Contributions/134.102.219.31|134.102.219.31]] 11:30, 1 July 2025 (UTC)
:"Two guys walk into a bar. One says, 'I'll have H₂O.' The other says, 'I'll have H₂O too.' The second guy dies.", Anonymous --[[User:Ptdecker66|Ptdecker66]] ([[User talk:Ptdecker66|talk]]) 14:10, 1 July 2025 (UTC)

Ice-nine is mentioned once in the trivia section. Did the user that added that mean to say ice-IX, were they unaware that ice-nine is fictional, or was it meant to be a joke? I thought that any "jokes" in the explanation were supposed to be technically factual, such as adding [citation needed] to a plainly obvious statement. Please forgive me for asking this stupid question. [[Special:Contributions/47.14.13.170|47.14.13.170]] 01:22, 1 July 2025 (UTC)
:Yes, it's supposed to all be factual. I've updated that. [[User:BunsenH|BunsenH]] ([[User talk:BunsenH|talk]]) 02:29, 1 July 2025 (UTC)

I just mentioned acoustic-based/light-based attack vectors and that patches might circumvent them. I've heard of them used against other devices, but never against a dehumidifier. Citation needed? [[Special:Contributions/181.214.218.75|181.214.218.75]] 17:36, 1 July 2025 (UTC)

NOTE: water molecules do NOT exchange hydrogen ATOMS. atoms contain both protons and electrons. even your reference states that water molecules exchange PROTONS, not atoms. {{unsigned ip|2607:fb90:8a91:4e30:3c86:6f12:78c6:fe52|00:30, 2 July 2025}}

Does it at least support water conservation? [[User:StapleFreeBatteries|StapleFreeBatteries]] ([[User talk:StapleFreeBatteries|talk]]) 06:06, 2 July 2025 (UTC)
:It probably supports water conversation, at the very least. [[Special:Contributions/92.23.2.228|92.23.2.228]] 18:18, 2 July 2025 (UTC)

Improving the functioning of a dehumidifier does not require a new type of water. It could for example have a variable speed motor and prop-expansion valve. It is impossible to explore the full range of possible operations, so continuing engineering may be able to find better ways to operate the hardware without alterations. I worked on industrial equipment; we would routinely rollout software upgrades that would tweak a few percent improvement in installed equipment. [[Special:Contributions/76.180.44.2|76.180.44.2]] 16:35, 5 July 2025 (UTC)