explain xkcd - User contributions [en]

Talk:3231: Lightning

2026-04-11T00:59:56Z

I don't know if this is important, but at least right now there is no period. Might change later. [[User:Majordesmosnerd|Majordesmosnerd]] ([[User talk:Majordesmosnerd|talk]]) 20:52, 10 April 2026 (UTC)

im not sure how to insert it into the current state of the explanation, but by being a lightning rod nearby but higher up, he ''is'' providing protection to ponytail, right? - [[User:Vaedez|Vaedez]] ([[User talk:Vaedez|talk]]) 21:04, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
:That does seem to be the premise, but I doubt that a few inches are sufficient for this, especially if they're several feet apart. But I had the same idea and already put it into the explanation. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 21:11, 10 April 2026 (UTC)

Ironically, wearing a (properly grounded) anti-static strap would actually _increase_ the odds of being struck by lightning, turning you into a human lightning rod. The whole point of an anti-static strap is to dissipate any intrinsic potential difference between you and the ground, thus making you a (marginally) shorter path for the extreme potential difference between the clouds and the ground state. [[Special:Contributions/50.47.191.231|50.47.191.231]] 21:10, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
- and of course someone said that in the explanation in the time it took me to write the comment. :-p. [[Special:Contributions/50.47.191.231|50.47.191.231]] 21:12, 10 April 2026 (UTC)
:[https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/649:_Static Fortunately, Randall also presents an alternative solution.] [[Special:Contributions/216.7.114.74|216.7.114.74]] 23:13, 10 April 2026 (UTC)

Timing kinda sucks for this one: [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz90vpvlvq3o Colorado officials trying to identify woman struck by lightning]. [[User:RandalSchwartz|RandalSchwartz]] ([[User talk:RandalSchwartz|talk]]) 22:54, 10 April 2026 (UTC)

Compare xkcd [[795]]. [[User:X|X]] ([[User talk:X|talk]]) 00:59, 11 April 2026 (UTC)

Talk:3227: Creation

2026-04-01T23:38:26Z

did anyone else wait for the screensaver to hit the corner? [[Special:Contributions/216.25.182.141|216.25.182.141]] 20:13, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

I can't work out what Modem mode is meant to do... on my machine it just freezes the whole page. [[Special:Contributions/78.213.151.110|78.213.151.110]] 20:22, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:It plays the sound of an old-style phone modem, and scrolls the comic into view slowly. It's supposed to represent the early days when downloading an image would take a long time. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 20:31, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:can confirm on android firefox it seems to render the page unresponsive to input - [[User:Vaedez|Vaedez]] ([[User talk:Vaedez|talk]]) 21:18, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:Same here on Desktop Firefox - under "Modem mode", the whole page freezes up and the browser prompts me to close it ("this page is slowing down Firefox", or words to that effect). I wonder if it's a Firefox thing - odd if so, because I imagine Randall of all people would test on browsers other than Chrom* - or some weird side-effect of my ad/popup/script/cookie-blockers. A shame because all the other modes seem to work - "Greyscale mode" is far too subtle, and I'm ashamed to admit I missed the change from "math" to "maths"! - but this is a great April Fools' comic. [[Special:Contributions/50.45.232.78|50.45.232.78]] 22:56, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

I clicked darker mode and my screen is black and I cant undo it help
:I assume you mean Darkest Mode, since there's no darker mode. The screen turns black but if you look carefully you can still see the grey of the menu and you can click on it. Also, the menu border continues to appear after you select the choice (at least it does on my Mac). P.S. Don't forget to sign your comment with 4 ~ characters. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 20:31, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

Modem mode doesn’t work for me what does it do [[Special:Contributions/2A06:5906:1412:4100:352D:1A2:184:5F3|2A06:5906:1412:4100:352D:1A2:184:5F3]] 20:29, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:Modem mode makes the comic slowly print from above [[Special:Contributions/216.25.182.141|216.25.182.141]] 20:34, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

I see the mobile site m.xkcd.com was left out on this change😔 [[Special:Contributions/104.28.215.219|104.28.215.219]] 20:37, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

I read “Modern mode” instead of Modem mode and I spent a while making wild theories about what it could be referencing. But I’m also quite sleepy. [[Special:Contributions/146.70.116.107|146.70.116.107]] 20:51, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

I deminified the code if anyone wants it. There are no hidden options or anything like right-click has, but it would be extremely easy to add modes to it. [[Special:Contributions/2601:441:4B7E:7660:0:0:0:AC72|2601:441:4B7E:7660:0:0:0:AC72]] 20:59, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

"Modem mode" works for me in Chromium, but not Firefox. [[User:Robobun|Robobun]] ([[User talk:Robobun|talk]]) 21:06, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:For me it's just slow on Firefox. It takes about 5 seconds to clear the comic and start scrolling it back in, and the static doesn't start until it's almost all showing. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 21:11, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

applies across the whole website? i forsee a preservation effort in the near future to capture What This Was Like, when randall inevitably removes the menu and all its modes--there's no chance this is staying, is there? - [[User:Vaedez|Vaedez]] ([[User talk:Vaedez|talk]]) 21:24, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:It applies to older comics, but not other parts of the site. I'm also wondering if this might be just for April Fool's Day. [[User:Barmar|Barmar]] ([[User talk:Barmar|talk]]) 21:27, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:: I know it's april the 1st, but could we keep the modes? Stainglass is fun when the background doesn't turn maroon (and makes the text hard to read). I also checked other pages of xkcd, the modes are on on the other comics.
::Of course it's the April Fools'/Fools' comic. Nice to see it being on time, this year, and I too wonder how long it'll stay. Might it permanently stay on this comic page, perhaps even stay if you jump off of it, but comic 3228 (or the 'default' latest-comic page) will probably be back to normal on Friday. [[Special:Contributions/81.179.199.253|81.179.199.253]] 22:14, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

Finally we have the Boat Mode from the footer! [[User:B_for_brain|B for brain]] ([[User_talk:B_for_brain|talk]]) ([https://www.youtube.com/@bforbrain youtube channel] [https://bforbrain.weebly.com/ wobsite (supposed to be a blag)]) 21:33, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

'''Attention admins''' I think there's an "oops" in this line:
<nowiki>To experience the interactivity, visit the {{xkcd|{comicNum}|original comic}}!</nowiki>
[[Special:Contributions/64.201.132.210|64.201.132.210]] 21:43, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

Has the full footer always been there? "xkcd.com is best viewed with Netscape Navigator 4.0 or below on a Pentium 3±1 emulated in Javascript on an Apple IIGS at a screen resolution of 1024x1. Please enable your ad blockers, disable high-heat drying, and remove your device from Airplane Mode and set it to Boat Mode. For security reasons, please leave caps lock on while browsing." --[[User:Chance2travel|Chance2travel]] ([[User talk:Chance2travel|talk]]) 22:30, 1 April 2026 (UTC)
:Yes, always has been. Learn more at the page for [[Footnote]]. [[Special:Contributions/104.28.215.219|104.28.215.219]] 23:17, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

I think the Dorian Greyscale Mode takes 5 minutes to complete. I see this in the Javascript: <code>body.mode-dorian-greyscale {\n transition: filter 300s ease-out;</code> [[User:Pgn674|Pgn674]] ([[User talk:Pgn674|talk]]) 22:36, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

Dorian Greyscale Mode seems like it ought to use only the white keys on a standard piano, and go DEGFCDBA, with adjacent notes differing in a single bit position. [[Special:Contributions/2A02:8084:2862:4F80:65B7:327D:E614:342F|2A02:8084:2862:4F80:65B7:327D:E614:342F]] 22:56, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

I'd love to know if the modem mode's audio file decodes to anything if you try to decode it as a v.92 stream or something similar. [[Special:Contributions/2603:6011:4504:D100:3BD0:B617:9D7:1C80|2603:6011:4504:D100:3BD0:B617:9D7:1C80]] 23:24, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

Stained Glass Mode doesn't show title text? Might be a bug [[User:X|X]] ([[User talk:X|talk]]) 23:38, 1 April 2026 (UTC)

3227: Creation

2026-04-01T23:30:43Z

{{comic
| number = 3227
| date = April 1, 2026
| title = Creation
| image = creation_2x.png
| imagesize = 567x198px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = This xkcd.com update introduces a variety of new reading modes which can be activated through the menu.
}}
{{series
| series = April
| number = 18
| date = April 1, 2026
| days_late =
| day_category = Wednesday
| prev_title = 3074: Push Notifications
| prev_date = April 9, 2025
| next_title =
| next_date =
}}
To experience the interactivity of the game, visit the {{xkcd|3227|original comic}}!

==Explanation==
{{incomplete|This page was created recently in ROBOTIC MODE. Don't remove this notice too soon.}}
This comic was created when modes were added to the xkcd website, on April Fool's Day, through a selectable drop-down list below the comic. This allows various different viewing options for the comic. Some are 'normal', like the typical "light" and "dark" modes, but others take such things in further and/or more esoteric ways. This includes an "airplane mode" (see below) that parodies and subverts the {{w|Airplane mode|normal implementation}}.

The comic references one of the first lines of the bible, about God making light, but then a person on Earth asks to turn on {{w|dark mode}}, referencing the new options. The options are on every comic now except interactive comics.

Unlike most comics, the title text isn't really a joke, it merely 'explains' the update and gives basic instructions.

The comic credits the "Excellent Design Team", consisting of Amber, Benjamin, Staffin, and Kevin who helped create the modes.

MODES:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Mode
! Description
|-
| Light Mode
| The classic site appearance, with no actual changes to the appearance applied.
|-
| Lighter Mode
| The entire web page is overexposed, making colors wash out and reducing the contrast.
|-
| Dark Mode
| A standard "white content on black background" dark mode.
|-
| Darkest Mode
| Everything on the webpage turns completely black, sans the drop down menu which is merely a dark gray.
|-
| Blurry Mode
| Blurs the entire webpage.
|-
| Grayscale Mode
| Applies a standard grayscale conversion filter to the entire webpage.
|-
| Greyscale Mode
| Like Grayscale Mode, but also changes the spelling of "math" in the slogan at the top of the page to "maths" (as in British English).
|-
| Dorian Greyscale Mode
| Makes the webpage slowly turn grey. This refers to {{w|The Picture of Dorian Gray}}, in which the titular character has a portrait that slowly ages and fades out while the character stays young and handsome.
|-
| Space Opera Mode
| Turns the entire page into a StarWars style opening scroll.
|-
| 3D Mode
| Makes the comic render in {{w|Anaglyph_3D|anaglyphic stereoscopy}}.
|-
| Origami Mode
| Rotates various pieces of the webpage.
|-
| Ink Mode
| Recolors the webpage as if drawn in blue ink.
|-
| Spring Mode
| Gives the comic a simple physics simulation, making it slightly rotate as the page is scrolled.
|-
| Antipodes Mode
| Turns the entire webpage upside down. An antipode is the point on the Earth's surface directly opposite of another, but "The Antipodes" is also term used for Australia and New Zealand by inhabitants of the northern hemisphere. Note: When the comic was first published this was labeled "Southern Hemisphere Mode".
|-
| Hacker Mode
| Recolors the entire webpage in the stereotypical "green on black" hacker color scheme.
|-
| Screensaver Mode
| Makes the comic float around on the webpage, bouncing as it hits the edges.
|-
| Modem Mode
| Slowly reveals the comic top to bottom, as if slowly loading, accompanied with modem static audio playing.
|-
| Stained Glass Mode
| Colors each closed area of the comic in a separate color. The colors vary each time this mode is selected.
|-
| Airplane Mode
| Makes the comic fly around on the page, with a "NYOOM!" written next to it. This is unlike the usual use of "airplane mode" to refer to disabling the cellphone (or all RF) features of a mobile device.
|-
| Boat Mode
| Makes the entire webpage tilt back and forth, emulating the way a boat rolls on the water. (It has been previously used as a reference in the [[Footnote]], which says "Remove your device from airplane mode and set it to Boat Mode).
|}

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

[Panel 1. Black background with white caption boxes.]

Caption 1: And God said,

Caption 2: "Let there be light,"

[Panel 2. A bright explosion of light from a star in the center.]

Caption: And there was light.

[Panel 3. The star with bright rays of light is shown against the horizon of a planet.]

[Panel 4. The same planet horizon is shown with a clear sky above.]

Caption: God saw that the light was-

Voice from the planet: Can you add support for dark mode?

{{comic discussion}}<noinclude>[[Category:Interactive comics]][[Category:Dynamic comics]][[Category:April Fools' Day comics]]

Talk:3173: Satellite Imagery

2025-11-28T21:18:04Z

This is another comic in the ''My Hobby'' series, and is also about pranking conspiracy theorists. [[Special:Contributions/2001:4C4E:1C08:2800:DC6F:548F:9B29:AAE1|2001:4C4E:1C08:2800:DC6F:548F:9B29:AAE1]] 21:43, 26 November 2025 (UTC)
:Not pranking conspiracy theorists... Pranking the kind of people that conspiracy theorists theorise about. There's clear indication that they are working for one or other "three letter agency" (or else they'd be directly blaming No Such Agency/whoever, over and above the other explanations they're considering) and are trained and salaried analysts, rather than armchair hobbyists of the more nebulously self-organised and self-motivating kind. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.70|82.132.245.70]] 00:12, 27 November 2025 (UTC)

I know there are places (like parts of Oregon) that ''look'' pixelated due to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Checkerboarding_(land) checkerboarded land ownership]. But something like ''this'' would be next-level! --[[User:Aaron of Mpls|Aaron of Mpls]] ([[User talk:Aaron of Mpls|talk]]) 03:32, 27 November 2025 (UTC)

imagine how much more terrifying it'd be if you did that with the sky :P [[Special:Contributions/176.126.228.189|176.126.228.189]] 08:41, 27 November 2025 (UTC)

If that (original, pre 'censorship tiles') image is not cleverly composited from multiple sources (including perhaps decorated by perlin-noise and/or hue-shifted), it might ''just'' be possible to chase down the actual shot used, with a little dedication. The particular colour of the landscape (being wary of seasonal variation) might tie it down to a subset of semi-arid regions through which rivers are flowing, with a bit of cultural guessing on top.<br/>I'm guessing, from the limited cues (the 'track' footprints, and the natural evolution of the junction curves through continued use of a turnoff) that the 'pixel' tiles are 100-200 yds on-the-ground. There's limited topological information (except for in analysing the fluvial and alluvial vicinities of the riverine cutbanks) but no immediate sign of extreme gradients — only hints that some adjacent dirt-tracks don't connect due to it being less flat/level in places.<br />A practiced jigsaw-doer should be able to scroll across a Google Maps (or other vendor's) photo-overheads and twig when the right sort of features pass by. We're even good at handling orientation differences (the trickiest thing Randall might have done is to rotate his 'piece' arbitrarily, but we've all had to deal with bits of fuzzy cloud/undergrowth/stonework that could be ''any'' way round, when trying to match against the box image — which is additionally faded or otherwise not really properly colour-matched). The difference being that there's no 'giving up on this piece' (maybe no more than a couple of miles square, 'on the ground'), after five or ten minutes, to pass onto the next awkward 'middle of the difficult patch' one to see if you might have slightly better luck in whittling down the unmatched spaces. [[Special:Contributions/82.132.245.70|82.132.245.70]] 16:55, 27 November 2025 (UTC)
:Well, if we are assuming that this image is of a real location, I would suggest analyzing datasets containing all the water features of a region (lakes, rivers, etc.) to help narrow down general regions to look at. However, looking closely at the image, I am fairly certain that it's a digital painting and not a photo. [[Special:Contributions/199.247.247.123|199.247.247.123]] 22:36, 27 November 2025 (UTC)
::If totally drawn, there's a ''lot'' of unnecessary and fiddly pixel-level detail (sandbars in the river, bankside tracks, the nature of the track-ends around whatever nature of outpost they lead to) that really needn't have been contrived from all the necessary digital-pen strokes needed to implement.
::And you'd be referencing real overhead images, at the very least, to even think you'd need those. And to not try to represent the water as much bluer (there are several reasons it wouldn't be, which also persuades me that it's a satellite ground-survey rather than a mere aerial one), because "reality is unrealistic". [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.49|82.132.244.49]] 00:54, 28 November 2025 (UTC)

The title text reminds me of the Map Men episode in which the existence of the watermark was presented as proof that Google was trying to claim Bir Tawil. [[Special:Contributions/209.188.63.98|209.188.63.98]] 17:11, 27 November 2025 (UTC)

'''WHERE IS THIS?''' Can anyone figure out from the map where this is? [[Special:Contributions/154.47.27.37|154.47.27.37]] 22:47, 27 November 2025 (UTC)
: According to ChatGPT it's most likely somewhere in Namibia (assuming it's showing a real place at all). The explanation is quite long (and plausible, imo), this is its concusion: "Based purely on visual features — terrain color, river shape, road type, isolation, and the dark depression — the image most plausibly resembles: An area in Namibia shaped by an ephemeral river system (especially in the Kuiseb–Ugab–Huab region, or nearby gravel plains)" Other, less likely options it mentioned were: Nevada/Arizona, Australia and (Saudi) Arabia [[User:Elektrizikekswerk|Elektrizikekswerk]] ([[User talk:Elektrizikekswerk|talk]]) 10:14, 28 November 2025 (UTC)
:: I see why they're doubtful: {{w|List of countries without rivers}} . [[Special:Contributions/181.214.218.38|181.214.218.38]] 19:15, 28 November 2025 (UTC)

The explanation jumps to conclusions that are not stated in the comic. Satellite images are used by various professions, intelligence officers are only one of them. Other professions are stock analysts, environmental investigators, or data journalists. The comic itself only speaks of remote sensing. --[[Special:Contributions/2001:638:807:507:D4BF:ABF3:E094:D532|2001:638:807:507:D4BF:ABF3:E094:D532]] 09:27, 28 November 2025 (UTC)
:Feel free to add/expand the other possibilities. My take, though, is:
:*Contractors mentioned. Excludes tertiary information-gathering (opensource analysis), and ''probably'' primary intel (IMINT, possibly real-time, direct from NRO-sponsored 'asset' or equivalent national effort, at the top level of strategic importance; private corporate entities operating their own ground-imaging satellites for commercial reasons)... Rules in lower-level IntAls doing basic regional groundwork, rules out "citizen science" and probably the original explanation of a conspiracy-theory collective working with whatever crumbs of available info they can seize upon.
:*The possible "one of [their own] people" doesn't narrow who 'us' is, but implies a more sprawling hierarchy (passing along the images) in their organisation(/collective set of ''mostly'' collaborative organisations) than most corporate setups, or NGOs (e.g. 'tree counters'/'desert measurers' for UN climate change-assessors), and certainly not a close-knit group of enthusiasts (a 'conspracy clique' or academic department where the blame options are limited ("Damnit Steve!").
:*"Foreign actors" (assuming they don't mean the likes of Ryan Gosling/Ryan Reynolds, or Gerard Butler/Gérard Depardieu) sets up a direct 'us/them' contrast with the prior choice. Heavily implies these guys we see qualify as "domestic actors" working at a multinational level. If they were corporate, you'd expect business rivals mentioned (foreign and/or domestic). If mere 'interested citizens', they might blame "the[ir] government"/its TLAs for thwarting their investigations. You might even expect a ''particular'' foreign government/agency in most circumstances, especially that of the territory being observed or the obvious main external competitor in regional dominance. But here it's a general 'one or other foreign' parties with a shared stake in that part of the world. Also rules out 'us' being an internationalised collective, with the talents of multiple nations contributing (academically, in business, UN NGO, something like Bellingcat or some world-wide web of conspiracy-theorism). Or even a "Five Eyes" intelligence collaboration.
:*Then there's the expectation that they ''should and ought to'' have some idea who has posession of this site. Investigative journalism might be open to discovering something new (to their particular dossier of knowledge), but it suggests that there's an expectation of access to comprehensive (shared-)intelligence covering everywhere and everything, no matter how vague the rumour or papertrail. That's more a major Intelligence Agency mindset, than any of the other options.
:The confluence of these clues (assuming Randall wasn't being deliberately careless/contrary to his internal imagination, which seems unlikely given the not-too-confusing conclusion, and unlike him in general) leads to something along the lines of some Pentagon/Langley/Fort Meade-type team with a responsibility for grinding out general background info in some theatre such as Syria or parts of Africa, where multiple (competing-but-'not-competing') non-local nations and unsanctioned militias may well have set up bases of operations, as well as local civilians residing there. Which agrees with my guess that this (if the grabbed image is chosen specifically to match the written-in scenario) is supposed to be an area with currently flowing (as of the image) ephemerally-wet wadi, rather than featuring a Utah creek or an Australian-outback (that kind of thing being looked at by locally-interested business interests, rather than by military-type folks/etc, unless there's some more prominent concern about foreign-sponsored off-grid militias than is publically acknowledgable).
:So it's admitedly a bit of a Sherlock Scan, holistically putting the clues together, rather than as obvious as a bold name-plate attached to the wall above the projection-screen that ''explicitly'' namechecks the agency/department they're working in. But multiple small and explainable steps that lead to (a high probability of) one particular scenario, rather than a leapt-to presumption without justification. Takes more words than I'd like, to pad out into a full explanation of the more symbolic thought processes, but seems to have survived a self-skeptical analysis and reconsideration of the various alternatives mentioned (and others not yet mentioned).
:Except, perhaps, for sloppy (but coincidentally self-consistent) writing on Randall's part. Except that that doesn't sound like him at all! But I'm of course happy to see alternative interpretations mentioned here/above if you can mesh suitable reinterpretaions together via credible replacement insights. I've no monopoly on knowing the mind of the author, by any means. And apologies to anyone who found this to be too long a reply! [[Special:Contributions/82.132.244.49|82.132.244.49]] 16:43, 28 November 2025 (UTC)
:That dark spot in the top right is probably a cloud me thinks. [[User:X|X]] ([[User talk:X|talk]]) 21:18, 28 November 2025 (UTC)

1916: Temperature Preferences

2025-10-27T23:04:30Z

X: pretty sure thats not possible by definition

{{comic
| number = 1916
| date = November 15, 2017
| title = Temperature Preferences
| image = temperature_preferences.png
| titletext = There's a supposed Mark Twain quote, "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco." It isn't really by Mark Twain, but I don't know who said it—I just know they've never been to McMurdo Station.
}}

==Explanation==
This is a chart of major (and not-so-major) populated areas showing seasonal temperature patterns. The chart is a guide to where one might like to live depending on how much summer heat and winter cold they enjoy. There are four focused zones:

* Hate both cold and heat -- Neither summers nor winters are too extreme. These are either places at high altitude in the tropics (e.g. Quito, Addis Ababa) or areas at mid latitudes in Mediterranean climates (e.g. San Francisco, Wellington). All of these areas (as well as cities near this zone such as Mexico City and Melbourne) have a climate type of C-b in the Koppen Climate Classification, indicating a temperate climate with a warm summer.
* Hate cold but love heat -- Very hot in the summer. These are all either tropical regions with a latitude of 23°26’ or less (e.g. Rio, Bangkok, Manila) or desert areas very near the tropics (e.g. Needles, Baghdad). These areas all have a climate type of A-, indicating a tropical rainforest, savanna, or monsoon climate; or a classification of B-h, indicating a hot desert or arid climate. All cities listed with a Af/Am/Aw climate type fall in this zone.
* Hate heat but love cold -- Very cold in the winter. These are typically places at high latitudes (e.g. Moscow, Oslo), with almost none of the places listed below 40°, and the average latitude being 51°. These areas tend of have a climate type of B-k, indicating a cold desert or steppe, or D-b, indicating a continental climate with a warm summer. Some of coldest places, including those off of the chart, have a climate of Dfc subarctic (e.g. Fairbanks and Yellowknife) or EF ice cap (McMurdo).
* Love both heat and cold -- Both summers and winters are extreme. These places are either in the inland of North America (e.g. Sioux Falls, Kansas City) where there is no nearby ocean to buffer temperatures; or, interestingly, clustered around the Yellow Sea (e.g. Seoul, Beijing). These places are almost all climate type D-a, indicating a continental climate with a hot summer. Turpan, the place farthest toward the love heat/love cold corner, has a climate so miserable that it meets the requirements for both climate type BWk (cold desert) and BWh (hot desert) at the same time.{{actual citation needed}}

The summer heat axis is determined by {{w|humidex}}, a system that combines heat and humidity to generate an estimate of perceived "summer discomfort".

Note that if the values from this table are charted, the result is similar but not exact to how Randall drew the comic. For instance, he shows Kinshasa as having a “colder” winter than Honolulu, but the average low in the coldest month for Kinshasa (20°C) is hotter than the average low in Honolulu (18.9°C). In general these differences are minor, but a few stand out:

* Lubbock is shown having a climate similar to Geneva or Budapest, but in reality it should be in the “Love Cold and Love Heat” zone. The coldness of the winter is accurately reflected, but the hottest month Humidex is similar to Xi’an or Saint Louis.
* Casper is shown in the “Love Cold and Hate Heat” zone, but its summers are much warmer than shown. It should be closer to Toronto, both have a peak month Humidex of around 30-31°C.
* Omaha should be in the “Love Cold and Love Heat” zone. Its hottest month Humidex of 37.2 is warmer than Jinzou, which has a similar coldest month.
* Los Angeles should be in the “Hate Cold and Hate Heat” zone. Its hottest month Humidex is only 26.7, which is less than Mexico City or Nairobi.
* Flagstaff and Santa Fe are shown as having warmer winters than they do. They should be grouped with Boston, Kabul and Sapporo (average coldest month low of -5°C to -8°C) rather than Istanbul, Madrid and Portland (average coldest month low of 1°C to 2°C)

It is not certain if these differences are a due to errors, the use of a different data set, or deliberate “Easter Eggs” set to see if anyone would notice.

According to Randall:
* People who love cold should live where the average low in the coldest month is -3°C or less.
* People who love heat should live where the hottest month Humidex is at least 33°C (in otherwise cold places such as Minneapolis) to 38°C (in otherwise hot places such as Honolulu).
* People who hate cold should live where the average low in the coldest month is higher than 3°C.
* People who hate heat should live where the hottest month Humidex is less than 29°C.

However, given the great variability of weather patterns across the globe, it's not altogether clear how useful this would actually be to someone looking to choose where to live, since it's not clear exactly what "love/hate hot/cold" would mean. It's also not clear that the relationship between temperature and discomfort is linear. More likely is that there is a small temperature band where each degree of change causes significantly more discomfort, and beyond which it's just "too hot/cold".

Hottest and coldest month therefore may not be the best measure. For example, is one or two very cold days better or worse than a month's worth of moderately cold days? Shown in the table below for each place are the number of days above 32°C (90°F) and the number of days below 0°C (32°F), taken from Weatherbase.com (Randall's source). For most people a temperature above 32°C is considered hot and a temperature below 0°C is considered cold. So, for instance, someone who loves heat might want to live in Tehran (with three months above 32°C) rather than Beijing (with only one month) even though the peak month Humidex in Beijing is higher. Someone who loves cold might want to live in Santa Fe, where it never gets particularly cold (only -8°C) but where it is below freezing almost half of the year (179.8 days on average). In general though, the places with the most hot or cold days also have the hottest and coldest extremes.

Once again, Turpan stands out for its misery, with days above 32°C totaling four months and days below 0°C totaling four months. In fact, on average there is at least one day every month of the year that the temperature is either above 32°C or below 0°C. This includes almost every day in June, July and August being hot and every single day in December, January and February being below freezing.

Some of the most extreme climates on earth are not shown on this comic, however, perhaps because some of them are uninhabited. {{w|Eismitte}} (a camp established in the center of Greenland in the 1930s) and {{w|Vostok Station}} (in the center of Antarctica) both see temperatures far colder than McMurdo, although being in the middle of ice caps neither can be inhabited without outside support. The areas around {{w|Oymyakon}} and {{w|Verkhoyansk}} in eastern Siberia also see temperatures colder than McMurdo and are actual towns, although summer temperatures are much higher. In both places the summer weather is generally average (Humidex of 22°C to 23°C) but they have seen record highs of 34°C to 37°C and record lows of almost -68°C, giving them the greatest temperature swings on earth. {{w|Bouvet Island}} is a small island in the South Atlantic Ocean, near the latitude where there are no land masses to interrupt storms and currents (south of South America but north of Antarctica). As a result it has one of the most consistent climates on earth, with a high and low almost always within a few degrees of 0°C all year long – a perpetual state of almost to just freezing, combined with clouds, fog, wind and rain from ocean storms. {{w|Death Valley}} in California, {{w|Shahdad}} in Iran, and {{w|Murzuk}} in Libya all vie for having the highest temperature in the world, although not the highest Humidex.

The relevant temperature data for these extreme locations, where known, is in the second table for comparison.

The title text refers to a quote sometimes attributed to {{w|Mark Twain}}; however, as it points out, the quote is [https://www.snopes.com/quotes/twain.asp misattributed], and it is unknown who created it. The text then goes on to claim that the person who originally said the quote never visited {{w|McMurdo Station}}, a US Antarctic research center, which is certainly a colder place than San Francisco.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | City
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Country
! Continent
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Preference Type
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average low in coldest month (°C)
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average high in hottest month (°C)
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Highest monthly average dew point (°C)
! Humidex
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average Annual Days Below 0°C
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average Annual Days Above 32°C
! Latitude
! Elevation (m)
! Koppen Climate Classification
|-
| {{w|Abakan}} || Russia || Asia || || -22 || 26 || 13 || 28.8 || 207 || 6 || 53° 43′ N || 240 || Dwb (humid continental) / BSk (cold semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|Addis Ababa}} || Ethiopia || Africa || Hate Both || 10 || 22 || 11 || 23.8 || 0 || 0 || 9° 1′ N || 2355 || Cwb (subtropical highland)
|-
| {{w|Altay City|Altay}} || China || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -22 || 27 || 8 || 27.4 || 181 || 13 || 47° 52′ N || 887 || BSk (cold semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|Athens}} || Greece || Europe || || 7 || 31.8 || 14 || 35.2 || 2 || 34 || 37° 59′ N || 70 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Atlanta}} || United States || North America || || 1.3 || 31.7 || 20.1 || 39.4 || 36.3 || 35.7 || 33° 45′ N || 225 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Baghdad}} || Iraq || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 3 || 43 || 8 || 43.4 || 15 || 178 || 33° 20′ N || 34 || BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|Bangkok}} || Thailand || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 21 || 34 || 24 || 45.3 || 0 || || 13° 45′ N || 1.5 || Aw (tropical savanna)
|-
| {{w|Barcelona}} || Spain || Europe || || 4.4 || 28 || 18 || 34 || 6 || 1 || 41° 23′ N || 12 || Cfa (humid subtropical) / Csa (hot Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Beijing}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -8 || 30 || 20 || 37.6 || 121 || 30 || 39° 55′ N || 43.5 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Berlin}} || Germany || Europe || || -3 || 22 || 11 || 23.8 || 97 || 0 || 53° 31′ N || 34 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Blagoveshchensk}} || Russia || Asia || || -26.2 || 27.3 || 16 || 31.9 || 204 || 3 || 50° 15′ N || || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Bogotá}} || Colombia || South America || Hate Both || 6 || 19 || 10 || 20.3 || 0 || 0 || 4° 42′ N || 2640 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Boston}} || United States || North America || || -5.4 || 27.6 || 16.3 || 32.4 || 97.7 || 12.5 || 42° 21′ N || 43 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Brisbane}} || Australia || Oceania || || 9 || 28 || 18 || 34 || 0 || 9 || 27° 28′ S || 28 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Budapest}} || Hungary || Europe || || -3 || 26 || 12 || 28.3 || 100 || 7 || 47° 29′ N || 96 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Buenos Aires}} || Argentina || South America || || 7.4 || 30.4 || 16 || 35 || 14 || 21 || 34° 36′ S || 25 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Cairo}} || Egypt || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 9 || 33 || 18 || 39 || 0 || 125 || 30° 2′ N || 23 || BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|Calgary}} || Canada || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -13.2 || 23.2 || 7 || 23.2 || 194.4 || 4.5 || 51° 3′ N || 1045 || Dwb (warm wet summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Cape Town}} || South Africa || Africa || || 8 || 25 || 15 || 29 || 0 || 6 || 33° 59′ S || 42 || Csb (warm Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Casper, Wyoming|Casper}} || United States || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -10.3 || 31.2 || 6.8 || 31.1 || 183.4 || 30.6 || 42° 51′ N || 1560 || Bsk (cold semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|Chengdu}} || China || Asia || || 2 || 28 || 22 || 37.3 || 12 || 14 || 30° 29′ N || 500 || Cwa (dry winter humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Dallas}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 3 || 36 || 19.4 || 43.1 || 29.3 || 95 || 32° 46′ N || 131 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Da Qaidam}} || China || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -23 || 22 || -6 || 18.6 || 242 || 0 || 37° 50′ N || 3174 || Bwk (cold desert)
|-
| {{w|Dar es Salaam}} || Tanzania || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 19 || 31 || 23 || 41.3 || 0 || 0 || 6° 48′ S || 24 || Aw (tropical savanna)
|-
| {{w|Washington, D.C.|DC}} || United States || North America || || -1.9 || 31.3 || 19.1 || 38.1 || 60.6 || 31 || 38° 54′ N || 50 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Delhi}} || India || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 7.8 || 39.8 || 24 || 51.1 || 0 || 174 || 28° 36′ N || 225 || Cwa (dry winter humid subtropical) / BSh (hot semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|Dhaka}} || Bangladesh || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 12.7 || 33.7 || 25 || 46 || 0 || 91 || 23° 42′ N || 4 || Aw (tropical savanna)
|-
| {{w|Dubai}} || United Arab Emirates || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 14 || 39 || 23 || 49.3 || 0 || 200 || 25° 15′ N || 16 || BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|Dublin}} || Ireland || Europe || || 2.3 || 19.5 || 11 || 21.3 || 23 || 0 || 53° 21′ N || 43 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Duluth}} || United States || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -16.1 || 23.4 || 13.3 || 26.4 || 159.8 || 1.1 || 46° 47′ N || 214 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Edinburgh}} || United Kingdom || Europe || || 1.1 || 19.2 || 10 || 20.5 || 60 || 0 || 55° 57′ N || 47 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|El Paso}} || United States || North America || || -0.3 || 35.6 || 12.8 || 38.3 || 55.8 || 107.3 || 31° 47′ N || 1140 || BWk (cold desert) / BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|Fairbanks}} || United States || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -27.2 || 22.6 || 9.8 || 23.8 || 223.6 || 0.3 || 64° 50′ N || 136 || Dfc (subarctic)
|-
| {{w|Fargo, North Dakota|Fargo}} || United States || North America || || -17.7 || 28.1 || 15.1 || 32.1 || 172 || 11.6 || 46° 52′ N || 274 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Flagstaff, Arizona|Flagstaff}} || United States || North America || || -7.3 || 30.9 || 8.2 || 31.4 || 168.1 || 17.6 || 35° 11′ N || 2106 || Dsb (warm dry summer continental)
|-
| {{w|Geneva}} || Switzerland || Europe || || -1.3 || 26.5 || 12 || 28.8 || 90 || 3 || 46° 12′ N || 1230 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Guangzhou}} || China || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 10 || 32 || 25 || 44.3 || 0 || 71 || 23° 8′ N || 21 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Hailar}} || China || Asia || || -32 || 25 || 13 || 27.8 || 225 || 2 || 49° 12′ N || 614 || Dwb (warm wet summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Halifax, Nova Scotia|Halifax}} || Canada || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -10 || 22 || 13 || 24.8 || 156 || 0 || 44° 38′ N || 18 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Ho Chi Minh City}} || Vietnam || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 22 || 33 || 23 || 43.3 || 0 || 7 || 10° 46′ N || 19 || Aw (tropical savanna)
|-
| {{w|Hong Kong}} || Hong Kong || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 14 || 31 || 24 || 42.3 || 0 || 53 || 22° 17′ N || 40 || Cwa (dry winter humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Honolulu}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 18.9 || 31.1 || 20.1 || 38.8 || 0 || 19 || 21° 18′ N || 6 || BSh (hot semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|Houston}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 6.2 || 34.7 || 22.7 || 44.7 || 9.7 || 102.4 || 29° 45′ N || 32 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Irkutsk}} || Russia || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -22 || 24.8 || 12 || 27.1 || 231 || 0 || 52° 17′ N || 436 || Dwc (wet summer subarctic)
|-
| {{w|Istanbul}} || Turkey || Europe* || || 2 || 27 || 16 || 31.6 || 21 || 5 || 41° 0′ N || 39 || Csa - Cfa - Cfb
|-
| {{w|Jakarta}} || Indonesia || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 23 || 31 || 23 || 41.3 || 0 || 0 || 6° 12′ S || 8 || Am (tropical monsoon)
|-
| {{w|Jerusalem}} || Israel || Asia || || 6.4 || 29.4 || 15 || 33.4 || 7 || 10 || 31° 47′ N || 754 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Jinzhou}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -12 || 27 || 20 || 34.6 || 141 || 6 || 41° 7′ N || 24 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Kabul}} || Afghanistan || Asia || || -5 || 31 || 8 || 31.4 || 97 || 32 || 34° 32′ N || 1791 || BSk (cold semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|Kansas City}} || United States || North America || Love Both || -6.9 || 31.3 || 19.6 || 38.5 || 104.3 || 32.6 || 39° 6′ N || 210 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Karachi}} || Pakistan || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 12 || 33 || 25 || 45.3 || 0 || 159 || 24° 51′ N || 8 || BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|Kiev}} || Ukraine || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -9 || 23 || 12 || 25.3 || 145 || 0 || 50° 27′ N || 179 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Kinshasa}} || Democratic Republic of the Congo || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 20 || 30 || 21 || 38.4 || 0 || 0 || 4° 19′ S || 240 || Aw (tropical savanna)
|-
| {{w|Lagos}} || Nigeria || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 23 || 30 || 23 || 40.3 || 0 || 0 || 6° 27′ N || 41 || Aw (tropical savanna)
|-
| {{w|Lahore}} || Pakistan || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 8 || 38 || 24 || 49.3 || 0 || 155 || 31° 32′ N || 217 || BSh (hot semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|London}} || United Kingdom || Europe || || 1 || 22.9 || 12 || 25.2 || 64 || 0 || 51° 30′ N || 35 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Los Angeles}} || United States || North America || || 13 || 22 || 16.2 || 26.7 || 0.1 || 19.5 || 34° 3′ N || 93 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Lubbock}} || United States || North America || || -3.6 || 33.8 || 15.9 || 38.3 || 93.3 || 86.8 || 33° 34′ N || 992 || BSk (cold semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|Madrid}} || Spain || Europe || || 2.6 || 31.2 || 11 || 33 || 59 || 52 || 40° 23′ N || 667 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Manila}} || Philippines || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 21 || 33 || 23 || 43.3 || 0 || 122 || 14° 35′ N || 5 || Aw (tropical savanna)
|-
| {{w|McMurdo Station|McMurdo}} || || Antarctica || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -31 || -1 || -8 || -4.7 || 365 || 0 || 77° 50′ S || 10 || EF (ice cap)
|-
| {{w|Melbourne}} || Australia || Oceania || || 5 || 26 || 12 || 28.3 || 2 || 19 || 37° 48′ S || 31 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Mexico City}} || Mexico || North America || || 7 || 26 || 11 || 27.8 || 0 || 0 || 19° 26′ N || 2250 || Cwb (subtropical highland)
|-
| {{w|Miami}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 15.5 || 32.8 || 23.4 || 43.5 || 0.1 || 79.8 || 25° 46′ N || 3.5 || Am (tropical monsoon)
|-
| {{w|Minneapolis}} || United States || North America || Love Both || -13.6 || 28.6 || 15.8 || 33.1 || 147.7 || 10.7 || 44° 59′ N || 264 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Moscow}} || Russia || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -11 || 21 || 12 || 23.3 || 174 || 0 || 55° 45′ N || 190 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Mumbai}} || India || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 16.7 || 33.5 || 25 || 45.8 || 0 || 122 || 18° 58′ N || 14 || Aw (tropical savanna)
|-
| {{w|Nairobi}} || Kenya || Africa || || 12 || 26 || 15 || 30 || 0 || 0 || 1° 17′ S || 1623.5 || Cwb (subtropical highland)
|-
| {{w|Needles, California|Needles}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 4 || 39 || 11 || 40.8 || 8 || 165 || 34° 50′ N || 151 || BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|Omaha}} || United States || North America || || -10.2 || 30.7 || 18.6 || 37.2 || 136.1 || 28 || 41° 15′ N || 332 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Oslo}} || Norway || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -7 || 21 || 10 || 22.3 || 148 || 0 || 59° 57′ N || 23 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Ottawa}} || Canada || North America || || -14.4 || 26.6 || 13 || 29.4 || 149.6 || 10.3 || 45° 25′ N || 70 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Paris}} || France || Europe || || 2.7 || 25.2 || 12 || 27.5 || 50 || 3 || 48° 51′ N || 35 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Perth}} || Australia || Oceania || || 7 || 31 || 12 || 33.3 || 0 || 50 || 31° 57′ S || 26 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Portland, Oregon|Portland}} || United States || North America || || 1.8 || 27.3 || 12.4 || 29.8 || 29.6 || 12 || 45° 36′ N || 6 || Csb (warm Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Pyongyang}} || North Korea || Asia || Love Both || -10 || 28 || 20 || 35.6 || 127 || 5 || 39° 1′ N || 38 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Qiqihar}} || China || Asia || || -23 || 27 || 17 || 32.3 || 186 || 6 || 47° 21′ N || 147 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Quito}} || Ecuador || South America || Hate Both || 9 || 19 || 9 || 19.8 || 0 || 0 || 0° 14′ S || 2850 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Raleigh}} || United States || North America || || -0.6 || 32.3 || 20.3 || 40.1 || 60.7 || 46.8 || 35° 47′ N || 119 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Regina}} || Canada || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -23 || 26 || 12 || 28.3 || 210.9 || 16.4 || 50° 27′ N || 577 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Reykjavik}} || Iceland || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -2 || 12 || 7 || 12 || 133 || 0 || 64° 7′ N || 39 || Cfc (subpolar oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Richmond, Virginia|Richmond}} || United States || North America || || -2.1 || 32.1 || 19.8 || 39.5 || 73.5 || 42 || 37° 32′ N || 46 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Rio de Janeiro|Rio}} || Brazil || South America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 16.9 || 32.9 || 21 || 41.3 || 0 || 129 || 22° 54′ S || 6 || Aw (tropical savanna)
|-
| {{w|Riyadh}} || Saudi Arabia || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 8 || 42 || 4 || 41 || 0 || 205 || 24° 38′ N || 612 || BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|Rome}} || Italy || Europe || || 3.7 || 28.7 || 4 || 27.7 || 15.6 || 4 || 41° 54′ N || 21 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Sabha, Libya|Sabha}} || Libya || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 5 || 40 || 11 || 41.8 || 5 || 171 || 27° 2′ N || 420 || BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|St. Louis|Saint Louis}} || United States || North America || Love Both || -4.6 || 31.7 || 19.4 || 38.8 || 86.3 || 45.9 || 38° 37′ N || 142 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental) / Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Salt Lake City}} || United States || North America || Love Both || -5.8 || 33.7 || 7.7 || 34 || 112.8 || 52.1 || 40° 47′ N || 1286 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|San Francisco}} || United States || North America || Hate Both || 7.6 || 20.6 || N/A || || 0.2 || 2.4 || 37° 47′ N || 16 || Csb (warm Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Santa Fe, New Mexico|Santa Fe}} || United States || North America || || -8 || 32.3 || 10 || 33.6 || 179.8 || 43.5 || 35° 40′ N || 2194 || BSk (cold semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|Santiago}} || Chile || South America || || 2 || 29 || 11 || 30.8 || 31 || 16 || 33° 27′ S || 521 || Csb (warm Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Sao Paulo}} || Brazil || South America || || 12 || 28 || 18 || 34 || 0 || 16 || 23° 37′ S || 802 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Sapporo}} || Japan || Asia || || -7 || 26.4 || 18 || 32.4 || 136 || 2 || 43° 4′ N || 26 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Seoul}} || South Korea || Asia || Love Both || -6 || 28 || 20 || 35.6 || 92 || 7 || 37° 34′ N || 38 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Shanghai}} || China || Asia || || 1 || 31 || 24 || 42.3 || 36 || 30 || 31° 14′ N || 4 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Shenyang}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -15 || 28 || 20 || 35.6 || 149 || 6 || 41° 48′ N || 55 || Dwa (hot wet summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Singapore}} || Singapore || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 23 || 31 || 25 || 43.3 || 0 || 0 || 1° 17′ N || 2 || Af (tropical rainforest)
|-
| {{w|Sioux Falls}} || United States || North America || Love Both || -13.9 || 28.9 || 16.8 || 34 || 164.3 || 13.8 || 43° 34′ N || 432 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|St Petersburg}} || Russia || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -9 || 21 || 12 || 23.3 || 153 || 0 || 59° 57′ N || 4 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Stockholm}} || Sweden || Europe || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -6 || 21 || 10 || 22.3 || 151 || 0 || 59° 39′ N || 60 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Sydney}} || Australia || Oceania || || 6 || 26 || 16 || 30.6 || 0 || 12 || 31° 51′ S || 19 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Tashkent}} || Uzbekistan || Asia || || -1.5 || 35.7 || 12 || 38 || 67 || 80 || 41° 16′ N || 455 || Csa (hot Mediterranean)
|-
| {{w|Tehran}} || Iran || Asia || || -1 || 36 || 6 || 35.6 || 50 || 95 || 35° 41′ N || 900 || Bsk (cold semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|Thunder Bay}} || Canada || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -20 || 23 || 13 || 25.8 || 195.9 || 2.6 || 48° 22′ N || 199 || Dfb (warm summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Tokyo}} || Japan || Asia || || 2.5 || 29.4 || 22 || 38.7 || 21 || 17 || 35° 41′ N || 40 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Tongliao}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -20 || 29 || 18 || 35 || 177.8 || 18.7 || 43° 37′ N || 179 || BSk (cold semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|Toronto}} || Canada || North America || || -10.2 || 27.1 || 14 || 30.5 || 148.5 || 4 || 43° 42′ N || 76 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Turpan}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -15 || 39 || 11 || 40.8 || 129.8 || 128.4 || 42° 56′ N || 30 || BWk (cold desert) / BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|Ulaanbaatar}} || Mongolia || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -25 || 21 || 8 || 21.4 || 222 || 0 || 47° 55′ N || 1350 || BSk (cold semi-arid) / Dwc (subarctic)
|-
| {{w|Ürümqi}} || China || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -15 || 28 || 8 || 28.4 || 154 || 18 || 43° 49′ N || 1961 || BSk (cold semi-arid)
|-
| {{w|Vancouver}} || Canada || North America || || 0.3 || 26.2 || N/A || || 40.9 || 0.2 || 49° 15′ N || 0–152 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Vladivostok}} || Russia || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -15.3 || 23.3 || 17 || 28.6 || 154 || 0 || 40° 8′ N || 40 || Dwb (warm wet summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Volgograd}} || Russia || Europe || || -9.2 || 29.3 || N/A || || 146 || 11 || 48° 42′ N || 36 || Dfa (hot summer humid continental)
|-
| {{w|Wellington}} || New Zealand || Oceania || Hate Both || 6.3 || 20.6 || 12 || 22.9 || 0 || 0 || 41° 17′ S || 495 || Cfb (temperate oceanic)
|-
| {{w|Wuhan}} || China || Asia || || 2 || 32 || 24 || 43.3 || 35 || 49 || 30° 35′ N || 37 || Cfa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Xi'an}} || China || Asia || Love Both || -3 || 30 || 20 || 37.6 || 88 || 39 || 34° 16′ N || 405 || BSk (semi-arid) / Cwa (humid subtropical)
|-
| {{w|Yellowknife}} || Canada || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -29.5 || 21.3 || 7 || 21.3 || 224.5 || 0.5 || 62° 26′ N || 206 || Dfc (subarctic)
|-
| {{w|Yumen City|Yumen}} || China || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -15 || 28 || 7 || 28 || 176 || 7 || 39° 50′ N || 2237 || BWk (cold desert)
|-
|}
Istanbul spans both Europe and Asia but its city center is located in Europe.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | City
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Country
! Continent
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Preference Type
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average low in coldest month (°C)
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average high in hottest month (°C)
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Highest monthly average dew point (°C)
! Humidex
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average Annual Days Below 0°C
! scope="col" style="width: 100px;" | Average Annual Days Above 32°C
! Latitude
! Elevation (m)
! Koppen Climate Classification
|-
| {{w|Bouvet Island}} || Norway (dependency) || South Atlantic || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -5 || 4 || 0.5 || 2 || || || 54° 25′ S || 780 || EF (ice cap)
|-
| {{w|Death Valley}} || United States || North America || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 3.8 || 46.4 || 4 || 45.4 || 4.3 || 191.8 || 36° 14′ N || -86 || BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|Eismitte}} || Greenland || North America || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -53 || -12 || -13 || -16.3 || 365 || 0 || 71° 9′ N || 3010 || EF (ice cap)
|-
| {{w|Murzuk}} || Libya || Africa || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 5.9 || 42.4 || 16.5 || 47.3 || || || 25° 54′ N || 453 || BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|Oymyakon}} || Russia || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -50 || 22.7 || 6 || 22.3 || 273 || 0 || 63° 27′ N || 750 || Dwd (cold wet summer subarctic)
|-
| {{w|Shahdad}} || Iran || Asia || Love Heat, Hate Cold || 7.7 || 46.1 || || || || || 30° 25′ N || 452 || BWh (hot desert)
|-
| {{w|Verkhoyansk}} || Russia || Asia || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -48.3 || 23.5 || 6 || 23.1 || || || 67° 33′ N || 142 || Dfd (cold subarctic)
|-
| {{w|Vostok Station}} || || Antarctica || Love Cold, Hate Heat || -75 || -30 || -37 || -35.4 || 365 || 0 || 78° 27′ S || 3419 || EF (ice cap)
|-
|}

==Transcript==
:[A chart labeled:]
:<big>Where to live</big>
:based on your temperature preferences
:[In gray, the data source is mentioned below:]
:Climate data from [http://weatherbase.com weatherbase.com]

:[A chart with two lines with single arrows. Each arrow is labeled:]
:Y axis bottom: Cold winters
:X axis right: Hot/humid summers (measured via Humidex, which combines heat and dew point)

:[Near each of the corners of the chart there is a gray blob, labeled:]
:Top left: If you hate cold and heat
:Top right: If you hate cold and love heat
:Bottom left: If you love cold and hate heat
:Bottom right: If you love cold and heat

:[The following city names intersect with the top left blob [hate cold and heat] (in reading order):]
:Mexico City
:Quito
:Addis Ababa
:Bogotá
:San Francisco
:Wellington

:[The following city names intersect with the top right blob [hate cold and love heat] (in reading order):]
:Bangkok
:Ho Chi Minh City
:Manila
:Singapore
:Mumbai
:Jakarta
:Dar Es Salaam
:Honolulu
:Lagos
:Rio [de Janeiro]
:Dhaka
:Kinhasa
:Miami
:Karachi
:Dubai
:Cairo
:Hong Kong
:Delhi
:Riyadh
:Guangzhou
:Lahore
:Sabha
:Houston
:Needles
:El Paso
:Baghdad
:Dallas

:[The following city names intersect with the bottom left blob [love cold and hate heat] (in reading order):]
:Reykjavik (with arrow pointing left)
:Berlin
:Stockholm
:Oslo
:Calgary
:Halifax
:Daqaidam
:Kiev
:Casper
:Yumen
:St Petersburg
:Volgograd
:Moscow
:Ottawa
:Vladivostok
:Thunder Bay
:Duluth
:Urumqi
:Altay
:Regina
:Irkutsk
:Abakan
:Ulaanbaatar
:Blagoveshchensk (also on bottom right blob)
:Fairbanks
:McMurdo (with arrow pointing down-left)
:Yellowknife (with arrow pointing down)
:Hailar

:[The following city names intersect with the bottom right blob [love cold and heat] (in reading order):]
:[Washington] DC
:Shanghai
:Tehran
:Saint Louis
:New York
:Xi'An
:Salt Lake City
:Kansas City
:Beijing
:Seoul
:Sapporo
:Pyongyang
:Sioux Falls
:Turpan
:Jinzhou
:Minneapolis
:Shenyang
:Fargo
:Tongliao
:Qiqihar
:Blagoveshchensk (also on bottom left blob)

:[The following city names do not intersect with any blob (in reading order):]
:Nairobi
:São Paulo
:Brisbane
:Los Angeles
:Perth
:Cape Town
:Sydney
:Athens
:Santiago
:Barcelona
:Melbourne
:Rome
:Buenos Aires
:Jerusalem
:Atlanta
:Raleigh
:Madrid
:Chengdu
:Tokyo
:Dublin
:Portland
:Richmond
:London
:Istanbul
:Edinburgh
:Vancouver
:Paris
:Flagstaff
:Santa Fe
:Tashkent
:Wuhan
:Geneva
:Lubbock
:Boston
:Budapest
:Kabul
:Toronto
:Omaha

==Trivia==
[[File:temperature_preferences_smudge.png|frame|The "smudge" from the original comic, edited to enhance visibility]]The [https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/images/archive/b/b4/20171122194811%21temperature_preferences.png original version of the comic] had a "smudge" or scattering of gray pixels, visible in the center of the image between the labels for Madrid and Lubbock. A new version of the image was later uploaded with this removed.

By editing the image to increase the contrast between the background and the "smudge", as shown here, it is possible to see dots and grid lines. This would seem to be a scatter graph, likely one showing temperature data used by Randall as a reference while making this comic, and accidentally left visible when the comic was first uploaded. A similar thing happened in [[1561: Water Phase Diagram]], where a phase diagram from Wikipedia was faintly visible in the [[1561: Water Phase Diagram#Original version|original version of the comic]].

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Scatter plots]]
[[Category:Weather]]
[[Category:Comics edited after their publication]]

3046: Stromatolites

2025-10-09T23:07:54Z

X: /* Explanation */

{{comic
| number = 3046
| date = February 3, 2025
| title = Stromatolites
| image = stromatolites_2x.png
| imagesize = 581x505px
| noexpand = true
| titletext = If only my ancestors had been fortunate enough to marry into the branch of the bacteria family that could photosynthesize, like all my little green cousins here.
}}

==Explanation==
This comic makes fun of claims to 'special' ancestry, such as some old royal family or similar, that may be made after doing research on a {{w|family tree}} site. These services allow the user to input the names and other information of family members and cross reference with various documents to trace lines of descent. Often, those who find a connection to a historically significant individual are quite excited about this and may feel that it somehow makes them special. However, in reality, once you go back more than a few generations there will be many thousands of such connections, and once you get back more than a thousand years or so, anyone you could be related to will also be related to {{w|Identical ancestors point|pretty much everybody else still alive}} in some way or other.

The truly surprising aspect, both normally and (taken to extremes) in this comic, would be to ''find'' the necessary records. Ordinary people of the last century, or maybe two, ''might'' have reliable records (subject to the effects of errors, accidents and conflict, wherever they might have been). But, beyond a certain point, the information is unlikely to exist to trace back ancestry that was not already considered important enough to record. And even that is possibly subject to wishful (or politically-minded) interpretation to suit the claims of the (at that time) primary descendant of a noted lineage. Even those rare records (which may ''suggest'' direct descendency from Adam and Eve; this being simultaneously considered as both incredibly remarkable as a conclusion ''and'' not at all surprising, given the premise) tend to lose practically all veracity and primary sources by the time you get that far back in your investigations. Continuous records (or even any usable records at all) are often irretrievably lost, if they ever existed.

[[Beret Guy]] tells [[Cueball]] he has been on such a site and traced some of his family from "a few billion years back" who were related to {{w|stromatolites}}. These are layered accumulations of mineral "microbial mats" (Cueball calls them ''bacterial mats'') created by microorganisms, predominantly the oxygenic-photosynthetic {{w|Cyanobacteria|cyanobacteria}}. (The comic notably treats "stromatolites" as the name of the bacteria, rather than the rock formation created by the bacteria, seemingly to make the conversation flow better.) Some fossil stromatolites in Australia from 3.48 billion years ago contain the oldest undisputed evidence of life on Earth (though people have also claimed {{w|Earliest known life forms|other, older evidence}} for this record). Since this is some of the first life on Earth it is basically a given that all life that came after (not even just all humans) is related.

Beret Guy only claims he is related to their {{w|Alphaproteobacteria|cousins}} and that it is from their cousin bacteria that he got his {{w|mitochondria}}. His aside that he also got his cell nuclei in this way is odd, as, according to the {{w|Cell_nucleus#Evolution|leading contemporary theory}}, the ancestral archaeon ("my archaean ancestors") themselves contributed the nucleus to the original eukaryotic cell. In this model, both the archaeon and the alpha-proteobacterium were endosymbionts in a third cell, which is not consistent with Beret Guy's claim that the mitochondrion began as an archaeon's endosymbiont. Perhaps all that clicking addled even Beret Guy's brain. Anyway, he is not claiming to be a direct descendant from [the cyanobacterial component of] stromatolites, which makes sense since they can photosynthesize, and as he mentions in the title text, he cannot!

Ancestry services typically do not allow the user to track their familial history prior to written records,{{Citation needed}} but with his [[:Category:Strange powers of Beret Guy|strange powers]] it is no wonder that Beret Guy could make this work! (Some do provide genetic sequencing, which allows for more information to be acquired, but this isn't accurate enough to track individual people who lived before such technology existed on a wide scale.) He may also have needed to rely on these powers to do all the clicks needed to go back that far in the past. Even at a rate of 10 to 15 clicks per second it would still take thousands of years — maybe even more due to how fast cells can reproduce — to do enough clicks to work back this far from scratch. However, it may be that a large part of the tree had already been constructed by previous users, and all he had to do was find a relation already attached to this tree. This would further underline how un-special his newly discovered relationship is.

Cueball asks if he would like to contact his distant relatives, since there are still living stromatolites today (or at least something very similar to those from billions of years ago). But Beret Guy imagines they are busy so he will not bother them. When asked by Cueball what he would use his newfound knowledge for, he lies down on the hill they have climbed to bask in the sun. Because as he says, "Lying on a hill in the warm sun is an old family tradition." This is basically the only thing stromatolites can do, but they are doing it all the time and could thus be said to be busy with this. It seems, however, like Beret Guy is going to enjoy this tradition.

In the title text Beret Guy muses about how great it would have been if his distant relatives had married into the branch of the bacteria family that could photosynthesize... and then refers to the grass he is now lying on as "my little green cousins here". If this had happened he would either have been able to lie on the hill without eating since [https://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/2014/10/28 he would be able to photosynthesize] getting energy directly from the sun (instead of eating some of his small green cousins' closer relatives) - although that might not be enough to sustain him, as per ''[[what if? (blog)|what if?]]'' article ''{{what if|17|Green Cows}}''. Or else he would actually have been a plant instead.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball and Beret Guy, seen from afar in silhouette, are walking up a grassy hill.]

:[They continue walking up the hill, reaching its grassy summit. Now with normal lighting. Beret Guy is a bit ahead of Cueball.]
:Beret Guy: I learned something today.
:Beret Guy: I went on one of those family tree sites and kept clicking back, and it turns out I'm related to stromatolites!

:[Closeup on Cueball. Beret Guy's reply comes off-panel from a starburst on the right edge of the panel.]
:Cueball: The bacterial mats?
:Beret Guy [off-panel]: Yeah! A few billion years back, on my mitochondria's side.

:[Cueball and Beret Guy standing on the top of the grassy hill facing each other. Beret Guy holding a hand out towards Cueball.]
:Beret Guy: My Archaean ancestors absorbed some bacteria that were cousins of stromatolites. That's how I got mitochondria.
:Beret Guy: Cell nuclei, too.

:[Cueball is standing behind Beret Guy who is now sitting down in the grass leaning back on one arm with the other arm resting on his bent knee.]
:Cueball: I think there are still living stromatolites. You could get in touch.
:Beret Guy: Nah, they're probably busy. I don't want to bother them.

:[Cueball is sitting behind Beret Guy who is now lying down, both again shown in silhouette from a far, revealing they are on the top of the grassy hill.]
:Cueball: So what ''are'' you going to do with this knowledge? Nothing?
:Beret Guy: Lying on a hill in the warm sun is an old family tradition.

{{comic discussion}}

[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Comics featuring Beret Guy]]
[[Category:Biology]]