829: Arsenic-Based Life - Revision history

172.71.150.156 at 17:30, 5 March 2025

2025-03-05T17:30:13Z

172.70.42.212 at 18:24, 12 January 2025

2025-01-12T18:24:46Z

172.69.6.91: Grammar

2024-04-21T02:15:39Z

Grammar

162.158.62.153: Wikipedia says it’s “give”

2023-08-26T13:41:18Z

Wikipedia says it’s “give”

Agusbou2015: /* Trivia */

2023-02-08T20:24:40Z

‎Trivia

Agusbou2015 at 20:24, 8 February 2023

2023-02-08T20:24:25Z

Agusbou2015 at 20:23, 8 February 2023

2023-02-08T20:23:29Z

Davidy22: Reverted edits by Akfzoa (talk) to last revision by Natg19

2022-05-27T18:46:49Z

Reverted edits by Akfzoa (talk) to last revision by Natg19

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Akfzoa: Crapped page

2022-05-27T18:46:35Z

Crapped page

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Natg19: Undo revision 277126 by Donald Trump (talk)

2022-05-26T17:54:00Z

Undo revision 277126 by Donald Trump (talk)

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 ==Explanation==
-This comic is about the December 2010 announcement of the (since refuted) discovery of a {{w|GFAJ-1|strain}} of {{w|extremophile}} bacteria that incorporate arsenic instead of phosphorous into some of their biochemistry.  The first three panels depict a group of scientists—including one shown with long, curly hair bound in a ponytail, identifiable from this hairstyle as Felisa Wolfe-Simon, the post-doctoral research associate who spearheaded the arsenic research (see [[2421: Tower of Babel]] for another female scientist who is identifiable by her hairstyle)—preparing for their press conferences announcing the details of the discovery.
+This comic is about the December 2010 announcement of the (since refuted) discovery of a {{w|GFAJ-1|strain}} of {{w|extremophile}} bacteria that incorporate arsenic instead of phosphorous into some of their biochemistry.  The first three panels depict a group of scientists—including one shown with long, curly hair bound in a ponytail, identifiable from this hairstyle as {{w|Felisa Wolfe-Simon}}, the post-doctoral research associate who spearheaded the arsenic research (see [[2421: Tower of Babel]] for another female scientist who is identifiable by her hairstyle)—preparing for their press conferences announcing the details of the discovery.
 The trio are worried that the press conference about their discovery will be less exciting to the reporters, because the press are expecting news of life on {{w|Saturn}}'s largest moon, {{w|Titan (moon)|Titan}}. The researchers decide to try and make the event more exciting, but they don't know how to throw a good party. As a result, they look up advice on the internet and decide to serve cocktails and {{w|Hors d'oeuvre|hors d'œuvres}} to fit the theme of the event.

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 [[Category:Comics featuring Megan]]
 [[Category:Comics featuring Ponytail]]
 [[Category:Multiple Cueballs]]
 [[Category:Physics]]
 [[Category:Biology]]
 [[Category:Public speaking]]

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 The final panel shows the result, where the reporters are either dead or dying. It is implied that in order to fit the theme the researchers have laced the food and drinks with arsenic.
-{{w|Arsenic}} is a chemical element which is known to be poisonous to humans and most other life forms. In 2010 {{w|NASA}} announced the discovery of bacteria {{w|GFAJ-1}} (an abbreviation for "give Felisa a job") and claimed it to be able to sustain itself when starved of phosphorus, by substituting arsenic for a small percentage of its phosphorus. Most scientists did not believe in this and it was disproven in 2012.<ref>Tobias J. Erb; Patrick Kiefer; Bodo Hattendorf; Detlef Gunter; Julia Vorholt (July 8, 2012). "GFAJ-1 Is an Arsenate-Resistant, Phosphate-Dependent Organism". Science 337 (6093): 467–70. doi:10.1126/science.1218455. PMID 22773139. Retrieved 2012-07-10.</ref>
+{{w|Arsenic}} is a chemical element which is known to be poisonous to humans and most other life forms. In 2010 {{w|NASA}} announced the discovery of bacteria {{w|GFAJ-1}} (an abbreviation for "give Felisa a job") and claimed it to be able to sustain itself when starved of phosphorus, by substituting arsenic for a small percentage of its phosphorus. Most scientists did not believe this and it was disproven in 2012.<ref>Tobias J. Erb; Patrick Kiefer; Bodo Hattendorf; Detlef Gunter; Julia Vorholt (July 8, 2012). "GFAJ-1 Is an Arsenate-Resistant, Phosphate-Dependent Organism". Science 337 (6093): 467–70. doi:10.1126/science.1218455. PMID 22773139. Retrieved 2012-07-10.</ref>
 The comic draws its humor by picking on both scientists and reporters. It is a common theme in xkcd to show scientists who may be extremely clever within their field, but sometimes lack common sense and are inept at social situations. Reporters are often criticized for over sensationalizing discoveries and hunting for exciting stories.

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 The final panel shows the result, where the reporters are either dead or dying. It is implied that in order to fit the theme the researchers have laced the food and drinks with arsenic.
-{{w|Arsenic}} is a chemical element which is known to be poisonous to humans and most other life forms. In 2010 {{w|NASA}} announced the discovery of bacteria {{w|GFAJ-1}} (an abbreviation for "get Felisa a job") and claimed it to be able to sustain itself when starved of phosphorus, by substituting arsenic for a small percentage of its phosphorus. Most scientists did not believe in this and it was disproven in 2012.<ref>Tobias J. Erb; Patrick Kiefer; Bodo Hattendorf; Detlef Gunter; Julia Vorholt (July 8, 2012). "GFAJ-1 Is an Arsenate-Resistant, Phosphate-Dependent Organism". Science 337 (6093): 467–70. doi:10.1126/science.1218455. PMID 22773139. Retrieved 2012-07-10.</ref>
+{{w|Arsenic}} is a chemical element which is known to be poisonous to humans and most other life forms. In 2010 {{w|NASA}} announced the discovery of bacteria {{w|GFAJ-1}} (an abbreviation for "give Felisa a job") and claimed it to be able to sustain itself when starved of phosphorus, by substituting arsenic for a small percentage of its phosphorus. Most scientists did not believe in this and it was disproven in 2012.<ref>Tobias J. Erb; Patrick Kiefer; Bodo Hattendorf; Detlef Gunter; Julia Vorholt (July 8, 2012). "GFAJ-1 Is an Arsenate-Resistant, Phosphate-Dependent Organism". Science 337 (6093): 467–70. doi:10.1126/science.1218455. PMID 22773139. Retrieved 2012-07-10.</ref>
 The comic draws its humor by picking on both scientists and reporters. It is a common theme in xkcd to show scientists who may be extremely clever within their field, but sometimes lack common sense and are inept at social situations. Reporters are often criticized for over sensationalizing discoveries and hunting for exciting stories.

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 *The words "hors d'oerves" at the comic are just a misspelling by Randall for "hors d'oeuvres" (in French ''"hors d'œuvre"'' both singular and plural). The English pronunciation of these words is awr-DURVZ /ɔrˈdɜrvz/, with the R '''before''' the V, not after, which explains the mistake.<ref>http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hors+d%27oeuvre</ref> As opposed to the original French pronunciation, where the v and r keep the same order.<ref>http://fr.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/%C5%93uvre</ref>
-*The advice ""Serve cocktails, hors d'œuvres, and snacks that fit the theme of your event" is an actual step on wikiHow article "How to Make an Event Entertaining".<ref>https://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Event-Entertaining</ref>
+*The advice "Serve cocktails, hors d'œuvres, and snacks that fit the theme of your event" is an actual step on wikiHow article "How to Make an Event Entertaining".<ref>https://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Event-Entertaining</ref>
 ==References==