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Explain xkcd: It's 'cause you're dumb.
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(Try to put contribution score back in to see if this will cause any problems. Sinde the problems we had when I removed it did not stop just because I moved it it may have had nothing to do with it)
 
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''Welcome to the Explain XKCD wiki''
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__NOTOC__{{DISPLAYTITLE:explain xkcd}}
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<font size=5px>''Welcome to the '''explain [[xkcd]]''' wiki!''</font><br>
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<span style="font size:210%;">We have an explanation for all [[List of all comics (full)|'''{{#expr:{{PAGESINCAT:All comics|R}}}}''' xkcd comics]], and only {{PAGESINCAT:Incomplete explanations|R}} ({{#expr: {{PAGESINCAT:Incomplete explanations|R}} / {{LATESTCOMIC}} * 100 round 1}}%) are incomplete. [[:Category:Incomplete explanations|Help us finish them!]]</span><!-- Note: the -1 in the calculation above has been removed (it was there to discount "comic" 404, but we've categorized it to be a comic and so has Randall.) -->
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<!-- Go to this explanation button --><span style="position: absolute; right:0; padding-top:1.4em; font-size: 100%;"><span class="no-link-underline">[[{{LATESTCOMIC}}|&nbsp;</span>'''Go to this explanation''']]</span>
  
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=Latest comic=
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<div style="border:1px solid grey; background:#f6f6f6; padding:1.5em;">
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{{:{{LATESTCOMIC}}}}
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----
  
==Comics==
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<span style="position: absolute; left:0; padding-top:1.35em; font-size: 105%;"><span class="no-link-underline">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[[File:new topic.png|21x21px|link={{LATESTCOMIC}}#Discussion]][[{{LATESTCOMIC}}#Discussion|&nbsp; </span>'''View comic discussion''']]</span><br><br></div>
The latest comic is number [[1090]]
 
  
All the comics (so far) are [[:Category:Comics|here]].
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== New here? ==
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<div style="float:right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em">{{Special:ContributionScores/10/7/nosort,notools}}<div style="font-size:0.85em; width:28em; font-style:italic">[[Special:ContributionScores|Lots of people]] contribute to make this wiki a success. Many of the recent contributors above have [{{fullurl:Special:Contributions|contribs=newbie}} just joined]. You can do it too! Create your account [[Special:UserLogin/signup|here]].</div></div>
  
== Welcome ==
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You can read a brief introduction about this wiki at [[explain xkcd]]. Feel free to [[Special:UserLogin/signup|create an account]] and contribute to the wiki! We need explanations for xkcd [[:Category:Incomplete explanations|comics]], [[:Category:Characters|characters]], [[What If? chapters|''What If?'' articles]], and [[:Category:xkcd|everything in between]]. If it is referenced in an [[xkcd]] comic, it should be here.
Please sign up for an account and contribute to the Explain XKCD wiki! We need explanations for comics, characters, themes, memes and everything in between. If it is referenced in an [http://www.xkcd.com XKCD] web comic, it should be in here.
 
  
If you need help with the wiki syntax, Mediawiki has a great wealth of information to help you the syntax right.  In particular, their instructions on [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Navigation Navigation] and [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Editing_pages Editing] are strongly recommended (but do be aware that these links take you to ''their'' site; you'll have to come back here to participate. ;-)
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* If you're new to wiki editing, see the [[explain xkcd:Editor FAQ]] for a specific guidance to this wiki and the more general help on [[mw:Help:Editing pages|how to edit wiki pages]]. There's also a handy {{w|Help:Cheatsheet|wikicode cheatsheet}}.
  
== Getting started ==
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* Discussion about the wiki itself happens at the [[explain xkcd:Community portal|Community portal]].
For new comic pages:
 
  
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2. Put the comic number, the date it was posted and a link to the comic above the photo.
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* The incomplete explanations are listed [[:Category:Incomplete explanations|here]]. Feel free to help out by expanding them!
  
3. Put the image text below the photo.
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== Rules ==
 
 
4. Explain away below that.
 
 
 
If you are setting up a new page for a new (or old) comic, please make sure you also redirect the comic number to that page as well.
 
 
 
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There are a lot of comics that don't have set-in-stone explanations; feel free to put multiple interpretations in the wiki page for each comic.
Wondering which comics haven't been started yet?  There's a list over at [[Explain XKCD:Checklist]].  Pick one and get started! --''[[User:Philosopher|Philosopher]]''&nbsp;<sup>[[User talk:Philosopher|Let us reason together.]]</sup> 20:11, 3 August 2012 (EDT)
 
  
== Rules ==
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If you want to talk about a specific comic, use its discussion page.
Don't be a jerk.  There are a lot of comics that don't have set in stone explanations, feel free to put multiple interpretations in the wiki page for each comic.
 
  
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[[Category:Root category]]

Latest revision as of 19:52, 31 July 2025

Welcome to the explain xkcd wiki!
We have an explanation for all 3270 xkcd comics, and only 46 (1.4%) are incomplete. Help us finish them!

 Go to this explanation

Latest comic

Side Effect
Brace yourself--the chirp gets pretty weird.
Title text: Brace yourself--the chirp gets pretty weird.

Explanation

Beret Guy tells Ponytail about the new medication he’s using, with the normal side effect of sensitivity to sun exposure and the far less normal sensitivity to gravitational waves. At first she replies that those side effects are normal, then does a double take and is confused about the second effect. Then, when she realizes, Beret Guy starts to exhibit the stretching and squishing of a gravitational wave, but by obviously visible amounts. Beret Guy's hat also stretches and shrinks, indicating it could be a part of his body, which contradicts the idea from an earlier comic that it is stapled to his head. (Or perhaps it's part of the strange power the medicine makes him exhibit.)

This is probably the most extreme example to date of Beret Guy being peculiarly sensitive to minuscule external forces. However, rather than showing concern for his body rapidly changing shape, he instead enjoys the feeling, saying 'Whee' in the last panel.

"The chirp" refers to gravitational waves during the end-stages of black hole collision, during which expansion and contraction of the waves increase in frequency to the point where they alternate extremely rapidly. This would cause Beret Guy's body to also change form repeatedly and rapidly.

Transcript

[Beret Guy is standing to the right of Ponytail.]
Beret Guy: This new topical medication makes me extra sensitive to sun exposure and gravitational waves.
[Beret Guy's arms are out.]
Ponytail: Oh yeah, that's a common ...wait, what was that last part?
Beret Guy: Here comes one now!
[Over three panels, Beret Guy is stretched out in height, then he gets shorter and wider, then stretched out again.]
[Last Panel:]Beret Guy: WHEEE!


      new topic.png  View comic discussion

New here?

Last 7 days (Top 10)

Lots of people contribute to make this wiki a success. Many of the recent contributors above have just joined. You can do it too! Create your account here.

You can read a brief introduction about this wiki at explain xkcd. Feel free to create an account and contribute to the wiki! We need explanations for xkcd comics, characters, What If? articles, and everything in between. If it is referenced in an xkcd comic, it should be here.

  • The incomplete explanations are listed here. Feel free to help out by expanding them!

Rules

Don't be a jerk!

There are a lot of comics that don't have set-in-stone explanations; feel free to put multiple interpretations in the wiki page for each comic.

If you want to talk about a specific comic, use its discussion page.

Please only submit material directly related to xkcd and, of course, only submit material that can legally be posted and freely edited. Off-topic or other inappropriate content is subject to removal or modification at admin discretion, and users who repeatedly post such content will be blocked.

If you need assistance from an admin, post a message to the Admin requests board.