<![CDATA[xkcd]]>

<![CDATA[xkcd]]> Follow xkcd, filter it, and define how you want to receive the news (via Email, RSS, Telegram, WhatsApp etc.) https://follow.it/xkcd Thu, 23 Mar 2023 00:16:33 +0200 <![CDATA[Salt Dome]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYdKknBmKpVqI6CY3L745TL_ The US uses hollowed-out salt domes to store the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and non-hollowed-out ones to store the Strategic Salt Reserve.

The US uses hollowed-out salt domes to store the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and non-hollowed-out ones to store the Strategic Salt Reserve.

]]> Mon, 20 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYdKknBmKpVqI6CY3L745TL_ <![CDATA[March Madness]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYcnp28R7Z8IdilmFkX7M1Jw My bracket has 76 trombones led by John Philip Sousa facing off against thousands of emperor penguins led by Morgan Freeman.

My bracket has 76 trombones led by John Philip Sousa facing off against thousands of emperor penguins led by Morgan Freeman.

]]> Fri, 17 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYcnp28R7Z8IdilmFkX7M1Jw <![CDATA[Flatten the Planets]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYfiEiwNzvTRVCejEQ2Mq9rY We'll turn the asteroid belt into ball bearings to go between different rings orbiting at different speeds.

We'll turn the asteroid belt into ball bearings to go between different rings orbiting at different speeds.

]]> Wed, 15 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYfiEiwNzvTRVCejEQ2Mq9rY <![CDATA[Lymphocytes]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYdB48g2b8KjhqCY3L745TL_ It's very hard to detect, but recent studies have determined that when plasma B cells are producing antibodies, they go 'pew pew pew'

It's very hard to detect, but recent studies have determined that when plasma B cells are producing antibodies, they go 'pew pew pew'

]]> Mon, 13 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYdB48g2b8KjhqCY3L745TL_ <![CDATA[Radians Are Cursed]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYeGTo1osfFn7ylmFkX7M1Jw Phil Plait once pointed out that you can calculate the total angular area of the sky this way. If the sky is a sphere with radius 57.3 degrees, then its area is 4*pi*r^2=41,253 square degrees. This makes dimensional analysts SO mad, but you can't argue with results.

Phil Plait once pointed out that you can calculate the total angular area of the sky this way. If the sky is a sphere with radius 57.3 degrees, then its area is 4*pi*r^2=41,253 square degrees. This makes dimensional analysts SO mad, but you can't argue with results.

]]> Fri, 10 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYeGTo1osfFn7ylmFkX7M1Jw <![CDATA[Presents for Biologists]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYeYwYwzfsQrBZVjH6qdYdAk A lot of these are actually non-venomous, but I can see which species you mistook them for. If you pause the crane for a sec I can give you some ID pointers for next time!

A lot of these are actually non-venomous, but I can see which species you mistook them for. If you pause the crane for a sec I can give you some ID pointers for next time!

]]> Wed, 08 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYeYwYwzfsQrBZVjH6qdYdAk <![CDATA[Launch Window]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYdaU-tIaW16Eps0ohxaO6Yr "Confirmed, we have to scrub." "Ugh, okay. I'll get the bucket and sponge."

"Confirmed, we have to scrub." "Ugh, okay. I'll get the bucket and sponge."

]]> Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYdaU-tIaW16Eps0ohxaO6Yr <![CDATA[Obituary Editor]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYfJRNB3T1HOWZVjH6qdYdAk As the editor has reportedly defeated Death in a series of games of skill, no further obituaries are expected.

As the editor has reportedly defeated Death in a series of games of skill, no further obituaries are expected.

]]> Fri, 03 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYfJRNB3T1HOWZVjH6qdYdAk <![CDATA[Fanservice]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYehnGveOD8O2CejEQ2Mq9rY I was eventually kicked out of my architectural engineering program because I wouldn't stop referring to HVAC as "the fandom."

I was eventually kicked out of my architectural engineering program because I wouldn't stop referring to HVAC as "the fandom."

]]> Wed, 01 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYehnGveOD8O2CejEQ2Mq9rY <![CDATA[Hand Dryers]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYcLDvH7aA1JYcb1naedg1wr I know hand dryers have their problems, but I think for fun we should keep egging Dyson on and see if we can get them to make one where the airflow breaks the speed of sound.

I know hand dryers have their problems, but I think for fun we should keep egging Dyson on and see if we can get them to make one where the airflow breaks the speed of sound.

]]> Mon, 27 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYcLDvH7aA1JYcb1naedg1wr <![CDATA[Island Storage]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYd-AnbdRJc-6V1cWWor9YPv I always hate dragging around the larger archipelagos, but I appreciate how the Scandanavian peninsula flexes outward to create a snug pocket for the British Isles.

I always hate dragging around the larger archipelagos, but I appreciate how the Scandanavian peninsula flexes outward to create a snug pocket for the British Isles.

]]> Fri, 24 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYd-AnbdRJc-6V1cWWor9YPv <![CDATA[Wish Interpretation]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYf8Kr8L12Oge-T5HJgy6HUf "I wish for everything in the world. All the people, money, trees, etc." "Are you SURE you--" "And I want you to put it in my house."

"I wish for everything in the world. All the people, money, trees, etc." "Are you SURE you--" "And I want you to put it in my house."

]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYf8Kr8L12Oge-T5HJgy6HUf <![CDATA[Square Packing]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYcFy6kifUSj6cb1naedg1wr I also managed to improve the solution for n=1 to s<0.97, and with some upgrades I think I can hit 0.96.

I also managed to improve the solution for n=1 to s<0.97, and with some upgrades I think I can hit 0.96.

]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYcFy6kifUSj6cb1naedg1wr <![CDATA[Data Quality]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYf4DW1_ZkPoq6CY3L745TL_ [exclamation about how cute your cat is] -> [last 4 digits of your cat's chip ID] -> [your cat's full chip ID] -> [a drawing of your cat] -> [photo of your cat] -> [clone of your cat] -> [your actual cat] -> [my better cat]

[exclamation about how cute your cat is] -> [last 4 digits of your cat's chip ID] -> [your cat's full chip ID] -> [a drawing of your cat] -> [photo of your cat] -> [clone of your cat] -> [your actual cat] -> [my better cat]

]]> Fri, 17 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYf4DW1_ZkPoq6CY3L745TL_ <![CDATA[Omniknot]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYefQCToyQQa6uT5HJgy6HUf The Gordian knot is an omniknot tied using every bend in the Ashley Book of Knots, and then for extra security the upper rope at every crossing is connected to the lower with a randomly-chosen hitch.

The Gordian knot is an omniknot tied using every bend in the Ashley Book of Knots, and then for extra security the upper rope at every crossing is connected to the lower with a randomly-chosen hitch.

]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYefQCToyQQa6uT5HJgy6HUf <![CDATA[Weather Station]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYcLlsMOxpEaAMb1naedg1wr 'Pour one out for precipitation data integrity,' I say, solemnly upending the glass into the rain gauge.

'Pour one out for precipitation data integrity,' I say, solemnly upending the glass into the rain gauge.

]]> Mon, 13 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYcLlsMOxpEaAMb1naedg1wr <![CDATA[Only Serifs]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYdeo3fjBX__jps0ohxaO6Yr If you ever want to get beaten up by a bunch of graphic designers, try removing the serifs from Times New Roman and adding them to Comic Sans.

If you ever want to get beaten up by a bunch of graphic designers, try removing the serifs from Times New Roman and adding them to Comic Sans.

]]> Fri, 10 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYdeo3fjBX__jps0ohxaO6Yr <![CDATA[Coordinate Plane Closure]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYeb5nnILdWc_OzdsCmHakzH 3D graphs that don't contact the plane in the closure area may proceed as scheduled, but be alert for possible collisions with 2D graph lines that reach the hole and unexpectedly enter 3D space.

3D graphs that don't contact the plane in the closure area may proceed as scheduled, but be alert for possible collisions with 2D graph lines that reach the hole and unexpectedly enter 3D space.

]]> Wed, 08 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYeb5nnILdWc_OzdsCmHakzH <![CDATA[Electron Color]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYd3qo_lhygnZqCY3L745TL_ There's quark color, but that's not really color--it's just an admission by 20th century physicists that numbers are boring.

There's quark color, but that's not really color--it's just an admission by 20th century physicists that numbers are boring.

]]> Mon, 06 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYd3qo_lhygnZqCY3L745TL_ <![CDATA[Size Comparisons]]> https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYfjJQUQ9w1wdaCY3L745TL_ If you shrank the Solar System to the size of Texas, the Houston metro area would be smaller than a grasshopper in Dallas.

If you shrank the Solar System to the size of Texas, the Houston metro area would be smaller than a grasshopper in Dallas.

]]> Fri, 03 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0200 https://api.follow.it/track-rss-story-click/v3/P-oydtqpuYfjJQUQ9w1wdaCY3L745TL_