Randall Munroe
@xkcd.com
![Comic. [Three chess games next to each other. There is a diagonal yellow grid highlight from the pawn in the top left corner of the third chessboard to the bottom of the middle chessboard where there’s a clear path. The player positioned near that bottom section has moved to look at the third chessboard.] [caption] It doesn’t happen often because it requires micrometer precision, but if two chess boards are *perfectly* aligned, it’s actually legal to move pieces between them.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreibsc2od6ic3qzpnfiyukzbflxuqltumikiofxptnhkojaob4uaui4@jpeg)
December 9, 2025 at 9:14 PM
![Comic. [Two people walking together as inverted catenary curves fall around them.] PERSON: Oh wow, the first inverted catenary fall of the year! Time to swap out my all-season tires for square ones.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiatr2ciyeqboikl6ohjuiscmlmkigixmvfutnhnvduecemtcqjri4@jpeg)
December 8, 2025 at 6:41 PM
![Comic. Doing a task using a company or organization’s website: [flowchart] Go to website, try to log in → Did it work? → Yes → Try to do your task. → Did it work? Yes → Nice! Done! If logging in did not work → Spend hours troubleshooting account / login. If that works, go to Try to do your task. If no → Give up and call customer service. If spending hours troubleshooting doesn’t work, also give up and call customer service. After calling customer service: Hold message: “Did you know you could do all this more quickly and easily on our website? Just go to w-w-w dot…” → Throw phone and laptop into the sea.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiewqnkcrrc4tgla7j5skyz2djf3mrrvre3577c4xcgzurvq33bw4y@jpeg)
December 4, 2025 at 10:33 PM
December 3, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Can you power your computer by typing?
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L44...
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L44...
Can you power your computer by typing?
YouTube video by xkcd's What If?
www.youtube.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Can you power your computer by typing?
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L44...
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L44...
![Comic. [Two people in front of projected satellite image. A small portion of the image is pixelated squares.] PERSON 1: Wait, when was this imagery taken? Is this censorship the work of the contractor? One of our people? *Foreign actors!?* PERSON 2 with ponytail: Do we know who’s operating a facility at that location? PERSON 1: We can’t find *anything*. [caption] My hobby: Setting up big colored panels in the middle of nowhere as a prank on remote sensing people](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreib6md2yc7x32taznh2u4feo27rltazabjco4fer3c6mni3soe5tfa@jpeg)
December 2, 2025 at 12:13 AM
![Comic. Panels up to the 10-year point are grayed out. New panels since the Ten Years comic, which chronicles the first ten years of PERSON 1's journey with cancer: (1) [two people in bed] PERSON 1 (woman): One more chapter? PERSON 2 (man): Don’t we both have to get up early? PERSON 1: Nnnnnggggh PERSON 2: Sure, good point. (2) [many people wearing masks, walking while looking at graphs on their phones] (3) [birds landing on people] PERSON 2 in beanie and scarf: Hah! They like *my* seeds best. PERSON 1 in scarf holding phone with a bird sitting on it: Wait, how do I take a picture of this one? (4) [two people rowing boats with tree landscape] (5) [Person 1 carries overflowing stack of things to Person 2 in bed] PERSON 1: I brought you honey lemon tea, more pillows, a cinnamon roll, Tylenol, another blanket, a– PERSON 2: It was just Appendicitis, I’m really– PERSON 1: *It is my turn to take care of you and I am going to do it right!* (6) [Two people in car] (7) [still in car) PERSON 1: Oh my god. PERSON 2: Oh my god. (8) [car driving] PERSON 1: Pull over! PERSON 2: I am! (9) [both people get out of car] (10) [Large colored panel of aurora borealis over water with both people looking on] (11) [Person 1 sits against tree while Person 2 lies on the ground] PERSON 1: Fifteen years. No sign of the cancer. (12) I *am* having some weird symptoms. Joint pain. Fatigue. I think I’m losing my close-up vision. PERSON 2: Yeah. Me too. (13) PERSON 2: I think we’re getting old. (14) PERSON 1: I guess that’s okay. PERSON 2: It’s all I wanted.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihwhjblp5lyiwp63ouar7ocfea7evmckytoeo7rkfuoo4gw5rnrra@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 10:32 PM
![Comic: Typical Geologic core sample. [Cylindrical core sample with labels for difference sections from top to bottom] Topsoil, till, granite bedrock, bottomsoil, roof of subway car, floor of subway car, more granite, municipal water main [gouge in core sample], slightly different granite, piece of screaming spelunker’s forearm, cool crystals with no resale value, mangled fragments of drillbit from previous attempt, some boring intrusive rock that’s basically granite but has a name like “diorite” or “Andalite” that you always have to look up, netherrack, Balrog wing. [break between next chunk of core sample] Granite, topsoil, cement, floorboards, carpet, possessions of a confused and angry homeowner in the other hemisphere.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreicffnydtpbb2x24cfbblv2qtcwbr37zyw44vtqx47ocj2a26b2j2u@jpeg)
November 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
November 24, 2025 at 11:18 PM
![Comic. [Two people transferring cargo between a dock and a ship on a cart. A box has fallen off of it into the water labeled “EPIRB: Water-Activated Distress Beacons, 1600 ct”] [caption] “Hello, Coast Guard? We’d like to apologize once again for the 1,600 simultaneous false alarms this morning...”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreidpifawma7njovmrjjqs75maq6ggimmrbjcfjtwhfejj65veo32pq@jpeg)
![Comic. [Person with ponytail pointing at diagram while speaking to three other people] PERSON: If the emergency stop is activated, any riders on the waterslide will be diverted into the beam dump, a large graphite block which will safely absorb their momentum. [caption] We regretted hiring an accelerator physicist to design our water park.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreicnzdnpjdz4clfa2uhx6isbdwgu72oku5pee4av7paavbjmqpyoiu@jpeg)
November 18, 2025 at 3:40 AM
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
![4-panel comic. (1) PERSON 1: Some people like to be the big spoon. (2) PERSON 1: Some people like to be the little spoon. (3) [two sets of spoons that don’t lay flat against each other, one arranged with the little one on top of the big one, the other with the big spoon on top of the little spoon] PERSON 1: And some brave truth-tellers point out that the metaphor makes no sense because different-sized spoons don’t nest right *either* way. You nest *same*-sized spoons. (4) PERSON: ...And apparently *we* sleep on the couch. PERSON 2 off-screen: Why are you *still* going on about the spoon thing? PERSON 1: Because I’m *right!*](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreicfq5lrhnknblf2ycalxk2vctpeqjzy566xxqjy2xsm67ys5of3j4@jpeg)
November 14, 2025 at 12:58 AM
What if ALL the sun's power was focused in one place?
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
youtu.be/qu8nx1qUwEU
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
youtu.be/qu8nx1qUwEU
What if ALL the sun’s power was focused in one place?
YouTube video by xkcd's What If?
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 10:29 PM
What if ALL the sun's power was focused in one place?
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
youtu.be/qu8nx1qUwEU
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with
@minuteearth.bsky.social!
youtu.be/qu8nx1qUwEU
![Comic. Someone is claiming to predict the exact date of a future earthquake. Should you listen? [flowchart: start] → NO (There are big earthquakes constantly, so if anyone ever *does* figure this out, it will be immediately obvious that their method works and then the world’s seismologists will not shut up about it. You won’t need this flowchart.)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreic7wdqg4w6qfevbqzzq4esd6237pojsnpwsrbb7gaxsxobqaiwazm@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
![Comic. PERSON 1 with white hat: How tall are you? PERSON 2: 5ft 24cm [caption] When switching to metric, make the process easier by doing it in steps.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreifptvo6h6kdpf75j3i443ospzumiii7a3pblah2urjrawmyymh3ga@jpeg)
November 6, 2025 at 11:33 PM
![Comic. [Person sitting at desk with laptop with machine labeled E-21 making “click click” noises on the floor behind] VOICE FROM LAPTOP: Hey all! Does your E-21 humidifier make an annoying clicking noise? Mine did, but I finally figured out that there’s an easy fix, so I made this video in case anyone else… PERSON AT DESK: Oh my god. Yes. *Yes.* [caption] I know there’s more important work in the world, but I feel like these people deserve, at minimum a statue.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreifdjde6wgflkeil7kf4kdh3zqk32k55rkljlwu6arzbw557ogbulu@jpeg)
November 5, 2025 at 10:03 PM
![4-panel comic. (1) PERSON 1: We haven’t checked in on the geology department for a while. I wonder if they’re doing okay. (2) PERSON 2 with ponytail: I’ll go see what they’re up to. (3) [Person 2 opens door to room where a person is gesturing at a projector screen and explaining to two other people] PERSON 3: 49 million years ago, Heart Mountain, Wyoming slid sideways 15 miles like a giant stone hovercraft. (4) PERSON 2 [returning to Person 1]: ...They’re not okay. OFF-PANEL PERSON: Hey, *you* come up with a better explanation!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreigkmmwkcyhpp7flvvqlj5dwg26hn4rssqln4c3zrtidabl4y3efvy@jpeg)
November 4, 2025 at 8:12 PM
![Comic. [Two people in a hot air balloon] PERSON 1: 0 mph... 0 mph... Ooh, 1 mph with that last gust... 0 mph... 1 mph... 1 mph... *2 mph!!!* PERSON 2: *Yessss!* [caption] Breaking the hot air balloon level-flight airspeed record](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiefnad2pbncdspjlogq2nc7dj24hfqf4zrqkbovlmyvr6xfemxkt4@jpeg)
![Comic. [diploma from East State University for Doctor of Philosophy in Document Forgery] [caption] If you put one of these up in your office, and no one notices, you’ve earned it.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreif2hl6u2eqv7rmq27tenpy5s5d7egkhwzvfw4ohpskh67ibuw52ym@jpeg)
October 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
![Comic. [two connected spacecraft hovering in space above the Earth] Houston, the view is superb. We can see the continents spread out below us, right where they’ve been since the Earth formed. [caption] I still can’t believe we developed spaceflight before we figured out that the continents moved.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreicp2ka5asjgkmgfdfj33vnjb5bbvk3vnyao6ju5kipxcdc23pqasm@jpeg)
October 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
![Comic. Confusion matrix showing renditions of different combinations, colored yellow, tan, or gray. [Air: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles G, light Y, sound Y, heat Y, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio Y, sharks G] [Lead: gamma rays G, neutrons T, alpha particles G, light G, Sound Y, heat Y, swords G, toxic dust T, radio G, sharks G] [Water: gamma rays T, neutrons G, alpha particles G, light T, sound Y, heat Y, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio G, sharks Y] [Vacuum: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles Y, light Y, sound G, heat T, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio Y, sharks G] [Oven mitts: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles G, light G, sound T, heat G, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio Y, sharks Y] [Armor: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles G, light G, sound Y, heat Y, swords G, toxic dust Y, radio G, sharks T] [Biohazard suit: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles G, light G, sound Y, heat Y, swords Y, toxic dust G, radio Y, sharks Y] [Faraday cage: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles Y, light Y, sound Y, heat Y, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio G, sharks Y] [Shark cage: gamma rays Y, neutrons Y, alpha particles Y, light Y, sound Y, heat Y, swords Y, toxic dust Y, radio Y, sharks G]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreib7rzofmrqb5cvnyccnb7ftj6qroxtp55i4dqqnbp2ozun6gaxbkm@jpeg)
October 23, 2025 at 8:10 PM
![Comic. Scatter chart with Emperor Palpatine character age on Y axis and Ian McDiarmid age during filming on X axis. Plot with descending arrow beginning from Return of the Jedi (emperor age 90, McDiarmid age 40) → Revenge of the Sith, Attack of the Clones, and The Phantom Menace (emperor age 50-70, McDiarmid age 50-60) → The Rise of Skywalker (cloned body, undefined age) with a gradient vertical line (McDiarmid age over 70) → Now (emperor age under 10, McDiarmid age over 80). [caption] To continue the trend, they should make a Star Wars movie where 81-year-old Ian McDiarmid plays the emperor as a toddler.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiddygrn45rhv3aktvxlsoc5e62uxrb2fxeojgauoe5i4j52l4rn7q@jpeg)
October 22, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Can you drive west to lengthen the sunset?
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with @minuteearth.bsky.social!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8F7...
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with @minuteearth.bsky.social!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8F7...
Can you drive west to lengthen the sunset?
YouTube video by xkcd's What If?
www.youtube.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Can you drive west to lengthen the sunset?
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with @minuteearth.bsky.social!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8F7...
What the latest What If? video in collaboration with @minuteearth.bsky.social!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8F7...
![Comic. Two-column table. Column A lists planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. Column B has checkmark boxes for whether the planets have rings: the outer planets’ boxes are checked, and Earth has a red check. [Earth with a ring with an array pf points around it. An arrow labeled “Geostationary Satellite Bel”t points to the ring.] [caption] Astronomy fact: A century ago, Earth didn’t have rings, but we have one now! It’s where all the satellite dishes are pointed.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreifauh76r3os5nnzjvkcz5sl2pgx5iz4sgkxebqjw3aogjn6e677aa@jpeg)
October 20, 2025 at 10:44 PM