# ­xkcd thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-strips\ **Created:** [May 28, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574 "2020-05-28T00:57:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 163
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3243 "2024-07-08T17:10:14Z")
Hmm. That’s a great nerd-snipe. (I trust no cite is needed amongst this audience). Clearly you could build an Earth-sized spherical bag made of [whatever] in free space then fill it with gas ever so slightly pressurized above the vacuum outside such that it holds its shape. For teeny enough overpressure you could make the bag very thin, lightweight, and flexible like the Mylar used for very high altitude research balloons. Such that a human (in a space suit) armed with a pole vault pole, a javelin, or a sewing needle could poke a hole in it. If they had a way to anchor themselves to the surface; an Earth-sized bag of e.g. hydrogen would have very very little gravity, and you can only poke the surface as hard as you’re attached to it by any/all means. But due to the teeny overpressure and lack of stretch in the bag material the results would not be very exciting. Some wafting of gas; not a toy balloon-style wild spurting ride around the solar system. To get the desired wild ride we need an elastic envelope under significant tension and / or / equivalently a significant gas overpressure versus the external vacuum of space. Which quickly gets us into practical discussions about materials, thicknesses, and all kinds of stuff we (well I) can’t arm wave to an answer. I’ll WAG that any elasticity, strength, thickness, and overpressure enough for a good wild ride around the Solar System will not be breachable by a mere unpowered human with unpowered tools. Or as Blackhat often says: “More Power!” ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3244 "2024-07-08T17:58:25Z")
Doesn’t need to be elastic, if it’s massive enough it’ll contract under its own gravity. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3245 "2024-07-08T18:24:56Z")
Kinda and kinda not IMO. You do raise a good point I hadn’t considered. Imagine a very thin very stiff shell of superheavy unobtainium. Yes, there might be a lot of gravity there. But if the whole thing is strong enough to withstand its own gravity, it’s not going to shrink when the gas is let out. In more formal terms: lotta stress, very little strain. Now buckling failure is real, and if the stuff is heavy but weak (e.g. lead), your hoped-for rigid sphere held up by gas pressure will quickly collapse into a randomly crumpled heap once the gas pressure starts relieving through a hole and gravity begins taking its course across an expanse of material that can’t possibly be perfectly homogeneous. IMO the end-state total enclosed volume of the crumpled mess will still be a decent fraction of the spherical whole. So not a great way to provide expulsion pressure, but some. As you say. Now to the degree the lead envelope starts tearing and leaking gas from multiple orifices while buckling the wild ride effect will be greatly reduced. The optimal ride obtains when the bag contracts isotropically and uniformly while the gas exhausts through one orifice. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3246 "2024-07-08T19:31:24Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Doesn’t need to be elastic, if it’s massive enough it’ll contract under its own gravity. Or: “Everything is malleable if it’s big enough.” ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3247 "2024-07-08T21:05:35Z")
> **[Number Line Branch](https://xkcd.com/2956/)** > > Attention all passengers: This is an express sequence to infinity. If your stop is not a power of two, please disembark now. Not sure that’s going to help much. The biggest congestion is among 1, 2, and 3. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3248 "2024-07-08T21:17:10Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > The biggest congestion is among 1, 2, and 3. Agreed, by the [strong law of small numbers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strong_law_of_small_numbers): > There aren’t enough small numbers to meet the many demands made of them. There should be two versions of 2, one where it is a prime and another where it isn’t. All of this “odd primes” stuff is annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2024, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3249 "2024-07-08T21:20:09Z")
Expressed as log2, isn’t everything a power of two? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3250 "2024-07-11T03:59:54Z")
> **[A Crossword Puzzle](https://xkcd.com/2957/)** > > Hint: If you ever encounter this puzzle in a crossword app, just \[term for someone with a competitive and high-achieving personality\]. I’m just guessing, but is the solution to just put an “A” into every square? Mind you, I’m pretty confident in my guess. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3251 "2024-07-11T04:31:23Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I’m just guessing, but is the solution to just put an “A” into every square? I think so, but I didn’t go through every clue. Wouldn’t surprise me if he messed with us by putting a single alternate letter in there somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3252 "2024-07-11T05:32:18Z")
Yes, yes it is, which puts the puzzle title in a different light. And illuminates the popup text too. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3253 "2024-07-11T06:16:12Z")
I do like the clue for 19-across. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3254 "2024-07-11T09:48:31Z")
Had to look up the answer to 33-Across after [IIAAOIO](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_Clowns) didn’t fit. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3255 "2024-07-11T13:00:27Z")
I’m hoping to see the New York Times use this next April 1. ---
**Author:** ![74westy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/74westy/32/3950_2.png) [@74westy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/74westy)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3256 "2024-07-11T14:23:25Z")
Ages ago I created a crossword puzzle with one square: Across 1. Indefinite article Down 1. First letter Randal, my hat is off to you. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3257 "2024-07-11T14:30:58Z")
Randall does seem to have a fondness for repeatedly writing that particular letter: > **[Words that End in GRY](https://xkcd.com/169/)** > > The fifth panel also applies to postmodernists. > **[The Man Who Fell Sideways](https://xkcd.com/417/)** > > Strip originally conceived in conversation with Jeph Jacques. Soon to be a major motion picture. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3258 "2024-07-11T22:58:12Z")
Kind of disappointed that he didn’t have a clue for “The Legendary Black Beast of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_!” ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3259 "2024-07-11T23:32:50Z")
That’s spelt “Aaaaargh” ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3260 "2024-07-11T23:34:54Z")
No, no - “Aaaauugggh,” at the back of the throat. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3261 "2024-07-12T01:22:35Z")
I don’t hear the “uuuggghhh” part of that, just the “a” sound (just watched the clip). YMMV and all that. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2024, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3262 "2024-07-12T04:13:45Z")
Maybe he died while carving it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=162) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=164)