# ­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:** 167
**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:** [August 24, 2024, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3323 "2024-08-24T05:37:16Z")
This periodic table amuses me more: [![](https://kottke.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,fit=scale-down,width=1200,metadata=none/plus/misc/images/can-i-lick-it.jpg) ](https://kottke.org/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,fit=scale-down,width=1200,metadata=none/plus/misc/images/can-i-lick-it.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2024, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3324 "2024-08-27T19:20:56Z")
> **[Three Kinds of Research](https://xkcd.com/2977/)** > > The secret fourth kind is 'we applied a standard theory to their map of every tree and got some suspicious results.' ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2024, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3325 "2024-08-29T00:05:49Z")
> **[Stranded](https://xkcd.com/2978/)** > > At least they're not alone down there. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3326 "2024-08-31T05:55:31Z")
> **[Sky Alarm](https://xkcd.com/2979/)** > > During the day it also activates for neat clouds and pretty sunsets. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3327 "2024-08-31T14:33:56Z")
I totally want that device, too! ---
**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:** [August 31, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3328 "2024-08-31T15:59:58Z")
I’m totally picturing that as someone saying the words “wee ooo”, instead of a siren. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3329 "2024-08-31T17:20:43Z")
I heard that “weee ooooo” in my head like the theme song from Dr Who. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3330 "2024-08-31T17:37:30Z")
Did someone (falsely) claim that Betelgeuse had gone supernova recently? Because suddenly I’m encountering references to Betelgeuse all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3331 "2024-08-31T18:04:53Z")
They’re releasing a sequel to the movie this week. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3332 "2024-08-31T21:04:06Z")
Something about that it’s really two star system with a small partner has been theorized. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3333 "2024-08-31T21:29:12Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Did someone (falsely) claim that Betelgeuse had gone supernova recently? Because suddenly I’m encountering references to Betelgeuse all over the place. It grew dimmer a few years ago, then brighter again. Turns out it was just some dust. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3334 "2024-08-31T21:42:03Z")
My wife has one of these things. It’s me. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3335 "2024-09-01T00:25:02Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Something about that it’s really two star system with a small partner has been theorized. > **[Is Betelgeuse Actually a Binary Star?](https://www.universetoday.com/168246/is-betelgeuse-actually-a-binary-star/)** > > Betel-gurz or Beetle-juice has been a favourite among amateur astronomers for many years. However you pronounce it, its unexpected dimming draw even more attention to this red supergiant variable star in Orion. It has a few cycles of variability, one... ---
**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:** [September 1, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3336 "2024-09-01T00:53:06Z")
If they can now image Betelgeuse that finely, wouldn’t they spot a companion star that formerly couldn’t be resolved? ---
**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:** [September 1, 2024, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3337 "2024-09-01T17:40:32Z")
Yeah, I’d be very surprised if Betelgeuse actually had a hitherto-unknown companion. There are lots of ways we would have found it, if it existed. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3338 "2024-09-03T01:43:31Z")
> **[Lava Lakes](https://xkcd.com/2980/)** > > Hey, golf balls float on lava, so this should make recovering them from the hazards easier. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3339 "2024-09-03T01:54:37Z")
How DID he do that? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2024, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3340 "2024-09-03T02:07:59Z")
Black Hat works in mysterious ways… ---
**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:** [September 3, 2024, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3341 "2024-09-03T13:31:37Z")
All you need is more power … **[Laser Pointer (xkcd.com)](https://what-if.xkcd.com/13/)** ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/3342 "2024-09-03T14:19:13Z")
It’s an interesting observation. If everyone thinks that a volcano has a crater full of lava, then that is what the word “volcano” has come to mean. Perhaps someday the word will mean the crater of lava itself. We’re not there yet, but this is how linguistic evolution works. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=166) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=168)