# ­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:** 277
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5523 "2026-01-29T02:21:25Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > My comment makes (a little) more sense if you know I was viewing @dtilque 's post of the comic on my phone which doesn’t scroll left/right. So about 2/3rds of the comic and the lettering under it was clipped off on the right. All I saw was the elements and subscripts up through Al and “The approximate …” Huh, the whole thing shows on my phone. Maybe i have smaller font than you. ---
**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5524 "2026-01-29T02:21:54Z")
Doesn’t Helium vastly outnumber Carbon? My guess is most chemical formula that include C and H lead with those, and he’s following convention? Hmm, I wonder if he’s off on the amount of Americium in the observable universe.. unless he’s assuming there are advanced civilizations out there to increase the total way above what we currently produce here on Earth. ☢ ⚛ 🌎 ---
**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:** [January 29, 2026, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5525 "2026-01-29T02:22:47Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Huh, the whole thing shows on my phone. Maybe i have smaller font than you. I only use portrait mode and have a largish font. Old eyes are a PITA. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5526 "2026-01-29T03:33:35Z")
> [@Ponderoid](#): > > Hmm, I wonder if he’s off on the amount of Americium in the observable universe.. I did wonder about that. I doubt there’s a planet of smoke detectors out there but perhaps there’s a some in white dwarfs and neutron stars. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5527 "2026-01-29T03:45:29Z")
Make Americium great again. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5528 "2026-01-29T04:31:25Z")
> [@Ponderoid](#): > > My guess is most chemical formula that include C and H lead with those, and he’s following convention? Yes, it is listed with C and H first as the standard convention. It is not about abundance. > [@Ponderoid](#): > > Hmm, I wonder if he’s off on the amount of Americium in the observable universe. It is also created by supernovas, so there is some naturally occuring. But 10^26 seems pretty high. On the other hand, explainxkcd says it’s 10^0, which isn’t right either. Looks like that page needs some editing - Uranium is a bit more prevalent than ~100 atoms in the universe. > **[3200: Chemical Formula - explain xkcd](https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3200:_Chemical_Formula)** > > explain xkcd is a wiki dedicated to explaining the webcomic xkcd. Go figure. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5529 "2026-01-29T14:10:07Z")
Fascinating. > The Oddo–Harkins rule for elements from 12C to 56Fe is explained by the alpha process of stellar nucleosynthesis. The process involves the fusion of alpha particles (helium-4 nuclei) under high temperature and pressure within the stellar environment. Each step in the alpha process adds two protons (and two neutrons), **favoring synthesis of even-numbered elements**. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5530 "2026-01-29T15:10:38Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > [Americium] is also created by supernovas, so there is some naturally occuring. But 10^26 seems pretty high. I’m revising my thoughts. 10^26 atoms of Americium is only about 40 kgs. Humans have produced kilogram amounts, so 10^26 seems close enough within an order of magnitude. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2026, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5531 "2026-01-29T15:15:38Z")
Make Americium Abundant For A Change (MAAFAC!) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5532 "2026-01-30T18:23:27Z")
> **[Proof Without Content](https://xkcd.com/3201/)** [![](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/proof_without_content.png) ](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/proof_without_content.png) “There’s also a proof without content of a conjecture without content, but it’s left as an exercise for the reader.” ---
**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:** [January 30, 2026, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5533 "2026-01-30T18:34:31Z")
What is the Gödel number of this proof? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5534 "2026-01-30T18:54:20Z")
Is it related to its Erdös number? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5535 "2026-01-30T18:56:37Z")
In Gödel’s original scheme, a Gödel number is a product, so the Gödel number of an empty string is 1. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5536 "2026-01-31T06:19:16Z")
(Cocks head and looks at you, just like the dog.) ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5537 "2026-02-02T21:49:57Z")
> [@SunUp](#): > > _The Man Who Sold the Moon_, right? …Aaaaaand now I must link to the [“Blow Up the Moon”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTJ3LIA5LmA) skit from Mr. Show with Bob & Dave (even though I’m reacting to a comment from last May) 3:55 YouTube video. Pretty funny in a wacky 1990’s kinda way. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5538 "2026-02-02T22:43:57Z")
> **[Groundhog Day Meaning](https://xkcd.com/3202/)** [![](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/groundhog_day_meaning.png) ](https://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/groundhog_day_meaning.png) > [@](#): > > Originally, the ceremony used a variety of rodents and mustelids, but over time most people agreed it made sense to standardize on a specific individual ground squirrel in Pennsylvania. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5539 "2026-02-02T22:51:14Z")
Maybe the new meaning will so monopolize the name that observances of the midpoint between the winter solstice and spring equinox will go back to being called Candlemas. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5540 "2026-02-02T22:57:27Z")
We went to our Catholic church this weekend last year, and were wondering why they were handing out candles to be lit during the service. Last year, February 2nd was a Sunday, and it was indeed Candlemas. If i today, would I see the same thing? ---
**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:** [February 2, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5541 "2026-02-02T23:00:22Z")
Let’s put candle back in Candlemas! ---
**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:** [February 2, 2026, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/5542 "2026-02-02T23:10:47Z")
In my experience, at Candlemas, the candles aren’t usually lit. Rather, the priest has a couple of unlit candles used as a prop for blessing the throats of the congregants. “Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, be protected from all diseases of the throat, and from every other ailment”. We didn’t do it yesterday, though. I don’t know if the priest forgot, or if we’re doing it next week. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=276) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=278)