xkcd

The biggest I've seen in a published source in the wild is an 80-fold error in a reported distance, which I think came from a series of at least three unit conversions and area/length misinterpretations.

https://explainxkcd.com/3065/

I know having so many base pairs makes rebasing complicated, but you're in Bilateria, so shouldn't you at LEAST be better at using git head?

https://explainxkcd.com/3064/

Under the 'has cleared its orbital neighborhood' and 'fuses hydrogen into helium' definitions, thanks to human activities Earth technically no longer qualifies as a planet but DOES count as a star.

https://explainxkcd.com/3063/

It does come at the small cost of a LOT more off-by-40-or-50 errors.

https://explainxkcd.com/3062/

Alt text:

Update: The physics department has recruited an astronomer who studies meteor fireballs.

Explain: https://www.explainxkcd.com/wiki/index.php/3061:_Water_Balloons

It seems wrong that Fruit by the Foot is only sold by weight or by number of rolls.

https://explainxkcd.com/3060/

Your homeowner's insurance might cover it, but be sure to check the subductible.

https://explainxkcd.com/3059/

Original static webpage version: https://what-if.xkcd.com/25/

Briefly set a new record for tallest human-made structure by getting my knit sweater snagged on the skydiving plane door as I jumped and not noticing until I'd landed.

https://explainxkcd.com/3058/

The most awkward part is when you have to pause to put on your shoes before you continue rolling out the door.

https://explainxkcd.com/3057/

2040s: RNA formed the basis for life each of the five known times it arose on the early Earth.

https://explainxkcd.com/3056/

I can't get over the suspicion that all those viral pictures are photoshopped and 'Flemish' belongs in the lower right circle.

https://explainxkcd.com/3055/

AAAAAA A ÃA̧AȂA̦ ǍÅÂÃĀÁȂ AAAAAAA!

https://explainxkcd.com/3054/

Unfortunately, KM3NeT led to the discovery of the Pauli anglerfish, which emits Cherenkov radiation to prey on neutrino researchers.

https://explainxkcd.com/3053/

They just want researchers in the enclosure to feel enriched and stimulated. ('The Enclosure' is what archivists call the shadowy world outside their archives in which so many people are trapped.)

https://explainxkcd.com/3052/

They may technically have been softwoods at some point, but they definitely aren't now.

https://explainxkcd.com/3051/

What's weirder is that muons turned out to be INCREDIBLY cute.

https://explainxkcd.com/3050/

Original static webpage version: https://what-if.xkcd.com/94/

The bottom ones are also potentially bad news for any other planets in our solar system that have been counting on Earth having a stable orbit.

https://explainxkcd.com/3049/

As a first step, they can put in a secondary deck, to help drivers try it out and find out how fun the jumps are. After a while no one will use the old flat deck and they can remove it.

https://explainxkcd.com/3048/

It was great until my thumb slipped and I accidentally launched my telescope into the air at Mach 8.

https://explainxkcd.com/3047/

Title text:

If only my ancestors had been fortunate enough to marry into the branch of the bacteria family that could photosynthesize, like all my little green cousins here.

Transcript:

[Cueball and Beret Guy, seen from afar in silhouette, are walking up a grassy hill.]

[They continue walking up the hill, reaching its grassy summit. Now with normal lighting. Beret Guy is a bit ahead of Cueball.]
Beret Guy: I learned something today.
Beret Guy: I went on one of those family tree sites and kept clicking back, and it turns out I'm related to stromatolites!

[Closeup on Cueball. Beret Guy's reply comes off-panel from a starburst on the right edge of the panel.]
Cueball: The bacterial mats?
Beret Guy [off-panel]: Yeah! A few billion years back, on my mitochondria's side.

[Cueball and Beret Guy standing on the top of the grassy hill facing each other. Berety Guy holding a hand out towards Cueball.]
Beret Guy: My Archaean ancestors absorbed some bacteria that were cousins of stromatolites. That's how I got mitochondria.
Beret Guy: Cell nuclei, too.

[Cueball is standing behind Beret Guy who is now sitting down in the grass leaning back on one arm with the other arm resting on his bent knee.]
Cueball: I think there are still living stromatolites. You could get in touch.
Beret Guy: Nah, they're probably busy. I don't want to bother them.

[Cueball is sitting behind Beret Guy who is now lying down, both again shown in silhouette from a far, revealing they are on the top of the grassy hill.]
Cueball: So what are you going to do with this knowledge? Nothing?
Beret Guy: Lying on a hill in the warm sun is an old family tradition.

Source: https://xkcd.com/3046/

explainxkcd for #3046

It struggles a little with complex positions, like when there are an even number of moves and it has to round down, but when run against itself it's capable of finding some novelties. At one point I saw six knights on the board at once; Stockfish rarely exceeds four.

https://explainxkcd.com/3045/

They should add a little sticker that certifies that the humidifier supports water conservation, but in the sense of energy conservation or momentum conservation.

https://explainxkcd.com/3044/

apparently the brief trend of users other than me posting new comics here has ceased again

Update: I've been banned from the physics department for the way I pronounce "Doppler effect."

https://explainxkcd.com/3043/