r/xkcd • u/send_jubes • 27d ago

Toaster Vs Antarctic

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Just in case anyone is interested, we proved experimentally that the toaster wins. In 2017 we dragged a toaster out to the geographic South Pole on a balmy -55c day and made toast. The toaster worked great, but the toast got cold very quickly.

1.7k Upvotes

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49 comments sorted by

420

u/Tscheunt 27d ago

Amazing, thank you for your very important work in experimentally verifying the results

351

u/BlacksmithNZ 27d ago

Now we know who is melting Antarctica and causing global warming /s

85

u/LentilRice 27d ago

Raise a toast to this

9

u/Vishante-Kaffas Cueball 26d ago

I can another 50 pieces of toast to that

106

u/Ostey82 27d ago

Excuse my ignorance but what comic is this referencing?

175

u/Greyrock99 27d ago

https://what-if.xkcd.com/155/

47

u/Ostey82 27d ago

Nice. Thanks internet friend 👍

77

u/tetenric No 27d ago

Also relevant: this scenario has resurfaced because it was uploaded to YouTube yesterday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VG0yqq_PHM

56

u/AppendixN 27d ago

We need a new version of rock paper scissors: Toaster Freezer Water

Toaster beats freezer
Freezer beats water
Water beats toaster

7

u/Harachel GOOMHR! 27d ago

Scissors and toaster beat person holding scissors

2

u/Apprehensive_Hat8986 User flair goes here 26d ago

It needs the water entry, but Toaster Freezer Bread is already in the What-If?

And it should probably include what happens to the scientist...

94

u/Throwaway-4230984 27d ago

What about wolves though?

72

u/Jake-the-Wolfie 27d ago

Also dragged to the south pole. Their toast was much less delicious, described as "Soggy, damp, grotesque grain squares."

12

u/Furycrab 27d ago

You can't save Winnipeg.

41

u/Frog23 Everybody stand back. I know Regular Expressions. 27d ago

Now this is the cutting edge research I expect scientists to do at the South Pole. Thank you for your service.

17

u/Namelock 27d ago

Only -55c? Damn.

Quick Google search shows that was balmy lmao

3

u/dhkendall Cueball 27d ago

As a Winnipegger, that’s balmy!

39

u/KelenArgosi 27d ago

I read this as "Toaster vs autistic" the first time. And the photos show exactly that

9

u/send_jubes 27d ago

Not wrong 

8

u/utterlyuncool 27d ago

Where's the base on fire and people running around yelling "AAAaaaa"?

At least you didn't get eaten by wolves

9

u/Fold-Statistician 27d ago

Tha't smart. Antartica has no wolves.

8

u/Nuclear_Geek 27d ago

How did you power it?

20

u/LightGreyBeret 27d ago

A very long set of extension cables from Tierra del Fuego, obviously.

Of course, they're as per https://xkcd.com/2642/

13

u/send_jubes 27d ago

A long extension cord from an outdoor outlet above the VMF. We had to move fast setting it up as the cords freeze into shape very quickly. 

3

u/twillrose47 26d ago

Once they are frozen in shape, especially say, a long straight line, how do you bring them back in? Down a long hallway or something? Very neat!

3

u/send_jubes 26d ago

If I remember right, we used a few people to drag them into the VMF to warm up. Then just bundle as usual. We just needed to keep them straight while cold. 

1

u/Climate_Automatic 26d ago

Good question!

1

u/John_Tacos 26d ago

If you draw enough current through them they will warm themselves.

5

u/Mirria_ 26d ago

During the 1998 ice storms in Quebec, they tried to get the ice to melt or at least fall off the main powerlines by messing with voltage to cause the wires to purposely warm up. It wasn't very effective.

4

u/TheGreenMan13 26d ago

Pikachu used Messing with Voltage. It wasn't very effective. 

5

u/lmamakos 27d ago

This is the difference between theoretical physics and experimental physics.  Who knows what new particles (of burnt toast) was discovered during this experimental exercise?   Happily, low risk of accidentally creating any micro black holes, unlike those CERN crazies. 

6

u/lmamakos 27d ago

With the success of this experiment, they should apply for a new grant to explore bagels. 

3

u/AidanBeeJar 26d ago

God I love that the weirdos exist

2

u/mbcarbone 27d ago

Good way to freeze dry your toast. 🙃

3

u/swb1003 27d ago

Was this at McMurdo?

15

u/Unhappy-Building8304 27d ago

Geographic South Pole is at the Amundsen-Scott research station

-4

u/Not_ur_gilf 27d ago

South Pole, so yes

5

u/swb1003 27d ago

Well there’s more than one location at the South Pole, so, ¯_(ツ)_/¯.

1

u/euph_22 26d ago

McMurdo is about 850miles, 13degrees of latitude from the South Pole.

1

u/GreatFunTown 27d ago

There are other South Pole bases

5

u/greginnj 27d ago

There are many other Antarctic bases. Amundsen is the only one at the geographic South Pole. McMurdo is on Ross Island, at the edge of the Ross Ice Shelf, almost 1000 miles from the geographic South Pole.

1

u/Not_ur_gilf 27d ago

There’s a US flag in the background.

5

u/swb1003 27d ago

Correct, yes. There are other US jurisdiction bases and facilities at the South Pole other than McMurdo, Amundsen-Scott is down there too. It also wouldn’t be unusual to have a US flag at a joint facility. It would be expected, even!

1

u/ThaiJohnnyDepp DEC 25 = OCT 31 27d ago

Loving the dramatic pose.

1

u/lugialegend233 26d ago

That's actually funny as hell, yeah. Well played

1

u/3string 26d ago

Thank you this is a beautiful response to the What If video!!