Hot Banana

May 5, 2022 6:32 PM

What If? is back! For the first time in (just under) four years, xkcd's Randall Munroe gives "serious answers to absurd questions and absurd advice for common concerns". Today's question: how many bananas would you need to power a house?
posted by cozenedindigo (24 comments total)

Well, that’s bananas.
posted by hijinx at 6:43 PM on May 5, 2022 [2 favorites]

Imagine you're an atom of potassium; every second you roll 21 dice. If they all come up 6s, you decay.



I have an idea for a role playing game.

Also, I really liked reading this. It felt soothing for some reason.
posted by bleep at 7:02 PM on May 5, 2022 [3 favorites]

I don’t know why bananas are inherently funny, but they are
posted by Countess Elena at 7:18 PM on May 5, 2022 [2 favorites]

As many minions would tell you.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:17 PM on May 5, 2022 [5 favorites]

[this is good]
posted by dg at 8:18 PM on May 5, 2022

Every problem is an opportunity … let’s do this!
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 8:43 PM on May 5, 2022

I had heard the thing about bananas being radioactive but I hadn't seen this delightful piece. (I love Munroe's writing. I love Munroe's drawing. I'm so glad he makes things for us to enjoy.)

I recently started eating more kiwis, which, gram for gram, have almost as much potassium as bananas.

I expect I shall start glowing soon.

This is delightful. Thank you for posting it, cozenedindigo!
posted by kristi at 10:16 PM on May 5, 2022 [2 favorites]

Bananas are fine, it's the brazil nuts you have to watch out for.
posted by axiom at 10:40 PM on May 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

Bananas are fine, it's the brazil nuts you have to watch out for.

There's Brazillions of them. (mods, feel free to close my account now, I'm done)
posted by Literaryhero at 10:45 PM on May 5, 2022 [19 favorites]

I wasn't quite sure how big the entire NYC metro area was, so I'm glad Munroe included 300 quadrillion bananas for scale. (I almost typed 300 quintillion...but c'mon, that would be ban--, er, nuts-- er, looney tunes!)

(Speaking of bananas for scale... Here's a very serious YouTube video).
posted by xigxag at 11:00 PM on May 5, 2022 [2 favorites]

And the second what if book will be coming out soon!
posted by Jacen at 11:59 PM on May 5, 2022 [1 favorite]

A much better use for bananas, as long as it stays on the page
posted by chavenet at 2:10 AM on May 6, 2022 [2 favorites]

I'm disappointed he didn't mention banana/anti-banana reaction. Because one of each could power a home for a reality long time.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 3:54 AM on May 6, 2022

banana/anti-banana reaction

...which opens up the possibility of virtual bananas constantly popping in and out of existence, which is why I don't go to Whole Foods anymore.
posted by PlusDistance at 5:29 AM on May 6, 2022 [4 favorites]

not to derail, but the previous one is the answer to the perennial little kid question, what if there was a fireman's pole from the Moon to the Earth, and the mathematical rabbit holes he explores are a hoot.
posted by martin q blank at 6:15 AM on May 6, 2022

On a side note, did anyone notice where he placed upstate New York? There's going to be some angry emails from the residents of "true" upstate New York, which I have been reliably informed does not start in Yonkers.
posted by Hactar at 6:57 AM on May 6, 2022

300 quadrillion bananas in such close proximity would certainly trigger a fusion reaction. In other news, Banana Star is the name of my next band.
posted by JohnFromGR at 7:03 AM on May 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

PlusDistance : ...which opens up the possibility of virtual bananas constantly popping in and out of existence, which is why I don't go to Whole Foods anymore.

As long as they stay below the Banana Plank limit, It's usually fine.
posted by SunSnork at 7:09 AM on May 6, 2022

There's always city-powering energy in the banana stand.
posted by whuppy at 7:10 AM on May 6, 2022 [4 favorites]

This fills me with joy, what if is truly the best of the internet.
posted by calamari kid at 10:33 AM on May 6, 2022

What If is my favorite thing Munroe does and I hope this means a return to regular updates. I also recommend the book!
posted by churl at 1:15 PM on May 6, 2022

I don’t know why bananas are inherently funny, but they are

Kirk Cameron probably has some ideas about that.
posted by Naberius at 1:59 PM on May 6, 2022

"It was just after dark when the truck started down
the hill that leads into Scranton Pennsylvania.
posted by mikelieman at 3:05 PM on May 6, 2022 [1 favorite]

I have missed this. for a long time, a new What If was a special treat that made my day a little better. And to be frank, I could use the help with that right now.
posted by Nothing at 7:30 AM on May 7, 2022