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xkcd #3080: "Tennis Balls" (xkcd.com)

submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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After initial tests created a series of large holes in the wall of the lab, the higher-power Scanning Tunneling Tennis Ball Microscope project was quickly shut down.

https://explainxkcd.com/3080/

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 3 days ago

Wouldn't that be a macroscope?

[–] [email protected] 19 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Heinsenberg principle : once you made one measure, the measured target may not be there anymore.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 days ago

It's not even really uncertain, after a tennisball to the face, they'll definitely move

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago

Based on the positions of the "bonk"s and "ow"s, I posit that the target is a sentient floating torus.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 days ago

I want to see someone build this so badly.

This guy did something in the same vein but tried to make a musical instrument instead: https://youtu.be/yFIxf2gTg_k

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Qualified "explain" link for mobile users: https://explainxkcd.com/3080

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

Fair point, have edited.