What If? backdrop
BOOK . Randall Munroe . 44

What If?_

Randall Munroe
Author(s)
44
Editions
Mathematics, Statistics, Miscellanea, Science, Questions and answers, Physics, Long Now Manual for Civilization, SCIENCE / Physics
Subjects
Updated Feb 14, 2026
What If?

OVERVIEW

Millions of people visit xkcd.com each week to read Randall Munroe's iconic webcomic. His stick-figure drawings about science, technology, language, and love have a large and passionate following. Fans of xkcd ask Munroe a lot of strange questions. What if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at 90 percent the speed of light? How fast can you hit a speed bump while driving and live? If there was a robot apocalypse, how long would humanity last? In pursuit of answers, Munroe runs computer simulations, pores over stacks of declassified military research memos, solves differential equations, and consults with nuclear reactor operators. His responses are masterpieces of clarity and hilarity, complemented by signature xkcd comics. They often predict the complete annihilation of humankind, or at least a really big explosion. The book features new and never-before-answered questions, along with updated and expanded versions of the most popular answers from the xkcd website.

DROPTHE_ GOSSIP

Millions of people visit xkcd.com each week to read Randall Munroe's iconic webcomic. His stick-figure drawings about science, technology, language, and love have a large...
What If? -- Author(s): Randall Munroe.

DETAILS

Author(s)
Randall Munroe
Editions
44
Subjects
Mathematics, Statistics, Miscellanea, Science, Questions and answers, Physics, Long Now Manual for Civilization, SCIENCE / Physics

TAGS (11)

Randall Munroe Mathematics Statistics Miscellanea Science Questions and answers Physics Long Now Manual for Civilization SCIENCE / Physics Science, miscellanea New York Times bestseller

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is What If??
Millions of people visit xkcd.com each week to read Randall Munroe's iconic webcomic. His stick-figure drawings about science, technology, language, and love have a large and passionate following. Fans of xkcd ask Munroe a lot of strange questions. What if.
What is the author(s) of What If??
The author(s) of What If? is Randall Munroe.
What is the editions of What If??
The editions of What If? is 44.
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