Comics about mathematics, science, and the student life.

Weak Spot

A student holds a shield and sword while hoping that the teacher won't find their weak spot.

“I’m comfortable with everything except one little detail, but of course with my luck it will be on the test!”

End of Semester

In the first panel, a student thinks about how much they will have to study to prepare. In the second panel, the end of the semester is seen from the professor's perspective, which includes a lot of marking.

If the exam season was particularly rough, I take savage pleasure in thinking of how much work the professors will have to go through.

Searching

A student stands in the middle of a long hallway lined with boxes and boxes of information representing what they are trying to remember.

“I really need to implement Amazon’s search algorithm they use in their warehouses.”

Study Time

A student wonders what time it is after their exam is done, and sees clock that has the word "study" everywhere on the clock.

“Who makes these clocks?!”

Note: I feel like I’ve seen a similar idea executed before, so if anyone has the reference, I’d be glad to hear it.

Smudge

A physicist calls over their friend to check out a new photograph of a black hole, but the friend is less-than-impressed by the smudge.

I wonder how much the astronomy community pays for having these really nice artistic renditions of astronomy when they want to promote the actual photographs.

Idea Quality

In the first panel, there is a direct connection between good ideas and smart people. Likewise, there's a direct connection between bad ideas and stupid people. In the second panel, there is just "people" who have both good and bad ideas.

Don’t be afraid to be wrong in class or meetings. It’s not a mark of your intelligence, despite what it feels like.

Delegation

In the first panel, the student thinks that starting their homework now would be a good idea so they aren't overwhelmed later. In the second, they decide to hand the problem over to their "future selves".

The person we probably harm the most by our actions: our future self.

Autopilot

In the first panel, a student eases into their work, content to think deeply about the content. In the second (the test), the student enters "autopilot" in order to finish the test on time.

Probably the top reason why I hate tests. The environment is so artificial and unlike what research is like. At this point, I just shake my head in sadness.

Clarity

In the first panel, the equation is written in order to make sense. In the second, the expression is given a common denominator, making things unclear.

We teach students to always simplify in mathematics, but the truth is that this can hide the more natural interpretation of results.

Academic Silos

In the first panel, the various academic fields are interconnected. In the second, the connections have been severed between almost all of them, leading to more isolation.

Of course, Science can’t afford to sever the connection with Math, so they’ve made sure to keep the relationship strong.