trajectoid
Original: trajectoid on Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal
Transcript
Panel 1:
Caption: Trajectoids are a class of shape that, when rolled, trace out a specific path of the designer's choice.
(A wavy red path leads to a blue lumpy stone-like shape.)
Panel 2:
Caption: However, some paths are forbidden because in practice they cost too much inertia.
(A red path with a small loop in it; a label points to the loop reading "loops? bad!")
Panel 3:
Caption: This suggests that (A) you can make an object that traces out words of your choice, but (B) you can only use non-looping letters: I, J, L, M, N, S, U, V, W, Z.
(A red squiggly line resembling cursive "m"-like strokes.)
Panel 4:
Caption: I have nothing exciting to add here, other than thank god for 3D printers.
Caption: You used advanced modern math to make a piece of plastic that keeps writing "jizz" whenever you roll it.
Panel 5:
Caption: Everyone gets into science for different reasons.
(Two people stand together, one in red, one in dark clothing.)
Votey:
The most interesting words I could come up with were minimum, illusion, and wuss.
Note, that if you allow loops, you open up a world of ass.
Caption: Trajectoids are a class of shape that, when rolled, trace out a specific path of the designer's choice.
(A wavy red path leads to a blue lumpy stone-like shape.)
Panel 2:
Caption: However, some paths are forbidden because in practice they cost too much inertia.
(A red path with a small loop in it; a label points to the loop reading "loops? bad!")
Panel 3:
Caption: This suggests that (A) you can make an object that traces out words of your choice, but (B) you can only use non-looping letters: I, J, L, M, N, S, U, V, W, Z.
(A red squiggly line resembling cursive "m"-like strokes.)
Panel 4:
Caption: I have nothing exciting to add here, other than thank god for 3D printers.
Caption: You used advanced modern math to make a piece of plastic that keeps writing "jizz" whenever you roll it.
Panel 5:
Caption: Everyone gets into science for different reasons.
(Two people stand together, one in red, one in dark clothing.)
Votey:
The most interesting words I could come up with were minimum, illusion, and wuss.
Note, that if you allow loops, you open up a world of ass.
Alt text
A five-panel SMBC comic about "trajectoids" — shapes that trace a chosen path when rolled. Panel 1: a wavy red line leads to a blue lumpy stone; caption explains trajectoids trace a specific path of the designer's choice. Panel 2: a red path containing a small loop, labeled "loops? bad!"; caption says some paths are forbidden because loops cost too much inertia. Panel 3: a cursive-like red squiggle; caption notes you can make an object that writes words of your choice, but only using non-looping letters: I, J, L, M, N, S, U, V, W, Z. Panel 4: text-only; the narrator says thank god for 3D printers, then deadpans that you used advanced math to make a piece of plastic that writes "jizz" whenever you roll it. Panel 5: two people stand side by side under the caption "Everyone gets into science for different reasons." Votey (bonus panel): text reading "The most interesting words I could come up with were minimum, illusion, and wuss. Note, that if you allow loops, you open up a world of ass."
Transcribed by Claude Opus 4.8.