Randall Munroe

Randall Munroe is a well-known author and graphic novelist, best recognized for his debut novel "What If." Born in Easton, Pennsylvania, and raised outside Richmond, Virginia, Munroe developed an early interest in science and mathematics. He pursued his passion for physics at Christopher Newport University before securing a job as a roboticist at NASA Langley Research Center.

In 2006, Munroe decided to leave NASA to focus on creating his webcomic, xkcd, full-time. The webcomic, which features math, language, romance, and sarcasm, quickly gained popularity among science enthusiasts. With its unique blend of humor and scientific concepts, xkcd attracted over half a million daily visitors to Munroe's website. The comic's success led to the publication of a book by the same name in 2019.

Munroe's talent and contributions to the science world have earned him recognition beyond the xkcd community. In 2017, The International Astronomical Union named an asteroid after him, asteroid 4942 Munroe, which is large enough to cause mass extinction if it ever hits a planet like Earth. This honor highlights Munroe's significant impact on the science community. Currently, he resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he continues to create captivating comics and engage with his loyal fanbase.