On Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:16:22 -0500, Warp wrote:

> Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
>> scott wrote:
>> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_matter_halo
> 
>> "either the halo is composed of weakly-interacting elementary particles
>> known as WIMPs, or it is home to large numbers of small, dark bodies
>> known as MACHOs."
> 
>> I really think the scientists need to knock this sort of stuff off. 500
>> years from now, people will still be using these names.
> 
>   As far as I understand from his presentations, Neil deGrasse Tyson
>   fully
> embraces and promotes the use of descriptive, mundane and even funny
> names in physics, especially compared to the cryptic and technical names
> used eg. in chemistry and biology. Such names include things like "big
> bang", "black hole" and "spaghettification" (all quite complex subjects
> of astrophysics). I assume "WIMP" and "MACHO" are also right on the
> spot. :)

That sure sounds like him - and I think he does it to make science more 
fun for kids in order to get them interested in it.

We need kids to be interested in science, or we're screwed.

Jim

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