Finding The Right Name

Click here to listen to this feature

If you think picking a name for a baby is a challenge, it’s a snap compared with the problem scientists often face when it comes to naming things.

In the days when there were few chemical compounds known, informal names were adequate.  Today, with millions of substances known, we need more precise names although many informal ones remain.  For example, Teflon’s formal name is polytetrafluroethylene.

Scientists face a particular problem choosing names when there are billions of similar things to differentiate.  It is tough enough when there are two Marys in one family. But we can’t have two moon craters with the same name.

There are over thirty thousand billion moon craters!  Many are named after notable persons like Galileo or Einstein, but sometimes scientists get into a playful mood, and name the craters after cartoon characters like Casper, Gumby, or Scooby Doo.  These names were chosen simply because the image on the monitor looked somewhat like the cartoon character.

So it may not be the best idea to consult a scientist for ideas when naming your baby.  A name like alpha centauri sounds distinguished enough, but you might end up with one of the duller names given to some of the hills on Mars — animal names like chimp, duck or frog!

So next time you have to help name the baby, stick with grandma’s suggestions.