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Originally Posted by Melanie68
Because scientists are silly and fickle. Chaning their minds is what they do best. Microbiologists are constantly changing the names of bacteria and it's a pain especially when they make the name harder to pronounce.
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Oh, and don't forget paleontologists! If it turns out that two different species are actually the same, then they get to keep the name that has been given to them first. There's no Brontosaurus!
Sadly, this "first come" naming can leave the species with the less pretty name. "Hyracotherium" ("Hyrax-like Beast"), the prehistoric beast was also named "Eohippus" ("Horse of Dawn"/"Dawn Horse"), until they found out that they are both one species. Since "Hyracotherium" was the name it had first, that's what is officially know as, even though "Eohippus" is much more pretty.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens
Because scientists are dorks. I mean, look at my brother. He's a physicist, used to work for JPL at CalTech (now is a consultant). He's so dorky. But he loves his wine. He used to drink beer. Then he upgraded. He's a cool dork, though.
I still haven't asked him how he feels about Pluto.
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I'm not a dork, I'm a geek.
Meaning I bite off the heads of live chickens.*
So, I'm an artist geek.
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*I love to say that to people when they ask what a "Geek" is. Love the reactions.