‘Dark matter’, 'Big Bang' and ‘spin’: how physics terms can confuse researchers

Nature Podcast

[email protected]

Science, News, Technology

4.4 • 859 Ratings

🗓️ 22 April 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Categorizing things is central to science. And there are dozens of systems scientists have created to name everything from the trenches on the sea bed to the stars in the sky.

But names have consequences. What’s in a name is a series exploring naming in science and how names impact the world. We look at whether the system of naming species remains in step with society, how the names of diseases can create stigma, and how the names chosen by scientists can help, or hinder, communication with the public.

In episode three, we're looking at how the names chosen for concepts in physics can inadvertently send researchers down very specific research avenues while distracting them from others. In this podcast we hear five stories about the importance of names and how much can be lost in translation when physicists try and label the unknown.

For a list of sources and music used, please visit the podcast show notes

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Transcript

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1:02.6	NGC 244.
1:03.8	USP 39B. NGC 6826. Names play an important role in physics.
1:11.6	In the end, everything, every mathematical equation, every symbol, everything that we do,
1:20.2	has to be put into language.
1:22.9	And so language matters.
1:24.8	Up quark.
1:25.6	Down quark.
1:26.1	Strange quark.
	...

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