When it comes to language, who’s the decider? Grant explains how grammar rules develop. Also, what’s tarantula juice, and what’s the difference between a muffin top and a smiley? We discuss these and other terms from Green’s...
Scottish cringe n.— «Over the past week, as it became clear a decision on Megrahi’s future was imminent, many Scottish pundits and opposition politicians were consumed by what is called the Scottish cringe—the idea that some decisions are...
recycled pulsar n.— «Astronomers have long theorized that these superfast stars share their orbit with a companion star from which they leech extra material. The material settles around the pulsar’s middle in a so-called accretion disk...
goldstino n.— «In this case, the generators of the symmetry were fermionic, so the Goldstone particles are fermions rather than bosons: they are called the goldstinos and they have spin-1/2.» —“Bob McElrath, gravitons are not made...
lobbocracy n.— «Democracy, which relies on a free and independent press, is now run by what I call a “lobbocracy,” by special interests lobby groups via PR.» —“Spin versus framing: the tragedy of PR” by John S...
spin out n.— «Equipment rolled out earlier than expected will remain under development until it performs at the original specifications, Terry said. Although other accelerated “spin outs,” as they are called, won’t be...