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0 pointsababaian1y ago0 comments

Vanya thought that when you run them through the RNA folding software, it would give you these unusual straight rods which reminded him of Cleopatra's Needle (Obelisk, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra%27s_Needles). The name stuck around. Incidentally the name has some cool 2001: Space Odyssey monolith vibes to it, which I think has been fitting.

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CRConrad1y ago

> unusual straight rods which reminded him of Cleopatra's Needle (Obelisk ...

Also, of course, Obelix[1], purveyor of menhirs[2] -- Breton "standing stones".

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obelix

[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menhir

brian-armstrong1y ago

Doesn't a name like this risk sensationalizing the discovery? I mean it's interesting to me as a layperson, but "obelisks" in pop culture carry a lot of woo factor

ababaianOP1y ago

Not sure I understand. Obelisks seems an inert descriptor to me, it has no connotation in the field so it's appropriately a blank slate.

wbl1y ago

The big risk is we call a companion molecule asterix.

LargoLasskhyfv1y ago

Sounds all like Miraculix to me...

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