When Science Terms Get Weird

Science gives us an ever-expanding archive of knowledge, and each discovery bring a need for labeling. New species, chemicals, and processes each need their own name so that other scientists will know what you're talking about. Things can get weird. We may laugh at the term "spaghettification," but thanks to whichever physicist who came up with the term, it's pretty self-explanatory. And that's what's important.

You can't get much clearer than that. As long as a species name stays within the limits of taxonomic nomenclature, you can name a species anything you want, if you are the one with the right to do so. Besides, the western lowland gorilla can claim early adopter status. He can always claim he is the default gorilla! See a dozen of these strange science terms in a pictofacts list at Cracked.