# Mangle a term from the sciences **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [August 1, 2020, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956 "2020-08-01T03:20:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/1 "2020-08-01T03:20:14Z")
> [@Religious terminology, wrongly defined.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-terminology-wrongly-defined/799521/1): > > My apologies if I seem to start this thread and run away. This is not one of my regular forums so I might be gone a while before I remember to check to see what has developed. Okay, so with the change of hosts I finally stumbled across that old thread and was amazed and amused by the entries that I missed in the month it survived after I forgot about it. And I had always planned (maybe even threatened) to create a corollary game thread for scientific terms so here ya go. Here’s the gist of the game: > [@Religious terminology, wrongly defined.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/religious-terminology-wrongly-defined/799521/1): > > Anyway, I was writing a response to another thread and mentally speaking with an accent when I mangled a term. Then when I was thinking about that later I started remembering old Funky Winkerbean comic strips in which one of the guys was depicted sitting for an exam (these tended to come out around SAT and GRE season) and he would be given a term to define, for which he would supply some ludicrous funny answer. For example, one panel would show a caption of “Define Lagoon” and he would be shown writing “A French idiot.” So the idea here is to take a scientific term or idea and give it a funny definition. Go ahead, mangle and mispronounce it! **Fission** : I do my _fission_ at the lake; Jeb prefers deep sea _fission_. **Heisenberg’s Principle** : Honestly, Skylar, I did this for the family! [I’m not sure how many will catch this joke.] And, as I forgot to note in the instructions for the first one, context within a sentence is often helpful in delivering the joke. **Heavy water** : That’s the bottle they skip when they’re making light beer. I’m thinking we might stick to the hard sciences and applications (Physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, engineering?) and then in a month or two (I promise!) I’ll start another of these for the life sciences (Biology, medicine, more chemistry I guess…). And, as before, keep it light-hearted and remember it’s all in gest. Your turn! –G! ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/2 "2020-08-01T06:10:48Z")
> [@Grestarian](#): > > I’m thinking we might stick to the hard sciences and applications (Physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology, engineering?) and then in a month or two (I promise!) I’ll start another of these for the life sciences (Biology, medicine, more chemistry I guess…). I think you probably need to start by looking up the definition of “hard sciences”. > **[Hard and soft science](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_science)** > > Hard science and soft science are colloquial terms used to compare scientific fields on the basis of perceived methodological rigor, exactitude, and objectivity. In general, the formal sciences and natural sciences are considered hard science, whereas the social sciences and other sciences are described as soft science. > Precise definitions vary, but features often cited as characteristic of hard science include producing testable predictions, performing controlled experiments, relying on quanti... Okay, in the spirit of the thread: Soft sciences: subjects like biology that deal with squishy objects. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/3 "2020-08-01T15:31:04Z")
The periodic table of elements tells you whether chemistry is before or after lunch. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/4 "2020-08-01T15:55:50Z")
**planets** : small projects that team members manage to squeeze in between big programmes and master plans. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/5 "2020-08-01T16:56:34Z")
**engineering:** the approach of a locomotive **research:** what you do when you _still_ can’t find your keys **kryptonite:** an evening spent enjoying substitution ciphers **electrolyte:** Perhaps the most important of Edison’s inventions ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/6 "2020-08-01T17:05:49Z")
**black holes** : parts of theorems that can neither be proved nor disproved. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/7 "2020-08-01T17:10:10Z")
**Psychopath** : The walk from the Bates Motel to Norman’s mother’s house. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/8 "2020-08-01T17:32:33Z")
**linear combination** : a typical meal you can fit on your tray at a cafeteria ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/9 "2020-08-01T17:45:23Z")
**molybdenum** - what Molly B’s jean’s are made of ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/10 "2020-08-01T17:48:39Z")
**absolute alcohol** : “Are you sure you’re not drinking dodgy booze?” “This is legit stuff, dude. _Absolute alcohol_.” ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/11 "2020-08-01T17:54:51Z")
**Homeostasis** : when you’ve been parked in the same RV park for 20 years. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/12 "2020-08-01T18:26:09Z")
**entropy** : an entry you submit to multiple competitions ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/13 "2020-08-01T19:18:45Z")
**Absolute zero:** that kid in your Cryogenics class that no one likes. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/14 "2020-08-01T22:57:43Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I think you probably need to start by looking up the definition of “hard sciences”. Guilty as charged, for sure. **Dark Matter** : I don’t understand why they say scientists can’t figure it out. Y’know, it’s just that solid stuff that goes down the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/15 "2020-08-01T23:20:28Z")
**Supercollider:** When Clark Kent gets drunk and runs into walls. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/16 "2020-08-02T02:26:58Z")
**paraffin** : a new toy craze, which both kids and grownups use to impersonate sharks at the beach ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/17 "2020-08-02T02:50:57Z")
Pipette - Pip’s daughter Alkali - ‘I only had one beer, officer’ I’m sure I had some more ideas, but now they Argon. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/18 "2020-08-02T02:57:34Z")
> [@Aspidistra](#): > > Pipette - Pip’s daughter I wish I had come up with that one. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/19 "2020-08-02T03:12:39Z")
**Geometry** : What an acorn happily exclaims when it finally passes the sapling stage. I’ll let myself out. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2020, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956/20 "2020-08-02T04:24:54Z")
**Subtraction** : What the USS Nautilus needed to get going. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mangle-a-term-from-the-sciences/916956.md?page=2)