Black holes: even the name sucks

Bad Astronomy
By Phil Plait
Jun 22, 2007 6:59 PMNov 5, 2019 6:56 AM

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I have heard (though not confirmed) that the name "black hole" is not used for black holes in Russia because translated literally, it has an, um, anatomical meaning. They say "frozen stars" instead. But now comes word that the phrase is also offensive in English, too! But I don't think renaming them to "super high gravity locations" is good either, though I think I could get used to call them SHGLs, as long as I can pronounce it "shaggles". Tip o' the event horizon to Fark.

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