Physicists Discover Neutrinos Just Little Italian Neutrons

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a satirical article claiming that neutrinos are merely "little Italian neutrons," which has prompted humorous responses and commentary on the nature of scientific humor and wordplay in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants highlight the satirical nature of the article, emphasizing that it is not to be taken seriously.
  • One participant suggests that the story could have referenced Gran Sasso, a significant site in neutrino research, instead of Sicily.
  • Another participant makes a humorous remark about the potential familial connection to Enrico Fermi, suggesting a playful link to the scientific community.
  • There is a humorous assertion that the concept of "little baby neutrons" growing into "big adult neutrons" could explain cosmological events like the Big Bang.
  • One participant notes that the term 'neutrino' originates from Italian wordplay, which they find tiresome, indicating a mixed reception to such scientific humor.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that the article is satirical and not a serious scientific claim, but there are differing opinions on the effectiveness and reception of such humor in the scientific community.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects a blend of humor and commentary on scientific terminology, with references to cultural elements that may not be universally understood.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in the intersection of science and humor, as well as those exploring the cultural aspects of scientific terminology.

DrChinese
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https://www.theonion.com/physicists-hail-major-breakthrough-after-discovering-ne-1844363984

"Confirming the search for the mysterious Godfather particle was finally over, physicists at the University of Chicago hailed what they call a major breakthrough Monday after discovering neutrinos are just little Italian neutrons. “We’ve long believed neutrinos were created by nuclear reactions inside stars, but the truth is they’re just neutrons that originated in Tuscany, Piedmont, Sicily, and other regions of the Italic Peninsula,” said astrophysicist Dr. John Marder, whose experiments that involved shooting beams of neutrinos from a particle accelerator allowed scientists to observe that the Italian neutrons left behind nearly imperceptible trails of marinara sauce. "

No offense intended for my Italian friends. I'm American, so it should be easy to get me back. :smile:
(And please note the source as being a satirical site. This is literally fake news.)
 
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DrChinese said:
I'm American, so it should be easy to get me back
Too easy these days. There is no challenge in stating the obvious.

They could have at least combined the story with Gran Sasso instead of Sicily.
 
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DrChinese said:
physicists at the University of Chicago hailed what they call a major breakthrough Monday after discovering neutrinos are just little Italian neutrons.
I bet one of those physicists was Enrico Fermi's grandson. :wink:
 
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I knew that I smelt onions. My South Asian wife often fries onions, which produces a strong odour. Since she is not in the house right now, this left the most likely possibility as ... The Onion!
 
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DrChinese said:
discovering neutrinos are just little Italian neutrons
Little baby neutrons, that grow up to be big adult neutrons.
Stop. Physics is over and take a vacation.
That completely explains the whole big bang thing.
 
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But in fact the term 'neutrino' did come from a bit of obscure Italian wordplay, one of those (IMO rather tiresome) scientific 'in' jokes.
 
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