I Think Therefore IB

The Long Debate of Adding Ununbium to the Periodic Table: I find this to be a very interesting subject – but am still pondering to understand how exactly these recent elements are “created” (the idea that some chemical elements are discovered, and other are created…. yes, that’s just fascinating to me).

It also makes me think of the whole Pluto renaming. Articles on this:
You Call That a Planet? (prior to Pluto being reclassified)
Articles on Pluto (including some that discuss Pluto’s 2006 reclassification as a “dwarf planet” and how the voting on the definition of planet could have also created new planets, rather than demoted existing ones).

Of course, this “definition debate” clearly illustrates an example of “invented knowledge” within the natural sciences. Pluto hasn’t actually changed – the labels we have use to describe celestial objects and their definition is what has changed. Clearly, we invent such names – as we invent words generally.

See how is it is to find real (rather than hypothetical) examples for your essays? All you need to do is keep your eyes and ears open and follow the current news!