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Student Wants Science To Name 'Hella' Big Number

Posted by samzenpus on from the big-way-big-and-hella-big dept.

thodelu writes "Austin Sendek, a 20-year-old UC Davis student, is trying to get scientists from Boise to Beijing to use the term 'hella' to denote the unimaginably huge, seldom-cited quantity of 10 to the 27th power. From the article: 'It started as a joke, but Sendek's Facebook petition: to the Consultative Committee on Units, a subdivision of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures, has drawn more than 60,000 supporters. Its chances for formal adoption by the global weights-and-measures community are hella dim, but Google was so taken with Sendek's modest proposal that it incorporated "hella" in its online calculator.'"

17 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. Nothing says math revolution by notommy · · Score: 5, Funny

    like a page in facebook.

  2. Cartman by Pojut · · Score: 4, Funny

    "You guys are hella stupid...you guys are hella lame."

    --
    Living With a Nerd
    1. Re:Cartman by DeafDumbBlind · · Score: 5, Funny

      Damn it Cartman, stop saying Hella.

      --


      Jesus used to be my co-pilot, but we crashed in the mountains and I had to eat him.
    2. Re:Cartman by bsDaemon · · Score: 3, Funny

      whatever you guys, i'm hella keeeeewwwww'

  3. Good Luck... by ringmaster1982 · · Score: 5, Funny

    .. I lost my bid to the EU to adopt Metric F*ck Ton. =(

  4. Who is this guy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    What makes him qualified to name anything? Does he even own any land?

  5. Re:What do by ctrl-alt-canc · · Score: 3, Funny

    Given the amount of hellenic state deficit, I think that setting 1 hella = 10^27 is quite appropriate.

  6. Guy walks into a store by somaTh · · Score: 5, Funny

    A guy walks into a store. "I'd like a 1 Hellahertz computer"
    Clerk promptly smacks him with a laptop.
    "Thanks!"

    --
    Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
  7. Ye gods no! by revjakenash · · Score: 1, Funny

    I thought that word had finally died! If you west coast guy's and gal's get to have a Hella big number, then I hereby demand that we east coasters are furnished with a Wicked Big Numbah!

  8. Re:What do by brian0918 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I guess then 10^50 should be called Ameri-.

  9. This is an extrordinarily bad idea... by Chrisq · · Score: 4, Funny

    The corresponding prefix for 10^-27 would logically be hello. Just imagine trying to take a lecture serously when the lecturer talks about "hello Henrys"

  10. Re:Not going to happen by RevWaldo · · Score: 5, Funny

    New petition! Replace zepto- with zeppo-. To be followed of course by:

    10^-24: chico-
    10^-27: harpo-
    10^-30: groucho-


    .

    --
    Prisencolinensinainciusol. Ol Rait!
  11. Re:Why? by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 4, Funny

    Plus, it breaks the convention of naming things after the person who discovered them.

    Yeah, Mr. Liter, Dr. Meter, and Reginald the Second are going to be really steamed if this is adopted.

    --
    Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
  12. Re:I've always supported flexible use of language by badboy_tw2002 · · Score: 3, Funny

    So you understand Bush, but most people have trouble understanding you. I suggest freezing yourself for 500 years and going to see the doctor:

    "Don't wanna sound like a dick or nothin', but it says on your chart that you're fucked up. Ah, you talk like a fag, and your shit's all retarded. What I'd do, is just like... ha ha... like... aha... you know, like, you know what I mean, like... haha... Don't worry scrote! There are plenty of 'tards out there living really kick ass lives. My first wife was 'tarded. She's a pilot now."

  13. Re:Not going to happen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    good luck with that! I don't give that terminology's adoption a chico's chance in a groucho.

  14. Hella is cool by GrahamCox · · Score: 2, Funny

    Hella is cool - I used to have a set on my rally car. They're bright, but not 10^27 bright...

  15. Re:Not going to happen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    ... or we can retain zepto- and adapt your request:

    10^24: chicto-

    10^27: harpto-

    10^30: grouchto-