NASA Compared Pluto's Moon Charon To 'The Incredible Hulk' (nasa.gov)

MarkWhittington writes: NASA's New Horizon spacecraft has shown Pluto to be an active world that is far more interesting to scientists than anyone imagined when the probe was launched about ten years ago. Pluto's moon Charon has also proven to be a world of interest, not the least because of how it formed and then expanded billions of years ago.

The surface of Charon is covered with ridges, scarps, and valleys. One of the latter is, at least, four miles deep. Scientists suggest that in the distant past Charon expanded, pulling about much like the comic book character Bruce Banner bursting through his clothes as he changes into the Incredible Hulk.

Comments

is there a need for 'popular' analogies

[sittingnut]

it seems news about science generally, and astronomy in particular, require lots of eye and mind candy, with absurd metaphors and artist renderings.
do such polarizations serve any purpose?
those who are really interested probably can do without the sugra, and those who are only superficially interested probably get confused idea about the concepts, not to mention bad sugary substance inside their brain.

Re: is there a need for 'popular' analogies

[Anonymous Coward]

Some of the PR people think over the top analogies are needed to get people's attention, and they can end up being like gate keepers of what news comes out of some institutes and conferences. Our group has submitted things after major progress points and papers, buy they have been consistently rejected because involving giant lasers isn't enough to get people's attention according to the PR office. Another group, who do good work, but often get minor papers publicized because they ham up their suggestions and analogies for the PR office, who then take it even further.

Re:So can they finally answer the mystery

[BeauHD]

I've always been amazed by this as well. He's all upper body with pencil legs.