Scientists name new dwarf planet after Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden might look like he’s lost on another planet sometimes, and now, he has one to call his own.

Nature reports that scientists have discovered a new dwarf planet beyond Pluto and have named it “2012 VP113,” but are nicknaming it “Biden.”

Dr. Scott Sheppart tells Politico that the 2012 VP113 name is due to a discover classification system, but well, that’s just too long and awkward.

We didn’t want to keep calling it that, so we saw the VP in there and so we just started calling it Biden for short, he said.

Scientists won’t officially submit a name to the International Astronomical Union until they fully understand its orbit, which will take a few years.They believe that the planet is mostly made of ice.

h/t Nature

Next Up In Politics

Hundreds protest in Global Climate Strike, demand that U.S. declare a climate emergency

Ballot bypass? Illinois sees lowest presidential primary voter turnout in decades

Chicagoans with ties to Middle East brace for consequences after Iran's missile strike on Israel

Chicago Teachers Union tries to bulldoze through Springfield on selective schools bill — and loses

Mayor Brandon Johnson's $1.25B borrowing plan sails through City Council

City Council OKs $70 million in extra funding for migrant crisis