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

Aiming to predict COVID, future pandemics better, CDC opens infectious diseases forecasting center

Unmasked transit: Pritzker ends mask mandates in public transportation, airports

A state budget with ‘firm fiscal foundation’ that shows ‘tremendous progress?’ Or a ‘cynical’ election-year ploy to buy votes?

Mayor poses question to casino opponents: Do you want your taxes raised?

Rosario Ibarra, Mexico’s champion of the disappeared, has died at 95

Cook County judge ‘refused to speak’ with police investigating another judge