Oh no. They're writing about Epstein in Scientific Journals!

[NNadir]

(Trust me, I can argue this post is appropriate for the Lounge.)

I came across this paper this morning:

From Paradox to Practice: A Review on Production Strategies, Stability Mechanisms, and Theoretical Insights of Bulk Nanobubbles Ananda J. Jadhav and Aniruddha Bhalchandra Pandit Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 2026 65 (13), 6725-6763

From the text:

...One crucial aspect to consider is that nanobubbles operate at length scales where classical continuum thermodynamics becomes questionable as interfacial effects, molecular discreteness, and thermal fluctuations can no longer be neglected. As a result, conventional approaches may not be reliable for understanding their behavior. Theoretical frameworks such as the Epstein–Plesset model predict nanosecond-scale dissolution, while actual measurements show weeks-long stability...

Let me tell you from experience, it sucks when you have a very common last name. It's why we chose to give my sons my wife's beautiful rare last name of Italian origin, even if everyone pronounces it wrong and even if they're easy, unlike me, to find them (or stalk them) on the internet where happily, they have positive profiles.

With a common name, the same jokes, year after year, decade after decade, you're expected to laugh, even if you've heard it a zillion times. I try to be gracious about it, sometimes it's difficult.

The Epstein-Plesset model was first published in 1950, by "P.S. Epstein" at the California Institute of Technology.

J. Chem. Phys. 18, 1505–1509 (1950)

I don't know anything about P.S. Epstein, but he or she wrote a long time ago, 76 years ago, and presumably he or she didn't live long enough to hear even worse jokes than the ones I hear because the name "Epstein," unlike my name, has become a pejorative. The famous people associated with my name - there are many - were all admired in general social culture, albeit in a sometimes goofy way.

[LearnedHand]

1. The "Epstein drive" figures prominently in the Expanse novels

I’m listening to the audiobooks, so I flinch a little every time the drives are mentioned. It’s almost as bad as the flinch I get when I read or hear the word “trump” as a verb, like in card games or strategic moves.

[NNadir]

2. I am avoiding the use of the common word that has been poisoned by the Orange Pedophile's name.

In the past, I've used it a lot at DU in the common phrase "Experiment (insert pluralized orange pedophile's name) theory.

It really has to suck for good people born with the name Epstein, of whom I'm sure there are many.

[LearnedHand]

5. I think the trauma from this era will last a couple generations

The flinches at names or common language are a good indicator of how deep the trauma is.

[NNadir]

6. Agreed.

[3catwoman3]

7. Words are not the only things spoiled.

I can no longer use either the OK or thumbs up gestures.

[NNadir]

8. I hadn't thought of that connection, but I credit it. I've never been a "thumbs up" kind of guy, nor an OK gesture guy.

[Midnight Writer]

3. Oh, my! I hope this paper has been thoroughly redacted.

[NNadir]

4. The paper is actually excellent science. As a person with a common name, I'd hate it if someone confused me...

...with a criminal having the same name and denigrated my work.

Often people have no idea how problematic a common name can be, people sitting in your plane seat, driving off in your reserved car, sitting in your hotel room...etc...etc...

The tiresome jokes at which you're expected to laugh is a minor issue.

The only advantage I can see is with difficulty people would have stalking you on the internet.

[zanana1]

9. And I thought I'd watched enough Big Bang Theory to understand this.