We're sunsetting PodQuest on 2025-07-28. Thank you for your support!
Export Podcast Subscriptions
cover of episode From viral variants to devastating storms, how names shape the public's reaction to science

From viral variants to devastating storms, how names shape the public's reaction to science

2025/2/7
logo of podcast Nature Podcast

Nature Podcast
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
C
Charlotte Stollart
D
Damien Carrington
J
John Kangialosi
M
Maria van Kerkhove
M
Michael Mackett
N
Naomi Oreskes
N
Narrator
一位专注于电动车和能源领域的播客主持人和内容创作者。
Topics
Charlotte Stollart: 飓风命名是为了区分不同的风暴,方便交流风暴的时间和路径等信息。每年大西洋沿岸都会受到风暴侵袭,造成巨大损失,因此有效的沟通至关重要。 John Kangialosi: 飓风命名是为了更好地与人们沟通,让他们知道应该关注哪个风暴。从20世纪50年代开始使用命名系统,不断调整,增加了名字的种族多样性,确保有男性和女性的名字。为了避免敏感问题,我们会停用造成重大破坏的飓风的名字。我亲身经历过飓风威胁家人的情况,深知有效沟通的重要性。给风暴命名可以更容易地传达关键信息。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The naming of hurricanes is a crucial communication tool, enabling effective warnings to communities in the path of storms. The system, agreed upon by the World Meteorological Organization, uses alphabetical names to distinguish storms and facilitates clear communication during emergencies, saving lives. Retired names demonstrate the system's sensitivity to the impact of hurricanes on communities.
  • Hurricane names are chosen alphabetically by the World Meteorological Organization.
  • The system improves communication during emergencies.
  • Names are retired for sensitivity reasons after particularly destructive hurricanes.

Shownotes Transcript

In episode 2 of 'What's in a name' we look how choosing names can help, or hinder, attempts to communicate important messages.

Categorizing things is central to science. And there are dozens of systems scientists have created to name everything from the trenches on the sea bed to the stars in the sky.

But names have consequences. In our series What’s in a name we explore naming in science and how names impact the world — whether the system of naming species remains in step with society, how the names of diseases can create stigma, or even how the names of scientific concepts can drive the direction of research itself.

In episode two, we're looking at how the names chosen by scientists help, or hinder, communication with the public.

Well chosen names can quickly convey scientific concepts or health messages — in emergency situations they can even save lives. We'll hear how the systems of naming tropical storms and Covid-19 variants came to be, and how they took different approaches to achieve the same outcome.

We'll also consider the language used to talk about climate change, and how the ways of describing it have been used to deliberately introduce uncertainty and confusion.

Listen to the first episode Should offensive species names be changed? The organisms that honour dictators, racists and criminals

For a list of sources please visit

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-04200-9

Music credits

Premiumaudio/Pond5

Richard Smithson/Triple Scoop Music/Getty Images Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy) for more information.