Fans Launch Petition to Have the Black Hole Named After Chris Cornell
Unless you’ve been living in a black hole, you have no doubt heard the news that scientists were able to capture the first-ever photograph of that very phenomenon. Until now, our only visualization of black holes has come via the magic of Hollywood special effects, so this achievement is, to put it mildly, historic and pretty damn cool.
Scientists have dubbed the black hole ‘Powehi,’ which is a Hawaiian phrase meaning “the adorned fathomless dark creation” or “embellished dark source of unending creation.” The name, which was supplied by University of Hawaii-Hilo Hawaiian professor Larry Kimura, comes from an 18th century Hawaiian creation chant called the Kumulipo. And I think we can all agree it’s actually a metal as fuqq moniker — it would not be hard to convince someone that “The Adorned Fathomless Dark Creation” is the title of a new Craft song.
But there are a few hundred Chris Cornell fans who think that instead of Powehi, the black hole should be named after the late singer. A new change.org petition, started by Giuliana Jarrin, asserts:
“‘Black Hole Sun,’ written by Chris Cornell is without a doubt Soundgarden’s most recognizable and most popular song, and one of the biggest anthems of the 90’s. For this reason, and the impact Chris Cornell had in the lives of so many and music itself, I ask NASA, the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration and all the astronomers and scientists involved in this discovery, to name this black hole after Chris Cornell. This would be a ‘surreal’ and amazing way to honor his life and his contribution to music.”
As of this writing, the petition has 742 signatures, with a final goal of getting 1,000 people to sign. That seems like far too few to sway the minds of the people who make these decisions — there are 7.5 billion people on the planet, and this is, again, a historic achievement that should be (and is being!) celebrated by all mankind. Cornell was an amazing singer and I don’t mean to downplay what a loss it has been to the world not to have him in it. But naming the black hole after him seems too narrow in scope.
Still, if you wanna sign the petition, you can do so here.
[via Classic Rock]
