The British people have spoken, and they really want to name their new, US $290 million polar research ship the RRS Boaty McBoatface.
In what probably seemed like a nice piece of public outreach, the United Kingdom’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) invited the public to suggest names for its new vessel, which is scheduled to sail in 2019. The funding council asked for names that were “inspirational and about environmental and polar science,” suggesting things like Endeavour, Shackleton, and Falcon.
But you can’t trust the Internet. Read more in Hakai.