In response to the Internet’s tenacious efforts to name a British research vessel Boaty McBoatface, scientists began to apply the naming convention to objects in space.
It started out innocently enough…
Comet McCometface #TheInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/EHEB8HrtQp
— Alex Parker (@Alex_Parker) March 21, 2016
The Big Swirly Swirly #TheInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/eAwk8DdpPB
— Alex Parker (@Alex_Parker) March 21, 2016
Soon other members of “Space Twitter” joined in.
Starface Gassy McSmashy #TheInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/RB84qOWPlw
— Dr. Jillian Scudder (@Jillian_Scudder) March 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/mirikramer/status/712009349674221568
https://twitter.com/PlanetDr/status/712010099397677056
But then Biology Twitter swooped in and took over. With GIFs.
https://twitter.com/Rob0Sullivan/status/712034220173094913
https://twitter.com/Rob0Sullivan/status/712034811137884160
https://twitter.com/Rob0Sullivan/status/712042043070160896
But Space Twitter wasn’t about to back down.
https://twitter.com/LonelyProbe/status/712084753231392769
Meanwhile, both groups were having fun with the memes.
#theinternetnamesanimals Bangy McFaceplant pic.twitter.com/m9E7PSgeBW
— Serry Jeinfeld (@ConnorBlades) March 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/ryan_zany/status/712068377582264320
Spongy McCraterface #TheInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/Px2zVXyDQS
— Alice Sheppard (@PenguinGalaxy) March 21, 2016
Crashy McWhoopsy! #theInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/8GYMKREBSJ
— Jordan Steckloff (@steckloff) March 21, 2016
Crashy McWhoopsy Jr. #theInternetNamesSpace pic.twitter.com/cQH2QRBNUi
— Jordan Steckloff (@steckloff) March 21, 2016
#TheInternetNamesAnimals Deady McLongtime pic.twitter.com/7bUm27YFYs
— Serry Jeinfeld (@ConnorBlades) March 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/LonelyProbe/status/712089262154489856
But the war raged on.
https://twitter.com/Rob0Sullivan/status/712094870471581696
Space Twitter didn’t have a response that we could find. But it seems scientist Rob O’ Sullivan, who started the #TheInternetNamesAnimals meme was a good sport about it.
https://twitter.com/Rob0Sullivan/status/712111728230793217
People are still tweeting on both hashtags, but we think the blue-footed booby had the last laugh.
https://twitter.com/gloverkatherine/status/712067693587750912
Illustration by Max Fleishman