Artist impression of the surface of Pluto. Credit: ESO/L. Calçada

On August 24, 2006 the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined the term “planet”, effectively demoting Pluto to just a dwarf  planet. The least qualified people chronically afraid of advancements of our understanding of cosmos, immediately flooded the blogosphere and social media with a wave of protests. One can truly judge the “severity” of an issue by the involvement of proponents of pseudo-sciences such as  astrology. Nevertheless, the resistance faded as many realized that Pluto’s classification had no impact on their lives; with the exception of those who, as Sheldon Cooper brilliantly put, “participate in the mass cultural delusion that the Sun’s apparent position relative to arbitrarily defined constellations at the time of your birth somehow affects your personality“.

Unfortunately, some, to this day, have not forgotten about the unlawful demontion of their beloved so-called planet, which, by the way, exerts less gravitational influence on you that the computer you are using to read this article. The goverment of the state of Illinois decided to take the matter into their own hands by declaring Pluto a fully-pledged planet. Obviously, their motives have nothing to do with that fact the Clyde W. Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto in 1930, is a native of Illinois?! – The entire matter is just borderline ridiculous. Once again, politicians who have no education in the matter, make a decision just to appease their own anxieties. What truly surprises me is that this is not coming from an enlightened state such as Oklahoma (although they are trying really hard to keep up), but the very home of Barack Obama, who above all, values rational thought.