it's science Dec. 3, 2013

Everyone Started Looking Up Science in the Dictionary This Year for Some Reason

Photo: Shutterstock

Merriam-Webster declared science its word of the year for 2013 today, thanks to a 176 percent increase in online lookups — the biggest jump of any word, year over year. Which is … odd. Does anyone have any idea why that happened?

>

Sources

So, no, nobody has any idea.

Tags:

Show Leave a Comment

Many Looked Up Science in Dictionary This Year

Things you buy through our links may earn Vox Media a commission.

Most Viewed Stories

Editor’s Picks

THE FEED

What Elon Musk and DOGE Are Doing to the Federal Government

By Chris Stanton

The billionaire and his cronies continue to move fast and break things. Here are their boldest attacks thus far.

tremendous content

tremendous content

Trump Keeps Giving Mahomes Weird and Desperate Compliments

By Margaret Hartmann

The president has found a strange outlet for his Taylor Swift–related insecurities.

early and often

early and often

Trump Blesses His Kind of Christians at Prayer Breakfast

After squabbling with Catholics and liberal Protestants, Trump basked in the love of right-wing Evangelicals and boosted their causes.

Most Popular

The Donald Trump–Taylor Swift Drama: A Super Bowl Refresher

By Margaret Hartmann

Did Trump tweet that he “hates” Swift? What did Travis Kelce say? How are Patrick and Brittany Mahomes involved? Here’s a guide to all the bad blood.

early and often

early and often

The Week ‘Democrats Must Work With Trump’ Died

The new administration is running roughshod over Congress, breaking laws wantonly, and empowering Elon Musk. Democrats have had enough.

tremendous content

tremendous content

Nepotism Pioneer Lara Trump to Host Fox News Show

By Margaret Hartmann

Fox News previously dropped Lara as a paid contributor due to her ties to the Trump campaign. But media ethics are so 2022.

just asking questions

just asking questions

Brian Schatz on How Democrats Can ‘Start Kicking Ass Again’

By Benjamin Hart

The Hawaii senator says his party should embrace a new kind of resistance and stop listening to pundits.

early and often

early and often

Trump Cabinet Confirmation Hearings: Schedule & How to Watch

By Margaret Hartmann and Chas Danner

Will the Senate GOP confirm controversial picks like Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr.? Here’s the hearings schedule and list of who’s been confirmed.

Who Is Lara Trump? Donald’s Daughter-in-Law, Explained

By Margaret Hartmann

Everything to know about the aspiring singer, activewear entrepreneur, and new Fox News host.

stop the presses

stop the presses

Resistance Media Lives!

By Charlotte Klein

The explosive success of The Bulwark.

The DOGE Rampage Is Also a Bailout for Elon Musk

By John Herrman

Elon Musk’s incursion into the federal government is unprecedented. It’s also pretty good news for his companies.

early and often

early and often

GOP Governors Cheer As Trump Prepares to Cut Their Budgets

State Republicans are rebranding their efficiency exercises as just like Musk’s DOGE. It won’t seem cool when the cuts come down from Washington.

The World Reacts to Trump’s Proposed Gaza Takeover

As President Trump floated a possible American takeover of the Gaza Strip, leaders throughout the world have rejected the controversial proposal.

foreign affairs

foreign affairs

Trump’s Gaza Plan Is Ethnic Cleansing for Israel

He’s doing exactly what Benjamin Netanyahu and the far right wants.

A Very Crypto Mystery

By Jen Wieczner

The crypto industry claims it was quietly deprived of access to banks by the Biden administration. Can Republicans find proof?

Do Yondr Pouches Really Work?

School districts love the “phone prisons.” Students have already figured out how to skirt them.

early and often

early and often

Why Trump’s Plan to Kill the Education Department May Fail

Cuts to special education and schools that serve disadvantaged kids won’t go over well outside the MAGA base.

the trump administration

the trump administration

Trump Is DEI for ‘Competent White Men’

As he and Elon Musk consolidate power, they elevate a race and gender hierarchy with themselves at the top.

early and often

early and often

RFK Jr.’s Extremely Improbable Rise to HHS Secretary

Last year, Trump called Kennedy the most “radical left” presidential candidate. Now he’s set to be a powerful figure in his administration.

Republicans Fall Behind Nominating Tulsi Gabbard

After squeaking by in a key vote, Gabbard is seemingly on a glide path to confirmation.

When Will the Declassified JFK Files Be Released Publicly?

The president has ordered their disclosure with a timeline that suggests it might actually happen this time.

tremendous content

tremendous content

Trump to Attend Super Bowl Because We Can’t Have a Moment’s Peace

By Margaret Hartmann

Thinking you’ll try to avoid talking politics at your Super Bowl watch party next Sunday? Think again!

Key Republican Falls in Line Behind RFK Jr.

Kennedy’s HHS nomination advanced to the full Senate after Republican senator Bill Cassidy, a potential swing vote, voted in his favor.

ICE Has Restaurant Workers Terrified

By Chris Crowley

Nobody is sure exactly what’s going on, but any threat of deportation is too grave to ignore.

The Trade War Comes For Temu

By John Herrman

Americans flocked to Temu and Shein. Trump’s tariffs could destroy them.