[ceejayoz]

> Not many uninterested laypeople are going to be browsing the IAC website for astrophysics news.

But they will get linked to it, or read articles by reporters using it as a source without enough domain knowledge to make the distinction. I, after all, didn't seek this out - it just popped up on the HN home page.

> What seems weird to me is to be interested in a discipline, seek out news and conversation about it (from university press releases!) but then reject and/or argue about any terms of art that are established within that discipline.

I think science communication, post-COVID, needs to take a serious look at how to better explain things to the public. "Habitable zone" is simply one example of it.

[ziddoap]

I edited part of that out, because I actually do broadly agree with you regarding science communication, and realized my comment was a bit stronger than I intended. Looks like you were quick on the quote!

However, I think there's some serious slack to cut when you're viewing an article on the Institute of Astrophysics website, compared to reading Fox/CBS/whatever.

Edit: In my re-reading of the article, I see they define it! I'm no longer sure what all this back and forth is even about. "This orbit places it within the habitable zone of the system, _meaning it is at the right distance from its star to sustain liquid water on its surface_" Do you want them to not use the term even when they define the term?

[ceejayoz]

> Do you want them to not use the term even when they define the term?

Yes, I do. I think it's a needlessly confusing term to use in stuff intended for public consumption.

For a similar example of the issue, I often get radiology reports in my healthcare provider's portal. My dad is a radiologist and they're still quite scary/bewildering to read - they frequently use various terms of art for "looks fine and normal" that sound terrifying.

That was all fine when the intended audience was other doctors, but these days I can pull them up myself. I at least know enough to not freak out and ask my dad; many don't.

I don't want to see NBC/BBC/NYT articles using the term, and that means being careful with the sources from which they receive their info.