UK sinks ‘Boaty McBoatface’; USAF may have to shoot down similar names

In an effort to drum up interest in the council's efforts and in science in general, Britain's Natural Environment Research Council launched a public poll last month to determine the name of its new $300 million advanced research vessel.  The winner was "Boaty McBoatface," four times more popular than the next best suggestion, the "Poppy-Mai," which would have named the boat after a 16-month-old girl with cancer.  The UK's Science Minister, Jo Johnson sunk the suggestion this week, telling NPR the boat needed a more appropriate moniker.

In March 2016, the U.S. Air Force launched a similar initiative to name its latest Long Range Strike Bomber, the B-21. The Air Force, like America, does not trust its citizens with direct democracy and does not allow the general public to vote on the name. It also is not publishing names for consideration. A few of the names floating around the Air Force's tweet on the B-21's name floated Trumppelin, Deathkill Eaglehawk Firebird Hoora! Testosterone, and (of course), Bomby McBombface.

Voting for the B-21's name is limited to members of the U.S. Air Force active duty force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard components, their dependents, members of the U.S. Air Force Civil Service and U.S. Air Force retirees. There also exists a complete set of contest rules and regulations.