Pluto has not been having an easy time of it.  There was all that nasty controversy over whether it could retain the name “planet”. The year 2017 seems to be looking up for Pluto though; the International Astronomical Union has recently announced that Pluto’s lovely heart-shaped region will finally be receiving an official name of its own.  And if that wasn’t exciting enough, several other topographical features of this heavenly body are up for naming.  Interested in learning more? Click through to this Scientific American article to catch up on Pluto news!

Beijing fortune-teller Mao Shandong offers Chinese parents an auspicious name for their newborn but he faces competition from tech-savvy entrepreneurs who have turned the ancient tradition into a lucrative online business

For many Chinese parents, making the right choice for their child’s name has become even more imperative as they seek to help their children stand out in the world’s most populous country. These days, they are more likely to turn to online businesses than to more traditional resources like fortune tellers. According to this article at the news site Phys.org, a quick web search reveals more than a hundred such businesses in China, each promising names that will pave the way for future success. But what kinds of names do they suggest? Read on to find out.

Zealandia, a landmass about two-thirds the size of Australia (of which 94% is under water), is a step closer to being recognized. A paper published in GSA Today, the journal of the Geological Society of America, contends that the vast, continuous expanse of continental crust, which centers on New Zealand, is distinct enough to constitute a separate continent. Will we see the introduction Zealandia in this century?

A new report by UK pregnancy & parenting website Bounty has uncovered that baby names inspired by Netflix characters are on the up. The report, which reviewed the 340,000 names Bounty’s members gave to their babies in recent months, found that as well as more common-place character names increasing in popularity, there’s been a sharp rise in unique names featured on shows this year. So which are the most popular – Piper, Walter, Jessica? Did your favorites make the list?

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Sir David Attenborough has brought wildlife to people’s televisions for more than 60 years. He’s inspired many people to take an interest in animals. This BBC Newsround article has beautiful photos of seven creatures named after Attenborough, plus one more item in the non-animal category. Do you know what it is?

In an article at Entity magazine, An Nguyen looks at the tradition of changing surnames upon marriage – who did, who does, and who will. So what is so important about a surname that people want to keep it even after marriage? And what factors push women to adopt their husband’s name – or not? Read on to look at the history of name changes and predictions for the future. Special appearance by ANS member Dr. Donna Lillian!