PEOPLE have only just learnt what the word “laser” really means – and it’s left them “questioning everything”.
The word laser is actually an acronym and stands for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”.
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It’s been the official term for the technology since it was discovered in the 1950s.
Reddit users were left stunned after realising it wasn’t a word of its own.
One said: “Yeah, you wouldn’t want to say ‘hey you got any light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation?’ to someone else.”
Another added: “Wait, what?”
Another pointed out: “If you make an acronym and the L stands for laser then you technically have an acronym in your acronym.”
Others were dubious.
One said: “I find it hard to believe since, when I was young, laser was also known as laZer (in France, because of the Z sound).”
Laser technology was created by Charles H. Townes and Arthur Shawlow 70 years ago.
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The term was taken from masers, another acronym meaning ‘Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation’.
It comes after people only just learned not everything leaves a shadow and why Snapchat is yellow.
Other words you likely didn’t realise are acronyms
SCUBA: Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
RADAR: RAdio Detection And Ranging
GIF: Graphics interchange format
TASER: Thomas A Swift Electric Rifle
CARE PACKAGE: Began as a Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE) package, when families sent items via the Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe following the Second World War.
SPAM: Special Processed American Meat
