""There is an enormous number of acronyms in science and technology - around a million," said Helge Kragh, a historian of science who recently published a paper on the rise of acronym use in physics and astronomy."
"The phenomenon was essentially unknown before World War II. It was then that acronyms began to proliferate in military research, RADAR (Radio Detection and Ranging) and LORAN (Long Range Navigation) among them."
"By 1968, it had grown so pervasive that an editorial in New Scientist lamented 'acronymania,' describing it as a kind of contagious disease."
"The popularity of acronyms in science may be a holdover from the era of print journals, where space was at a premium."
Psychological studies often focus on participants from WEIRD countries, which skews the understanding of human behavior globally. Acronyms are prevalent in scientific literature, with around a million in use, but their overuse can create confusion. The rise of acronyms began post-World War II, initially in military research, and spread to other scientific fields. This trend has been criticized for making research less accessible and understandable, particularly for the public and even specialists.
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