Pluto
In which Rat and Human get somewhat superstitious
Good time of day, humans!
It is time to stir the pot. It is always the time to stir the pot.
To clarify, neither Rat nor Human seriously think distant natural objects would care enough to take revenge on humanity. There could be a much subtler connection though.
Consider «skyscraper effect» (also known as «skyscraper index»): the observation that tall skyscrapers often get built on the eve of recession. The theory here is that the financing for such megaprojects tends to become available only under prolonged bubble conditions, when said bubbles are close to popping.
[Investopedia] Skyscraper Effect: Meaning, Examples, Criticism
It would be not entirely implausible to suggest that the urge to redefine something big in science is also dependent on the financing conditions, and those in turn to some extent track general situation of the economy.
That said, astronomers are at it again:
[Axios, July 2024] Pluto's not coming back, but astronomers want to redefine planets again
As some scientists say 'the science is all settled' they start unsettling it ! I will consider Pluto to be a planet whatever they say. I am not an astrologist but I think the first observations confirmed that Pluto is able to change the route of Neptune. That is how they discovered it.
EVERYONE who confuses correlation with causation will die.