Sanskrit in scientific terminology

[Peter D Banos]

On Thu, 12 Sep 1996, Paul Kiparsky wrote:

> The only other use of Sanskrit in scientific terminology that I know
> about is the modern term "antarafacial".  Does anyone know of others?

Here's a cute one: a neurotransmitter believed to be involved in mediating
the effects of marijuana, chocolate and perhaps other addictive(?)
substances has been named "anandamide."

When I first heard that a family of deadly viruses was called
"hantaviruses" I thought... but no, the etymology seems to be Navaho.

						-Peter D. Banos
						pdb1 at columbia.edu

"Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and
Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia... in our own languages
we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power."