"Bazinga!": "Big Bang Theory" catchphrase inspires new bee species name

Sheldon and Amy in a scene from "The Big Bang Theory."

/ CBS

Bazinga! "The Big Bang Theory" character, scientist Sheldon Cooper, already has two Ph.Ds and an IQ of 187. But now he also has a bee dedicated to him.

A new species of the Brazilian orchid bee -- dubbed Euglossa bazinga -- has been named after Dr. Cooper's catchphrase "Bazinga."

On CBS' TV series, Cooper, played by actor Jim Parsons, uses the word after he pulls a trick on someone. Brazilian biologist Andre Nemesio from the Universidade Federal de Uberlandia recently discovered a new bee species that he thinks fits the "bazinga" bill. Because the new species so closely resembles the Euglossa ignita, a more common Western Brazilian orchid bee, it wasn't recognized as a separate species -- therefore it "tricked" scientists for years.

The paper states: "The specific epithet honors the clever, funny, captivating 'nerd' character Sheldon Cooper...Sheldon Cooper's favorite comic word "bazinga", used by him when tricking somebody, was here chosen to represent the character. Euglossa bazinga sp. n. has tricked us for some time due to its similarity to E. ignita, what led us to use 'bazinga.'"

Steven Molaro, one of "The Big Bang Theory's" executive producers, said, "We are always extremely flattered when the science community embraces our show. Sheldon would be honored to know that Euglossa bazinga was inspired by him. In fact, after 'Mothra' and griffins, bees are his third-favorite flying creatures."

Check out photos of the new bee species here.

"The Big Bang Theory" airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

[hypnotoad72]

It's a shame the show's been a bit lax in scientific accuracy over the last couple years (I've found a couple erroneous references, but others who are in the biz have found more worth investigating)...

Especially as TBBT has been increasingly unfunny, as it's ran out of ideas, re-used the same ideas from previous episodes (back when it was funny...), has changed characters to suit the need for cheap laughs, and relied more on empty pop culture references and pushing envelopes (e.g. where Amy feigns a cold just to get Sheldon to spank her, forgetting how her premiere episode from a couple years ago clearly spells out she does not want to be touched...)

Anyone checking out the show should limit themselves to seasons 2-4, and maybe season 1. Season 5 is when the show goes downhill, and only 1 episode from season 6 (maybe 2) is worthy of mentioning (much less viewing) so far.

http://butmyopinionisright.tumblr.com/post/31079561065/the-problem-with-the-big-bang-theory

That's a good read, but any number of internet forums will all go into how the show has been declining... or, rather, changing. The show seems more popular than ever, but the show seems more like a soapy clone of "Friends" than it seems a continuation of the cool, witty show of the same name that aired 3~6 years ago.

[jellybelly0314]

I never have paid much attention to this show, but I'm definitely going to have to check it out now that it has reached a whole new level of popularity with this new species name! Luckily, I already have a few episodes saved for me, since my DISH Hopper DVR's PrimeTime Anytime feature auto-records TBBT and everything else on the major networks during primetime hours, which gives automatic me access to all the most popular shows. Plus, now I won't be out of the loop every time my buddies in my office at DISH talk about how cute Penny is! ;)

[hypnotoad72]

Thanks for an obvious advert about an irrelevant product.

Try writing like a human instead of an advertiser's spoonfed drone. The buzzwords you incorporated are pretty obvious.

[jellybelly0314]

I never have paid much attention to this show, but I'm definitely going to have to check it out now that it has reached a whole new level of popularity with this new species name! Luckily, I already have a few episodes saved for me, since my DISH Hopper DVR's PrimeTime Anytime feature auto-records TBBT and everything else on the major networks during primetime hours, which gives automatic me access to all the most popular shows. Plus, now I won't be out of the loop every time my buddies in my office at DISH talk about how cute Penny is! ;)

[hypnotoad72]

Thanks for the advert for an unrelated product.