The word was coined in the 1600's by a scientist who liked the way it sounded against his interpretation of a Greek word, which, incidently also incorporates the second law of thermodynamics. Although there are many functions for this word, often there are two ways of spelling the plural. What is it, who was the scientist, and how is it related to an adult comic book?

longlife1

Is it flash? Jan 20 06, 1:07 PM

peasypod

No, and now I'm wondering the possibilities of the plural of flash. A little clue now that this has found its way off the unanswered list----that Greek word is associated very intimately with that dreaded Butterfly Effect... Jan 20 06, 3:22 PM

gmackematix

This is about the word "gas", JB von Helmont and chaos isn't it? Annoyingly, I just re-read this for the first time in months and the answer came to me, you could say in a flash. Honestly, this was before I read your extra clue. It seems so obvious, why on earth has nobody including me seen it before?! Anyway, I'll need to look into the adult comic book (as in graphic novel(?)) part. Jan 20 06, 9:00 PM

peasypod

No need, m'dear. You have your Golden Banana, the UK once put out an adult comic-book series called 'Gas'... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas Jan 20 06, 9:04 PM

gmackematix

Thanks peasy. Having seen the article, I vaguely remember the "Viz" rip-off appearing on the shelves along with a similar-looking magazine chaemingly called "Zit". Jan 21 06, 6:30 PM