Four years ago, an Emirati scientist and space expert teamed up to coin a new term.

Their goal: Develop a word that captures the essence of Arab culture while helping spread awareness about regional contributions to the field of space sciences (of which there have been many). 

Let's break down the etymology:

• "Najm" (Arabic) = Star
• "Naut" (Greek) = Sailor

...and what's cooler than sailing the stars? 🌟🌠

With all the buzz around space lately, the word has started gaining popularity, even making waves with bona fide Najmonauts...

• Six months in space: Emirati astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi's journey in pictures
• U.N. declared World Space Week showcases Arab Najmonauts
• Could UAE's space success help make 'najmonauts' a household name?
• Forget astronauts, meet the 'najmonauts': experts coin a new word for Arab space explorers