Astronomers around the world have reacted with anger and dismay at the overnight appearance of a faint but clearly recognizable McDonald’s logo, apparently scorched into the planet’s surface.
Professor Elizabeth Valum-Humboldt, head of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysical Phenomena in Cambridge, Massachusetts told Spoofflé that this was a “reckless and outrageously irresponsible act of cosmic vandalism.”
A weapons expert from BAE Systems, who asked to remain anonymous, believes that the logo image had most probably been burned into the surface dust with a device such as the Laser for Fast Ignition Experiments (LFEX), tested recently in Japan. This system produces a peak power of over 2,000 trillion watts, albeit for a very short period. Could this device have created this damage, our science correspondent asked? “Who knows?” he replied. “Nobody has ever pointed it at the moon. I think it’s only been used on mice and empty CocaCola cans. So, probably yes.”
McDonald’s has categorically denied responsibility for the action and so far, no other organisation or individual has come forward.
We also spoke to the leading Dutch PR company ValseVerhalen, specialists in global brand promotion, for their opinion. Head of Marketing, Ambroos van der Westhuizen, was emphatic. “This was being no accident. If this logo – which is actually being not just a brand but branded – is being permanent then I would say it is the greatest PR stunt in the history of marketing.”
We asked him to put a value on having a McDonald’s logo staring back at every one of the Earth’s seven billion burger-buying population, forever. “Billions and billions and billions of dollars. And then times that a billion. Going forward, it’s totally epic.”
Don’t forget to have a look at the moon tonight, then order a Whopper.