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Chemotaxis is the behavior of a small organism to follow a chemical gradient to find a higher concentration. Likewise, thermotaxis follows temperature. It took me several rereads to realize that robotaxis wasn't some kind of behavior that followed a "robot gradient".


Both ultimately from Greek τάξις, although not very closely connected in meaning at all!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxi#Etymology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxis

By contrast, "Thurn and Taxis" is apparently "from the Italian word for 'badger'" (!)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurn_und_Taxis


As a curiosity, only for Italians or foreigners that are at an advanced level in learning Italian:

http://www.scudit.net/mdtasso.htm

>fu difficile stabilire il tasso da pagare; cioè il tasso del tasso del tasso del Tasso e il tasso del tasso del tasso barbasso del Tasso.


Not to be confused with Taxidermy, the art of stuffing vehicles in lifelike poses.


Or dermitaxis, the art of aligning oneself according to the skin color gradient.




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