Vanya thought that when you run them through the RNA folding software, it would give you these unusual straight rods which reminded him of Cleopatra's Needle (Obelisk, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra%27s_Needles). The name stuck around. Incidentally the name has some cool 2001: Space Odyssey monolith vibes to it, which I think has been fitting.

> unusual straight rods which reminded him of Cleopatra's Needle (Obelisk ...

Also, of course, Obelix[1], purveyor of menhirs[2] -- Breton "standing stones".

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obelix

[2]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menhir

Doesn't a name like this risk sensationalizing the discovery? I mean it's interesting to me as a layperson, but "obelisks" in pop culture carry a lot of woo factor

Not sure I understand. Obelisks seems an inert descriptor to me, it has no connotation in the field so it's appropriately a blank slate.

The big risk is we call a companion molecule asterix.

Sounds all like Miraculix to me...