Omicron: where does the variant Covid-19 name come from? The Greek letter’s relationship to ‘eye’, its merging with ‘omega’, and why it’s not STEM-friendly

• Meaning ‘little o’ in Greek, Omicron has been given a big platform with its designation as the latest Covid-19 variant of concern
• Unlike other Greek letters, its use in mathematics, science and engineering is comparatively limited for one key reason