English is a Schelling point for scientific and technical information. It's kind of fitting, since the language evolved over centuries as a way for Anglo-Saxons

English is a Schelling point for scientific and technical information. It's kind of fitting, since the language evolved over centuries as a way for Anglo-Saxons, Norse, and French to communicate as these various groups came to and conquered the British Isles. English is a trade pidgin... with an army and navy. In continental Europe, they often use English as a handshaking language. I once saw a German talkshow host interview a Norwegian singer, and they spoke in English until he could ascertain that she knew enough German to conduct the interview in German.