Feynmanium: It’s Element-ary

Untriseptium is a hypothetical chemical element with the atomic number 137. It is nicknamed Feynmanium in honor of Richard Feynman who noted that, in elements beyond 137, electrons would have to move faster than the speed of light, thus creating, within the atoms, the electromagnetic equivalent of black holes.

Richard Feynman

Because of this, it was speculated that no elements can exist beyond 137, and that Feynmanium may hold the distinction of being the last element that will find a place on the periodic table.

Feynmanium

However, that speculation turns out to be wrong. 137 has been superseded by 138, Untrioctium, whose chemical symbol is Uto. Whether this may create, within atoms, the electromagnetic equivalent of black holes is beyond the reach of this Blagueur’s grasp.

137 is a magical mysterious number and I will have more to say about this in a future Blague or Post.

HyC

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