The completion of the periodic table (filling row 7 with element 118) is aesthetically satisfying because it creates a square, rounded-off shape in the table, which Munroe finds so satisfying that he wishes to sabotage particle physics experiments to prevent synthesis of element 119 and preserve this perfect rectangular form.

normativepending

Speaker

Randall Munroe

Evidence Quote

it gives me this weird urge to sabotage particle physics experiments, so they don't synthesize element 119 and ruin the really nice justification

Source

What If? | Randall Munroe | Talks at GoogleTalks at Google
Created: 8/11/2026, 1:26:46 AM

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