There's Antimony, Arsenic, Aluminum, Selenium....

The other day, it was reported that physicists at Russian and American labs have created a new element, by firing neutrons at a heavy metal. For a thousandth of a second or so, they claim to have created a few atoms of Element 118 -- that is, an atom with 118 protons.

For now, the element is known by the temporary moniker "Ununoctium," after its atomic number. Various of the scientists involved want to name it after one or another nuclear physicist, as is the custom with trans-Uranium elements.

A more inspired suggestion, however, came from Meg, who thought it was high time the scientific community honored the author of the following lines:

These are the only ones of which the news has come to Haaahvard;

There may be many others, but they haven't been discaaahvered!

Why not, she offered, call it Tomlehrium?

Urb's Blog