Governmentium
Scientific Breakthrough!
Science today announced "Scientific Breakthrough
Reported"
Author unknown
A
major research institution has announced the
discovery of the heaviest chemical element yet
known to science. The new element has been tentatively
named "Governmentium." Governmentium has 1 neutron,
12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and
224 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an
atomic mass of 312. These 312 particles are
held together by forces called morons, which
are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like
particles called peons. Since Governmentium
has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can
be detected as it impedes every reaction with
which it comes into contact. A minute amount
of Governmentium causes one reaction to take
over 4 days to complete when it would normally
take less than a second. Governmentium has a
normal half-life of 3 years; it does not decay,
but instead undergoes a reorganization in which
a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy
neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium
mass will actually increase over time, since
each reorganization will cause some morons to
become neutrons, forming isodopes. This characteristic
of moron-promotion leads some scientists to
speculate that Governmentium is formed whenever
morons reach a certain quantity in concentration.
This hypothetical quantity is referred to as
"Critical Morass."
