“Today alpha equals 1/137.0359 or so. Regardless, its value makes the periodic table possible. It allows atoms to exist and also allows them to react with sufficient vigor to form compounds, since electrons neither roam too freely from their nuclei nor cling too closely. This just-right balance has led many scientists to conclude that the universe couldn’t have hit upon its fine structure constant by accident.”

American writer

Sam Kean is an American writer known for books that tell the story of scientific discoveries in a narrative style. He was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and lives in Washington, D.C. He has written for The New York Times Magazine, Mental Floss, Slate, Psychology Today, and The New Scientist. He has also published eight books, and they have been reviewed positively by The Wall Street Journal, Library Journal, and The New York Times.