The beauty that is the periodic table: not just for elements.

The other day I was looking for an interesting periodic table graphic for the background image of the science scout twitter account, and whilst doing so I came across many many different versions of the famous layout. However, I also noticed that a lot of them didn't have anything to do with elements at all, and so thought it might be interesting to collect a bunch of them for folks to check out here.

We'll start with my favourite (and one that has been previously showcased here at the World's Fair): the lego periodic table of elements.

When shown previously, I noted that the advertisement actually received quite a lot of criticism from the advertising folks, but for me it was pure gold:

Why do I think this is a thing of beauty. Maybe, it's because I'm in the know. Maybe, because the tag-line ("Make Anything") is something clever enough to make my heart sing. Or maybe, because I think Lego is just freakin' cool anyway.

Here's another on typefaces (larger image here):

I thought this one was kind of funny. A table of rejected elements (from The Atlantic):

And if rejected elements don't fit the bill, how about Criminal Elements (larger image and cheat sheet here):

I don't actually text too much, so maybe this periodic table of texting could come in handy (was available only as a t-shirt):

Here's one for Awesoments: note element one being Bn or Bacon (larger image here):

There's quite a few in the computer geek territory. Like a table for controllers (from Flickr):

A straight up arrangement periodic table of computer keys (Flickr page with notes)

One for Perl Operators (website here):

And, of course, one on websites generally (clickable although slightly outdated version here):

Next, there are a whole bunch that focus on cuisine. Like this one on cupcakes (link to larger image with recipes here):

Also, two thematically similar, on food storage or condiments that periodically go bad (who knew this topic would be so popular?) - links to the larger images here and here:

Liquor, of course, is well represented. Here's one on mixology (poster for sale here):

Beer Styles (larger image here):

Here's a Periodic Table of Candy (larger image):

This one on Desserts is especially awesome - the more detailed website includes atomic spectra as well as structural analysis of things like shortbread and meringue.

And now on to the comic book category. Here's a periodic table of cartoons (Flickr page):

Video game characters (larger image here):

And Pokemon (Deviant Art link):

So... there you have it.

As a visual aesthetic, it would appear that many have taken the good old periodic table of elements as a great starting point. To which I will end with the final periodic table - that of (oh the irony of ironies) visualization elements.