Annihilation of the solar system

The sky has completely darkened, and the continuous drizzle silently soaks into every corner of the city. Most of the windows in the Academy of Sciences building have no lights, and only one row of windows is still lit, reflecting the rain curtains passing by the window.

Transparent.

On the large conference table, there are three scroll-like drawings spread out. The wavy line pattern on one drawing looks like a vertical cliff. The other one looks like a steep mountain suddenly rises after a flat road.

.The last picture looks like a straw hat, cut in the middle. If you look at the three pictures together, it looks more like the first two pictures are spliced ​​into a third picture.

graphics.

Several experts held manuscript papers and pencils in their hands, and gathered in front of the three drawings to write and calculate. Only when they got closer could they see clearly that the blank spaces of the wavy lines were densely filled with various shapes.

data and calculation formulas. The experts are checking the data.

"Dr. Xia Lan, the final summary data of these two graphs are consistent, but the basic data are very different. Can you tell me your statistical screening method?"

Xia Lan walked to the three drawings and pointed out an area in the messy data:

"Here, here and here, this is the mathematical model on which statistical methods and calculations are based."

The expert looked at the locations pointed out by Xia Lan and circled them with a pencil:

"Well, let me take another look. There should be nothing wrong with it."

At this time, a person walked quickly outside the conference room door. He held a document in his hand and handed it to Gu Changqing, who was watching the verification process.

"The supercomputer verification report provided by Dr. Xia Lan and others has come out, and there are no problems."

Xia Jigang also stood up from the chair a little further away. Dean Gu walked over and handed him the information:

"There is no problem with the supercomputer's calculation and analysis, and there is currently no problem with the analysis and screening they are checking. Xia Lan's results should be accurate."

Xia Jigang took the information that only had a few pages, but his hands were shaking a little. Those pages seemed to be extremely heavy, weighing him down. His eyes fell on the face that looked like a straw hat.

On the same drawing.

The "hat brim" composed of undulating lines on both sides like an electrocardiogram is normal space-time, while the middle section rises suddenly like a cliff, and then falls back down after a period of oscillations like seismic waves. It is Jupiter, which is seven astronomical units away.

On the back, the traces left by the space-time ripples caused when the wormhole is opened and closed.

The sound of the pen scratching on the paper gradually stopped, and the conference room became eerily quiet. Everyone's eyes were focused on the waveform diagram, which was simpler than a child's simple drawing. Each of their faces turned pale.

There was panic and fear in his eyes. It felt like looking at his own death sentence!

"Ding-ding-ding! Ding-ding-ding!"

The sudden reminder of the ringing of the phone broke the dead silence. Xia Jigang was startled, picked up the phone and walked out of the conference room quickly. At this time, the National Academy of Sciences building was empty, and Xia Jigang's eloquent voice echoed in the corridor, which could also be heard in the conference room

Hear it clearly.

"Hello, Minister Zhong!"

"Yes, the calculation has just been completed!"

"Yes, there is nothing wrong with Xia Lan's analysis!"

"Thank you and the chief for your concern!"

"now?"

"I'll arrange it immediately!"

Xia Jigang hurriedly returned to the conference room.

"Xia Lan, Wei Xu, you two are coming with me to make an emergency report."

Xia Lan and Wei Xu quickly stood up and packed up the information on the conference table.

"This is not a professional academic report, so there is no need to prepare materials. Just prepare a notebook and pen."

The two of them had obviously never experienced this kind of thing. They both looked at each other with stunned faces. But they followed Xia Jigang and left without asking any more questions.

Under Xia Jigang's constant urging, the car finally drove onto the rainy and foggy Chang'an Street. The solemn Tiananmen Square was still so majestic and brilliant under the light, and it seemed that it was not affected by the autumn rain at all.

Not long after driving past Tiananmen Square, the car stopped at the entrance of an ancient building with bright colors and elegant lines. Xia Jigang explained his purpose, and the guards carefully inspected every corner of the car.

Soon, the three of them were picked up by another car, and they got off the car in front of a two-story ancient building with a single-eaves verandah roof and covered with yellow-trimmed green glazed tiles.

Minister Zhong is already waiting for them here.

"The chief has just received foreign guests here and will see you before taking a break. Therefore, your report will be as concise as possible without affecting the completeness. Use as few professional terms as possible."

Xia Jigang nodded in agreement, and Xia Lan and Wei Xu couldn't help but become a little nervous. When they came to the hall, they saw gorgeous and elegant carpets, exquisite and elegant ceilings, and solemn red floor-to-ceiling curtains. Although this scene had been seen countless times on TV news

However, when you are really immersed in the scene, you will feel unfamiliar and nervous.

In addition to the chief who was sitting in the middle and talking to the people next to him, there were two people in military uniforms, including Chai Shizheng. Xia Lan and Wei Xu carefully sat down at the position indicated by Minister Zhong.

"Are you Dr. Xia Lan?"

Xia Lan quickly stood up:

"I am Xia Lan."

The chief motioned her to sit down:

"You don't have to stand up when you talk, we sit down and talk."

Xia Lan smiled and nodded, sitting back.

"I heard that you discovered a very unusual comet this time. It changed its orbit twice and disappeared behind Jupiter?"

Xia Lan was about to speak when she thought of Minister Zhong's instructions at the door.

"Yes, we now have conclusive evidence that the comet did disappear behind Jupiter."

The chief nodded:

"Then in your professional opinion, do you think the comet's intention was good intention, unintentional or malicious?"

"I think it might be malicious." Xia Lan's voice was slightly trembling.

"Well, I have consulted the military and national security for their opinions, and their opinions are the same as yours, and mine is the same. Then, next, we have to figure out its maliciousness, to what extent it will reach, and when it will happen. Next

Do you have any ideas for further work?”

The chief's easy-going conversational style eased Xia Lan's nervousness.

"My classmates and I have discussed the general plan. Next, we want to conduct searches and detections in the radio band, infrared band, visible light band and x-ray band within the solar system. Let's see if we can make any discoveries." After finishing speaking,

, Xia Lan regretted a little. She was not sure whether the chief and other leaders could understand what she just described.

"Well, I understand what you mean. I will let the Academy of Sciences cooperate with your plan. If necessary, the military's resources and equipment can also provide you with certain help.

But you must draw reliable conclusions as soon as possible. This matter currently seems to be just a scientific incident. However, it is very likely to turn into a political incident or even an even higher incident in the future.”

Xia Lan felt a burst of joy and emotion in her heart. It seemed that her worries were unnecessary. The knowledge reserve of the chief and leaders far exceeded her imagination, and her far-sighted foresight shocked her even more. At the same time, she also felt that she

Pressure on shoulders.

"If you want to come to a conclusion as soon as possible, I think..." Xia Lan suddenly stopped, feeling that what she was about to say might not be appropriate. She glanced at her father Xia Jigang sitting next to her and could see his face.

Twitching muscles.

"Dr. Xia Lan, you are a scientist. You only need to think about your scientific issues and say whatever you think. Don't worry about the rest." It was obvious that her thoughts were under the keen awareness of the commander.

Xia Lan regained her confidence.

"If we want to draw conclusions quickly and reliably, we need a lot of program demonstrations and observation experiments. This requires mobilizing a lot of equipment and resources, because our detection range is really too large." Xia Lan

There are still reservations in his words.

"We have a project that is still in the confidential stage, the Red Shield Project. It is a very large-scale full-band phased array radar in space. I won't reveal its function to you. This project is still in the ground testing stage. It can detect hundreds of

The aircraft in space that are thousands of kilometers away can also provide you with help if needed." A general with the rank of general said, with a look of pride on his face when he spoke.

Xia Lan looked embarrassed. He didn't know how to express this large-scale concept to the chiefs and leaders without offending. At least in the mind of the general, the concept of the size of the solar system was still in middle school textbooks, so

Conceptual drawing of a simulated diagram of the sun and eight planets.

In fact, you only need to look up at the stars to know that even the two closest planets to us, Venus and Mars, cannot be distinguished from the vast sea of ​​stars without common astronomical knowledge.

She didn't speak for a long time, but Xia Jigang beside her was already a little unable to hold back.

"Xia Lan! Answer the chief's question."

A smile appeared on the chief's face and he looked at the people around him.

"Dr. Xia Lan, why don't you tell us how big this range is?"

Xia Lan was startled and was in awe of the leader with a kind smile but extraordinary wisdom in front of her. She no longer had any worries.

"Let me give you a less rigorous metaphor. If this small building is compared to the sun, then the position of the earth is equivalent to a leaf on the Third Ring Road, and the position of Jupiter is equivalent to a streetlight on the Sixth Ring Road. And

The location of the Kuiper Belt is equivalent to from here to Miyun Reservoir. What we are looking for may be as big as a grain of sand on a shoe, and the tool we are looking for is only a magnifying glass for reading."

After Xia Lan finished speaking, the general's face became a little embarrassed. The smile on the leader's face became even brighter.

"This metaphor is good and vivid!" Then the leader stopped smiling and his tone became serious. He looked at Xia Lan:

"We know the difficulty of this work. The importance of this work goes without saying. I have also heard that you have made great achievements in predicting life on Venus. You will take the lead in this work. The country can

I have just mentioned the help provided.”

The chief paused for a moment.

"It's not enough to rely on us alone for this matter. For international matters, I will ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate as much as possible. For relevant specific matters, you can just contact Xiao Zhong directly."

Minister Zhong, who was sitting next to the chief, nodded to Xia Lan, and then the approachable smile returned to the chief's face.