Earth Era

"We have reason to believe that the source of pathogenic radiation only exists outside the galaxy and will not be affected within the galaxy. Furthermore, once outside the area covered by the radiation source, genetic mutation will stop."

"One thing I think needs to be noted. We know that the disease will progress very quickly if you continue to be in the area covered by the radiation source. It only took a few dozen days from the onset of illness to the death of all the crew members of the Nimbus spacecraft. But Feiyan The spacecraft has also been in space for more than seventy days, so why are all the crew members of the Nimbus spacecraft dead, but the crew members of the Feiyan spacecraft are only in the early stages of their illness?"

"This may be due to the different routes of the two spacecrafts. Furthermore, this seems to mean that there is regional unevenness in this type of pathogenic radiation. That is, in a certain place, the radiation is stronger and the disease progresses faster. In another location, the radiation is weaker and the disease progresses more slowly."

Listening to the discussion among his colleagues, Wang Hao was silent for a moment and said: "This seems to have gone beyond the scope of pure medicine. We need the assistance of experts from other disciplines."

The team member responsible for coordination immediately said: "I will contact the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Central Academy of Sciences and they will send experts to participate in our work."

Wang Hao nodded: "As soon as possible."

The discussion ended and colleagues dispersed. Wang Hao dialed the minister's phone number with some worry.

"Wang Hao, is there any progress recently?"

"We believe that it is most likely that some kind of radiation that only exists in the interstellar space outside the galaxy has caused the disease. The specific type of radiation cannot be determined. I have requested the Institute of High Energy Physics to send experts Come and assist us in our work.”

"You did a good job." Wu Wei nodded slightly: "We must figure out all the details of this incident as soon as possible."

"One more thing." Wang Hao said hesitantly: "Although there is no evidence, based on the experience of handling the Nimbus spacecraft and Feiyan spacecraft incidents, we believe that the interstellar space outside the galaxy has certain dangers. If possible, I hope you can report this matter to the head of state, who will issue an injunction prohibiting any spacecraft from leaving the Phoenix galaxy until the incident is investigated clearly, and temporarily prohibiting spacecraft from other galaxies from leaving the galaxy where they are located."

Facing Wang Hao's request, Wu Wei fell into silence. After a long time, he said: "It is very irresponsible to issue a ban before the matter is investigated clearly. If the final investigation results show that the radiation source comes from other places and has nothing to do with interstellar space, then the resulting losses will be Neither you nor I can afford it.”

Wang Hao said anxiously: "But Minister, compared with lives, some economic losses are completely bearable."

Wu Wei said decisively: "Stop talking. The head of state has ordered that we will return to the solar system next year. I will not allow any factors to hinder the progress of this matter. If you want the head of state to issue a ban, then you must provide tangible evidence. "

Wang Hao requested: "Perhaps you can report the relevant information on this matter to the head of state, and the head of state will make a decision."

This time Wu Wei did not answer, but directly cut off the communication.

Wang Hao stood there feeling lost for a long time before sighing and shaking his head.

"It seems that the minister only wants me to do my job well and does not want me to get involved in matters beyond my responsibilities."

There is nothing wrong with this request, but Wang Hao always feels a little heavy in his heart.

Physics experts arrived faster than Wang Hao expected. On the third day, an old man with gray hair led three young students who looked like students to Wang Hao's research room and listened to Wang Hao's introduction.

"This kind of radiation does not exist in our physics model." The old man frowned deeply: "If this kind of radiation really does exist, our theoretical system may have to be rewritten. Wang Hao, I know you He is a courageous and competent medical scientist, but I suggest that you look for the reasons from other aspects instead of wasting your energy on these illusory things."

The old man's words were not polite. Faced with such a respected scientific senior, Wang Hao really couldn't refute them. So he had to smile bitterly and said: "I have heard a saying, which says that when all other possibilities are eliminated, the last possibility, no matter how incredible it is, will be the truth. Based on the information we already have, , except that there is some kind of unknown and extremely penetrating radiation in interstellar space, we really don’t know how to explain what we encounter.”

The old man spread his hands: "Even if this kind of radiation does exist, it is undetectable. All our existing radiation detection equipment can only detect known radiation."

Wang Hao said: "Perhaps you can use the information we provide to calculate the relevant data of this radiation, and then design corresponding detection equipment."

A student who came with the old man shook his head and said: "The essence of radiation is the phenomenon of subatomic particles spreading in space and reacting with matter. New radiation means new particles, and you should know what this means. .”

The revised Standard Model has covered all known particles of mankind. If a new particle suddenly appears that is not covered by the Standard Model, it means that the Standard Model still has omissions. This would shake almost all of physics to its foundations. Although progress in physics begins with the discovery of errors in previous theories, this should occur in a large laboratory with well-equipped facilities staffed by many top physicists, rather than in a small laboratory dedicated to studying diseases. In the research base with main responsibilities.

If a discovery that affects the entire physics building starts from a disease research center, it will be the most dramatic thing in the history of human science. This also means that the probability is extremely low, so low that it is almost negligible.

Although he is not an expert in physics, Wang Hao also knows this. But when all the clues pointed here, Wang Hao could only make some attempts. Even if you just treat this one attempt as a method of elimination, it would be better.

Faced with Wang Hao's persistence, the old man finally agreed. So after some calculations, the old man guided Wang Hao and others to build a small unmanned scientific research spacecraft and launched it into outer space.

In addition to some experimental equipment, there are dozens of white mice, two pigs and a monkey in this spacecraft.

It is extremely irresponsible to rush to send humans to participate in experiments before things are clear, but animals are not subject to this restriction.

"Our calculations show that this particle has very strange properties. If it really exists, it will invalidate many of our current physical theories. Well... judging from its properties, it will bombard the atomic nuclei of matter and cause dissociation. The appearance of quarks... simply put, it will cause the properties of objects to change. There is some mercury in the scientific research spacecraft. If there is such radiation, part of the mercury element will be converted into gold element. Of course, the amount of gold element It may be extremely small. After the scientific research spacecraft returns, you can conduct some related tests."

A student said: "Actually, it doesn't have to be so troublesome. We can directly detect the Nimbus and Feiyan spacecrafts. We just need to check whether there is any material transformation in these two spacecrafts."

Wang Hao whispered: "The detection of these two spacecraft may not be able to obtain accurate results. Because it may have been contaminated by impurities."

The old man patted Wang Hao on the shoulder and said, "I'm still very busy, so I'll leave now. If you have anything else, you can contact me again."

Although Wang Hao was not well versed in the ways of the world, he could still tell that the old man was just being polite. He obviously didn't think that Wang Hao would come to him for anything in the future. Inferring from this, the old man seemed quite certain that there was no such unknown particle.

The old man's attitude made Wang Hao a little suspicious of himself, but he was relieved immediately: "It's just an elimination method."

The old man left in a hurry with the three students, and the blue Danube spaceship carried more than a thousand passengers and arrived at the research center the next day.

In order to cope with the numerous inspection tasks, Wang Hao has made preparations in advance. Hundreds of medical workers were mobilized here and began to examine passengers under a unified organization. It only took five days for all inspection tasks to be completed.

The inspection results were beyond Wang Hao's expectations. Data showed that none of the more than a thousand passengers had that strange genetic mutation. Some of these people are unhealthy, but those conditions are all well-documented and have nothing to do with genetic mutations.

"Although the route of the Blue Danube spacecraft is different from the other two spacecrafts, if that kind of radiation really exists, there is no reason why it only exists in one place and has no manifestation in another place. Unless I speculate It was wrong from the start. It was not radiation that caused this disease, it was something else."

This idea seemed to be verified after the return of the unmanned scientific research spacecraft. Extremely precise spectroscopic analysis showed that no mercury was converted into gold. The animals that participated in the experiment did not show any genetic mutations in their bodies, except for being a little lethargic due to the weightless environment.

The investigation has now reached an impasse again. Recalling Minister Wu Wei's merciless rejection of him, Wang Hao couldn't help but sigh: "Maybe the minister is right."

"It's just...what exactly caused this disease?"

The night was already deep, but Wang Hao was still tossing and turning in bed, unable to fall asleep for a long time.