Great Country Academician

Chapter 903 Life on the Moon 1.8 billion years ago~

Jinling, Xinghai Research Institute.

In the office, Xu Chuan is reading the mathematics journal he subscribed to.

Next to the desk, there are thick stacks of other journals, magazines and academic papers.

These are basically related to the Riemann Hypothesis, and were sorted out with the help of Qiling, an academic AI assistant.

He has never given up on research on the Riemann Hypothesis, and related papers and journals have always paid attention to it.

Even through Qiling, an academic AI assistant, he has turned the time back to the 1970s and 1980s.

But unfortunately, most of the papers were not of much help to him in the study of the Riemann Hypothesis.

In terms of theory, or in the field of mathematics, the Riemann Hypothesis is the most difficult problem he has ever encountered.

It has been a full year and a half since the weak Riemann Hypothesis was solved, but it can still be said that there has been almost no progress in the remaining research on the Riemann Hypothesis.

For him, it is no exaggeration to say that this is the problem that has stuck with him for the longest time among the problems he has studied.

After flipping through the research paper on the Riemann Hypothesis in his hand, Xu Chuan breathed a long sigh of relief, shook his head gently and put it on the cabinet on the other side.

This was also a paper that didn't do him much good.

But looking back, it’s actually quite normal.

After all, before him, the mathematics community's research on the Riemann Hypothesis had been peer-reviewed and the highest recognized by the academic community was only a breakthrough No (T) \u003e 0.35N (T) in the critical band idea.

It is undeniable that the research idea of ​​​​the critical zone is indeed a very good method to study the Riemann Hypothesis.

Including Xu Chuan's own solution to the weak Riemann hypothesis, it is actually an extension of the research ideas of critical zones.

Theoretically speaking, the research ideas of the critical zone can be infinitely compressed towards the Riemann Hypothesis and approach the critical value.

But every step forward on this road is full of difficulties.

As for the critical band research idea to solve the problem of Riemann Hypothesis, I am afraid that the entire mathematical community does not have much hope.

For Xu Chuan, although the critical band method was of great benefit and help to the research on the Riemann Hypothesis, he never expected that this method could solve this problem.

In the past year and a half, he has been looking through research papers related to the Riemann Hypothesis, trying to find a new way to solve this problem.

But unfortunately, the Riemann Hypothesis is like the speed of light traversing the physical system. It stands firmly in the mathematical world and is almost unshakable.

Putting down the paper in his hand, just when Xu Chuan was about to go online to see if there were any new news or breakthroughs in the mathematics world recently, the door to the office was pushed open in a hurry and rudely.

Looking over with some surprise, the person who broke in was Weng Yunzong, the director of the Aerospace Research Institute.

Xu Chuan asked with a smile: "What's wrong? Why is it so urgent?"

Weng Yunzong handed over the report document he had brought with him, took a breath and said quickly: "The latest discovery is the news from Yuehuatai Base."

"In their latest sample observation experiment, they discovered fossils of primitive life structures that are suspected to be ancient cyanobacteria and glass sponges."

Hearing the news, Xu Chuan was stunned for a moment, looked at Weng Yunzong with surprised eyes, and quickly took the report document from the other party's hand.

"Are you sure?"

"Fossils of primitive life structures similar to ancient cyanobacteria and glass sponges?"

Ever since humans learned to look up at the stars, they have been wondering whether there is other life in the vast sea of ​​stars.

Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when scientists created high-magnification and high-precision telescopes and various detectors, the exploration of whether there is life on extraterrestrials has never stopped.

For example, the Hubble Telescope, Sky Eye and other equipment can help us observe distant galaxies and planets, and find hundreds of Earth-like planets located in the habitable zone of stars.

Theoretically speaking, these planets have similar space environments to the Earth. It is difficult to deny that there will not be an ecological environment similar to the Earth on these planets. Therefore, there is likely to be life on these planets.

However, these devices are mainly used to observe the light emitted by galaxies, and cannot observe the details of specific planet surfaces.

In addition, these planets are very far away from the earth, and various astronomical telescopes and detectors cannot directly observe their surface conditions, so it is difficult to determine whether there is life on them.

So in recent years, astronomers have begun to focus their attention on the inner solar system.

Such as Venus, Mars and the moons of Jupiter, looking for possible signs of life.

For example, water vapor has been found on Jupiter's moons, and is thought to be a necessary condition for life.

To this end, scientists are preparing probes to go to these planets for more detailed detection, hoping to find conclusive evidence to prove the existence of extraterrestrial life. Although most scientists are open to the existence of extraterrestrial life, so far, humans have not directly discovered the existence of life beyond the earth.

Even fossils of life have never been found.

That's why Xu Chuan was so surprised after hearing the news that fossils of primitive life structures suspected to be ancient cyanobacteria and glass sponges were discovered on the moon.

If it is confirmed to be true, it will be an important milestone that can be recorded in the history of human civilization.

Weng Yunzong: "It is not possible to determine whether it is a fossil of ancient life, but from the report sent back from the Yuehuatai Qianshao Research Station, the possibility is quite high."

"The discovery was made by Professor Liu Wenkang of the School of Materials Science and Engineering of Nanjing University and his assistant Xue Shi."

"Yesterday afternoon, they conducted routine tests on a sample collected from the South Pole of the Moon and named 'XY·HH091' in a cave and found a fossil structure that was abnormal to the surrounding environment."

"After discovering the first special rock sample, Professor Liu Wenkang quickly observed other samples of the same batch. Among the three kilograms of sample materials collected, a total of twelve pieces, more than half, a total of eight sample materials, contained the same special fossil structure."

Weng Yunzong briefly reported the relevant situation, and Xu Chuan's eyes fell on the report file in his hand.

The not very long report file contained various relatively detailed images and test data such as microscope observation images, spectral analysis images, and characterization pyrolysis chromatography.

"Primitive Life Structure Diagram"

It must be said that from the images of these samples, these special structures look very much like primitive ancient bacteria.

The overall appearance of these subtle structures is very different from the surrounding rock structures.

If it is just one or two accidental places, it may be an accident.

But judging from the current discovery, the possibility of life is really not low.

Of course, Xu Chuan can't give a definite answer to whether these things are primitive life structure fossils of ancient cyanobacteria and glass sponges.

After all, he is not a biologist and has not done much research on paleontology.

After reading the test report in his hand, Xu Chuan took a deep breath, looked at Weng Yunzong, and asked: "When can part of the samples be transported back?"

"It has been arranged. The Hanhai has taken off with some samples and will arrive at the Xiashu Space Base around 10:30 the day after tomorrow."

Weng Yunzong quickly replied: "In addition, Yuehuatai has organized personnel to collect secondary samples from the XY·HH091 cave, as well as relevant environmental data detection and collection and testing whether there may be living ancient bacteria in the cave."

"It will take about ten hours for the first wave of detailed data to be transmitted back."

Xu Chuan nodded, thought for a while and then said: "Contact the Jinling Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, the University of Geosciences, and the Institute of Microbiology of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and ask them if they can arrange some relevant experts and scholars to come and help with research and verification."

Xinghai Research Institute has no laboratories and research institutions related to biology.

Although there are studies related to bionics, they are affiliated with the Bionic Materials Research Laboratory under the Institute of Materials.

As for paleontology research, there is not even a researcher.

After all, this kind of research work does not have much significance for scientific research institutions such as Xinghai Research Institute.

So facing the current situation, they can only seek external assistance.

Of course, Xu Chuan believes that these universities and research institutions will rush to come.

"That's no problem. I believe they will be happy to accept this invitation." Weng Yunzong nodded with a smile and asked curiously: "But, don't you plan to make this public?"

Xu Chuan smiled and said: "Keep it secret for the time being, and wait until the research results come out, so as not to cause trouble."

"And it's not very appropriate to make this kind of thing public now."

Weng Yunzong nodded and said with a smile: "Then I will contact the three universities and research institutes you mentioned first."

He understood what Xu Chuan meant.

Affected by the rapid development of aerospace technology, although the current lunar rocks and lunar soils are not yet as common as cabbage on the street, the slightly famous universities and laboratories in China basically have a share.

According to their current treatment methods for lunar rock samples, these collected samples should be open to the public, and major universities or research institutions should apply for research.

Then the space administration and Xinghai Research Institute will discuss and approve it.

At present, this approval process is very loose. Basically, domestic research institutions will give it as long as you apply.

But this time, the lunar rock samples cannot be handled in this way.

Once this news is made public, the universities and research institutions that want samples will definitely go crazy.

Foreign research institutions are still okay, but domestic research institutions can probably use all kinds of methods and relationships to get a sample.

Instead of doing this, it is better to keep it secret and wait until the research experiments on Earth have preliminary results before making it public.

On the other hand, the news of the existence of extraterrestrial life, whether true or false, will have a certain impact on the order of human civilization if it is made public rashly.

In the face of extraterrestrial life, things like bacteria from the moon may become super viruses that will infect the whole world under the rhetoric of some marketing accounts.

This kind of thing is not impossible to happen.

To be honest, compared with official public information, the general public is often more willing to believe their own speculations and one-sided information.

In particular, many people do not use their brains when surfing the Internet and will not think on their own initiative.

I believe that when all kinds of rumors are flying around, some people will be more willing to drive up the prices of masks and disinfectant alcohol to ten yuan each or a hundred yuan a bottle.

Don't underestimate the black-hearted merchants and brainless people.

Rather than working hard to dispel rumors, it is better to make preparations before disclosing relevant information.

As Xu Chuan expected, when faced with the samples of primitive life structure fossils such as ancient cyanobacteria and glass sponges on the moon, whether it is the Jinling Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, the University of Geosciences, or the Institute of Microbiology of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, they all checked out like turtles.

The next day, under the leadership of several top professors and even two academicians, the three universities and research institutes each arranged a research team to go straight to the Xinghai Research Institute.

Then they harassed Xu Chuan and Weng Yunzong of the Institute of Aerospace Research three times a day, asking when the samples could be delivered.

With this fanatical attitude, if there was a sudden news that the Hanhai, which was transporting the samples, had an accident and caused the samples to be lost.

Xu Chuan estimated that at least one-third of these paleontologists and geologists who came here would have sudden cerebral hemorrhage or heart disease.

However, with the performance of the second-generation space shuttle, such a thing is impossible.

After the space shuttle arrived at the Xiashu Space Base smoothly, the metal box containing the samples was escorted by security personnel to the Jinling Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology.

The main reason for going there instead of sending it back to the Xinghai Institute is that the Jinling Institute of Geology and Paleontology has more complete relevant experimental equipment and testing equipment.

Moreover, it is the top paleontological research institution in China, so it is more appropriate to go there.

It is a very complicated matter to observe and test samples that may contain fossils of primitive life structures outside the earth and confirm that the abnormal structures in them are indeed fossils transformed from "life".

It is completely different from confirming a fossil sample that has never been seen on Earth.

If it is on Earth, this process may be much simpler.

For paleontological research, a fossil that has never been seen before can basically be confirmed to be life through its morphological characteristics and comparison with other known organisms.

Although not all fossils can be accurately identified, some key features are needed to clearly identify fossil organisms.

But there is at least one prerequisite, that is, there is life on Earth, which is already known.

The samples they collected from the moon do not meet this prerequisite.

Life has never been found on the moon, and humans have never found life outside the earth.

This means that even if the possibility is high, it is difficult to determine whether the fossils found on the lunar samples are really transformed from life.

Especially in the environment on the moon, theoretically, it is extremely difficult to evolve life, and the possibility of native life is very small.

Of course, everything is possible.

Through detailed observation and recording of fossil samples, try to compare with various similar life forms such as ancient bacteria and fungi on the earth, and look for bacterial excrement, food and other things that may appear in fossils.

And conduct detailed detection of the cave where the sample material is excavated to confirm whether it has the elements necessary for life in "cognition".

For example, oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, etc.

Each of these information can further increase the feasibility of it being an ancient life fossil.

With the day and night efforts of the three research institutes and university teams, combined with the detection of the cave environment numbered XY·HH091 in the South Pole of the Moon, after a week, the phased research results were finally delivered to Xu Chuan.

In the cave numbered XY·HH091, about 1.8 billion years ago, there were at least two types of extraterrestrial life.

They were single-celled bacteria-like life forms, and multi-celled silicon sulfide life forms with a special porous structure!

What finally made many paleontologists boldly confirm this was a special phenomenon found in this batch of sample materials.