Chapter 906: 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 is a thick stack 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 back the time to the 1970s and 1980s.
But unfortunately, in the study of the Riemann Hypothesis, most of the papers were not of much help to him.
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 is also a paper that does not help him much.
But when I look back and think about it, it’s actually quite normal.
After all, before him, the mathematics community’s research on the Riemann Hypothesis was peer-reviewed and the highest recognized by the academic community was only a breakthrough of No(T)>0.35N(T) in terms of the critical band idea.
It is undeniable that the critical zone research idea 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 expansion from 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 along this path is met with 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 study of the Riemann Hypothesis, he never expected this method to 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 field of mathematics recently, the door to the office was pushed open in a hurry and rudely.
I looked 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."
After 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?"
"A primitive life structure fossil similar to ancient cyanobacteria and glass sponge?"
Ever since humans learned to look up at the stars, they have been thinking about 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, with the help of Hubble Telescope, Sky Eye and other equipment, we 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 satellites of Jupiter, etc., looking for possible signs of life.
For example, water vapor has been found on the moons of Jupiter, which is considered a necessary condition for the existence of life.
To this end, scientists are preparing probes to go to these planets for more detailed exploration, 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
The existence of life has not been directly discovered beyond 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 confirmed to be true, this will be an important milestone recorded in the history of human civilization.
Weng Yunzong: "It is currently unclear whether it is really a fossil of ancient life, but judging from the reports sent back from the Yuehuatai Qianshao Scientific Research Station, the possibility is quite high."
"It was Professor Liu Wenkang and his assistant Xue Shi from NTU's School of Materials Science and Engineering who discovered this result."
"Yesterday afternoon, when they were conducting routine testing on a sample collected from a cave named 'XY·HH091' in the South Pole of the Moon, they discovered a fossil structure that was unusual in the surrounding environment."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "After discovering the first special rock sample, Professor Liu Wenkang quickly observed other samples of the same batch. After collecting three kilograms, a total of ten
More than half of the two sample materials, a total of eight sample materials, contain the same special fossil structure..."
Weng Yunzong gave a concise report on the relevant situation, and Xu Chuan's eyes fell on the report document in his hand.
The report document, which is not very long, contains various relatively detailed images and detection data such as microscope observation pictures, spectral analysis images, and characterization pyrolysis chromatography.
"Primitive Life Structure Diagram"
It has to 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 that of the surrounding rock structures.
If it is just one or two accidents, it may be an accident.
But judging from the current discovery, the possibility of life is really not low.
Of course, as to whether these things are ancient cyanobacteria, Xu Chuan, the glass sponge type primitive life structure fossil, cannot give a definite answer.
After all, he is not a biologist and does not have much research on paleontology.
After flipping through the test report in his hand, Xu Chuan took a deep breath, looked at Weng Yunzong, and asked: "When can some of the samples be shipped back?"
"It has been arranged. The Hanhai has taken off with some samples and will arrive at the Xia Shu 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 collect related environmental data and detect 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 Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Geosciences, and the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and ask them if they can arrange for some relevant experts and scholars to come over to help with research and verification.
"
Xinghai Research Institute does not have laboratories or research institutions related to biology.
Although there is research related to bionics, it is the Biomimetic Materials Research Laboratory affiliated with the Institute of Materials.
As for paleontological research, there is not even a single researcher.
After all, this kind of research work is not of much significance to a scientific research institution like Xinghai Research Institute.
So facing the current situation, they can only find foreign aid.
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 such an invitation." Weng Yunzong smiled and nodded, and asked curiously: "But don't you plan to make this matter public?"
Xu Chuan said with a smile: "Let's keep it secret for now and wait until the research results come out to avoid causing trouble."
"And it's not 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 today's lunar rocks and lunar soil are not a piece of cake for them, basically everyone in the country's slightly famous universities and laboratories has a share.
According to their current processing methods of lunar rock samples, these collected samples should be made public and can be applied for research by major universities or research institutions.
The space agency and Xinghai Research Institute will then discuss and issue a reply.
The current approval process is very loose, and basically domestic research institutions will give it to you as long as you apply.
But this time the lunar rock samples cannot be processed in this way.
Once this news is made public, universities and research institutions that want samples will go crazy.
It's okay for foreign research institutions. Domestic research institutions can probably use all kinds of methods and connections to get a sample.
Rather than doing this, it is better to keep it secret for now and wait until the research experiments on the earth have preliminary results before making it public.
On the other hand, any news about the existence of extraterrestrial life, whether it is true or false, will have a certain impact on the order of human civilization if it is disclosed hastily.
In the face of extraterrestrial life, bacteria from the moon may, according to some marketing accounts, turn into a super virus that will infect the whole world.
It's not impossible for this to happen.
To be honest, the general public is often more willing to believe their own speculation and one-sided information than official public information.
In particular, many people do not use their brains when surfing the Internet and do not actively think for themselves.
I believe that when all kinds of rumors are flying all over the sky, some people will be more willing to sell masks and disinfectant alcohol for ten yuan a piece or a hundred yuan a bottle.
Don't underestimate shady businessmen and brainless people.
Rather than working tirelessly to refute rumors when the time comes, it is better to be prepared before disclosing relevant information.
...
Just as Xu Chuan expected, when faced with samples of primitive life structure fossils such as ancient cyanobacteria and glass sponge types that may exist on the moon. Whether it is the Jinling Institute of Geology and Paleontology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Geosciences, or the Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
The research institute is like a turtle checking out.
The next day, led by several top professors and even two academicians, each of the three universities and research institutes arranged a research team to go straight to Xinghai Research Institute.
Then they harassed Xu Chuan and Weng Yunzong from the Aerospace Research Institute three times a day, asking when the samples would be delivered.
With this fanatical attitude, if news suddenly came to them that the Hanhai ship transporting the samples suddenly had an accident, causing the samples to be lost.
Xu Chuan estimated that at least one-third of the paleontologists and geologists who came here would suffer from cerebral hemorrhage or heart disease.
However, with the performance of the second-generation space shuttle, this kind of thing is impossible.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! After the space shuttle arrived at the Xiashu Space Base smoothly, the metal box storing the samples was escorted by security personnel to the Jinling Geology and Paleontology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
So over there.
The main reason why we went there instead of sending it back to Xinghai Research Institute was because the Jinling Institute of Geology and Paleontology has more complete relevant experimental equipment and testing equipment.
Moreover, it is also the number one paleontological research institution in the country, so it is more appropriate to go there.
...
Observing and testing samples that may contain fossils of primitive extraterrestrial life structures to confirm that the strange structures are indeed fossils transformed into "life" is a very complicated matter.
It's nothing like identifying a fossil specimen that's never been seen before on Earth.
If it were on Earth, this process might be much simpler.
For paleontological research, a fossil that has never been seen before can basically be confirmed to be alive through its morphological characteristics and comparison with other known organisms.
Although not all fossils can be accurately identified, some key characteristics are needed to clearly identify fossil organisms.
But there is at least one prerequisite, which is that there is life on the earth. This is already known.
The samples they collected from the moon did not meet this prerequisite.
Life has never been discovered on the moon, and humans have never discovered life outside the earth.
This means that no matter how high the probability is, it is difficult to be sure that the fossils found on the lunar samples were actually transformed from life.
Especially in an environment like the moon, theoretically speaking, it is extremely difficult for life to evolve, and the possibility of indigenous life existing is extremely slim.
Of course, anything is possible.
Through detailed observation and records of fossil samples, we try to compare them with ancient bacteria, fungi and other similar life forms on the earth, and look for bacterial excrement, food and other things that may appear in the fossils...
And conduct detailed exploration of the cave where the sample material was excavated to confirm whether it contains the elements necessary for life in 'cognition'.
Such as oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, etc.
Each piece of this information can further increase the feasibility of it being a fossil of ancient life.
Thanks to the day and night efforts of teams from three research institutes and universities, combined with the exploration of the cave environment at the lunar south pole numbered XY·HH091, after a week-long period of research, the phased research results were finally delivered to Xu Chuan.
In the cave numbered XY·HH091, about 1.8 billion years ago, at least two kinds of extraterrestrial life existed.
They are bacterial-like life forms with a single-cell structure, and silicon sulfide multi-cell life forms with a special porous structure!
What finally led many paleontologists to boldly confirm this was a special phenomenon discovered in this batch of sample materials.