In midsummer Beijing, the scorching sun and incessant cicada chirping create a warm, cozy atmosphere. Inside the laboratory of the "Natural Taste" R&D center, however, a refreshing coolness prevails. The central air conditioning system continuously delivers a comfortable temperature, a stark contrast to the sweltering heat outside. Rows of transparent, sealed jars are neatly arranged on the lab benches, containing various samples of pastries and pickles, each labeled with the experimental date, preservation technology type, and process parameters. Sunlight filters through double-layered vacuum glass, filtering out the harsh ultraviolet rays, and softly illuminates the precise testing instruments, refracting a cool yet bright sheen. The air is filled with the rich aroma of grains, the mellow flavor of sauces, and the subtle scent of reagents, creating a unique atmosphere exclusive to the researchers.
Shen Nian'an, dressed in a white lab coat with the cuffs meticulously buttoned to his wrists, stared intently at the experimental data flashing across the computer screen behind his gold-rimmed glasses. His fingertips rested lightly on the mouse, each click precise and decisive. The line graphs and bar charts on the screen refreshed continuously, clearly showing the changes in microbial counts, moisture loss rates, and sensory quality scores of products under different preservation technologies. Several days of intense experiments had left faint dark circles under his eyes and fine stubble on his chin, but his face showed no signs of fatigue; instead, it radiated an exhilarating, increasingly determined spirit.
“Still not working…” Shen Nian’an murmured softly, his brows furrowed tightly, a hint of barely perceptible frustration in his voice. He rubbed his throbbing temples, his gaze falling on a set of experimental data on the table. This was a sample of osmanthus cake treated with nanotechnology. Although the shelf life was extended by five days compared to traditional methods, by the twentieth day of the experiment, fine mold spots had appeared on the surface of the sample, and the texture had become dry and hard, far from the thirty-day shelf life predicted by the model.
"Where exactly is the problem?" Shen Nian'an stood up and paced back and forth in the laboratory, the hem of his white lab coat swaying gently with his movements. He kept replaying every step of the experiment in his mind: the concentration ratio of the nano-coating, the spraying pressure, the drying temperature... All parameters were strictly executed according to the optimal scheme calculated by the model, but the experimental results were still unsatisfactory.
He walked to the sample shelf, picked up the jar of osmanthus cake with mold spots, and examined it closely through the transparent glass jar. The mold spots on the surface of the cake were like tiny ink stains, particularly glaring against the off-white cake. He opened the jar, and a faint musty smell mixed with the lingering fragrance of osmanthus wafted out. He gently pinched a small piece, smelled it, and then rubbed it between his fingertips. The texture was dry and rough, completely lacking the soft and delicate texture of fresh osmanthus cake.
"Could it be that the nano-coating isn't adhering well enough?" A thought crossed Shen Nian'an's mind. He recalled reading in his research that the adhesion of nanomaterials to the surface of porous foods directly affects their preservation performance. Osmanthus cake has a loose texture and is filled with tiny pores inside. The nano-coating might not be able to form a continuous and complete protective film, allowing oxygen and microorganisms to still penetrate.
To verify this hypothesis, Shen Nian'an immediately went to the microscope, placed a small sample of osmanthus cake on a slide, carefully covered it with a coverslip, and then adjusted the microscope's focus. On the screen, the microstructure of the osmanthus cake was clearly revealed: loose starch granules intertwined to form countless irregular pores, while the nano-coating that should have been evenly covering the surface was like a broken spider web, intermittently attached to the edges of the pores, unable to form an effective protective barrier.
"Just as I thought!" A flash of understanding crossed Shen Nian'an's eyes, but he was immediately plunged into new confusion. How could a nano-coating form a continuous and complete protective film on the surface of porous food? He consulted a large number of relevant documents and tried various improvement schemes: adjusting the coating formula, increasing the number of sprays, optimizing the drying process... but the experimental results still did not show significant improvement.
A week of repeated trials and failures gradually dampened Shen Nian'an's spirits. He often stayed alone in the laboratory until late at night. The city outside the window was already brightly lit, and the other offices in the research and development center were also dark. Only his laboratory had a single lamp lit, illuminating his tired and lonely figure.
That evening, Shen Nian'an was working overtime in the lab again. He rubbed his sore eyes, shut down his computer, and prepared to temporarily put aside this difficult problem and go home to get some rest. As he packed his things and walked out of the research and development center building, a gentle evening breeze, carrying the coolness unique to summer nights and the fragrance of grass and trees, blew on his face, easing his tense nerves slightly.
He looked up at the sky; countless stars twinkled, and the bright moon hung high, its silvery light casting a silvery glow on the ground. In the distance, the streets bustled with traffic, neon lights flashing, outlining the city's vibrant skyline. Yet, a sense of confusion welled up in Shen Nian'an's heart. He thought of his parents' expectations, Director Zhang's trust, and the vow he had made, and a feeling of defeat washed over him.
"Am I really incapable of solving this problem?" he muttered to himself, his pace unconsciously slowing down.
Just then, a familiar car horn sounded. Shen Nian'an looked up and saw a black sedan slowly stop in front of him. The window rolled down, revealing Shen Tingzhou's composed face.
"Father? What brings you here?" Shen Nian'an asked, somewhat surprised.
"It's so late and you haven't come home yet. Your mother and I were worried, so we came to check on you." Shen Tingzhou opened the car door, got out, and patted his son's shoulder. "You don't look too good. Have you run into trouble?"
Shen Nian'an nodded and told his father in detail about the difficulties he had encountered in the application of nanotechnology for food preservation.
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