"this……"
Hope's expression changed slightly when she saw the image in the holographic projection.
As Lü Yongchang said, as the diving depth increased, the seawater in the liquid ammonia ocean gradually became turbid.
"Could there be some impurities..."
Hansent, standing nearby, asked in a low voice, "For example, the mineral resources we're looking for?"
Upon hearing this, Hope's eyes lit up slightly, and he was about to say something when he saw Lü Yongchang slowly shake his head.
"I don't know."
Lu Yongchang looked puzzled, shook his head slightly, and said in a low voice, "Only by sampling and testing the seawater can we possibly know what these substances are."
"Prepare to collect samples."
"The submersible exploration mission is suspended until a clear conclusion is reached."
The video call was cut off as soon as the words were spoken.
Hope and Hansent looked at each other in bewilderment.
Hope then shrugged helplessly: "Well, it seems this exploration mission will last much longer than we expected."
Faced with his teammates' sighs, Hansent also sighed helplessly.
"Yeah, I was actually hoping to finish the exploration and return to Dawn Star as soon as possible..."
Despite saying that, the two of them didn't slow down their actions at all.
...
-261.3km.
A small, spherical exploration vessel floated silently in the deep, dark ocean of liquid ammonia.
The searchlights on the exploration vessel slightly illuminated the surrounding seawater.
Viewed from a distance, the Poseidon exploration vessel, with its searchlights operating at full power, resembles a prominent lighthouse in the endless darkness, announcing its presence to all around.
The next second, the side hatch of the exploration vessel, which had been stationary in the liquid ammonia seawater, slowly opened.
A robotic arm slowly extends from it.
After scanning around the exploration vessel, the robotic arm quickly retracted into the cabin.
...
Dawn Star.
“Professor, the liquid ammonia seawater sampling is complete,” Hope’s voice came through the long-range communication device. “All samples are in the pressurization chamber.”
The reason for placing the samples in a pressurized chamber is, of course, to prevent the liquid ammonia from vaporizing in the seawater.
Lu Yongchang turned his head to check the screen in the pressurization chamber, nodded, and said with satisfaction, "Thank you for your hard work."
"Take a break, I'll let you know when the test results are in."
The task of testing the samples naturally does not require the two drivers to perform.
Putting aside whether humans can withstand the environment in the pressurized chamber, the various sophisticated and complex testing instruments alone are beyond the capabilities of two drivers who are both former mineral prospectors.
"Zero, test the sample." Lü Yongchang gave the order directly to Zero.
...
"hiss……"
Looking at the test data in front of him, Lü Yongchang frowned and took a deep breath.
What lay before him was a completely new substance.
But if you say it's a mineral resource, Lü Yongchang doesn't believe it.
The reason is simple.
Based on the current data, this thing seems more like an organic substance, or rather, like a polypeptide chain or protein.
An unbelievable thought flashed through Lü Yongchang's mind.
Could it be...?
Is there life in the liquid ammonia ocean of an ice giant?
The next second, he shook his head, casting the thought that had flashed through his mind behind him.
Are you kidding me?
Putting aside the possibility of life existing in liquid ammonia, the environment surrounding the exploration vessel at this moment is hellish for any normal living being.
Because the possibility of life existing on ice giants had never been considered, there were no researchers specializing in biology among those present.
So, just to be on the safe side, Lü Yongchang hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Zero, have Mao Zhengzhi come over here."
...
More than ten minutes later.
Academician Mao Zhengzhi arrived at the entrance of the command center in a hurry.
Looking at the busy scene inside the command center, a hint of doubt flashed in Mao Zhengzhi's eyes.
If he remembered correctly, wasn't this where he was directing the mineral exploration mission of the Ice Giant?
Why did Professor Lü call him over?
Filled with doubt, he stepped into the command center.
As soon as Mao Zhengzhi entered, the first thing he saw was Lü Yongchang standing in front of a holographic projection with a furrowed brow, as if he had encountered some problem.
Mao Zhengzhi was slightly startled.
He hadn't seen Lü Yongchang like this in a long time.
He immediately straightened his expression and started walking forward.
"Professor?" he called softly as he drew closer.
"You're here? Come and take a look."
Lu Yongchang did not turn his head, but kept staring intently at the holographic projection in front of him.
Mao Zhengzhi's eyes showed even greater doubt.
But seeing Lü Yongchang's appearance, he didn't dare to ask too many questions and could only quickly move closer to Lü Yongchang.
When he saw the various data in the holographic projection, like Lü Yongchang, his brows furrowed tightly.
"hiss……"
"This is... protein?"
As one of the top biology academicians in the Human Union, Mao Zhengzhi immediately noticed the problem.
"This...this isn't right, is it?"
"What about carbon?"
"Where did the carbon go?!"
"Wait, this isn't a carboxyl group either!"
"Professor, what exactly is this thing?!"
Faced with this amazing substance he had never seen before, he launched into a series of questions to Lü Yongchang.
only……
At this moment, Lü Yongchang was clearly still deep in thought.
Faced with Mao Zhengzhi's repeated questions, Lü Yongchang's eyes flickered slightly, and he answered irrelevantly, "Do you also think this looks like protein?"
Not receiving a definite answer, a hint of anxiety appeared in Mao Zhengzhi's eyes.
He quickly stepped forward and swiped his hand rapidly across the holographic projection: "Of course!"
"If we ignore the problem of carbon atoms..."
"Look, these should be polypeptide chains. They are intertwined, folded, and helicaled to form a complex three-dimensional structure!"
Mao Zhengzhi waved his hands continuously, marking one area after another in the holographic projection.
"This is a secondary structure..."
"This is level three! This should be a level three structure!"
“These are substances found in the liquid ammonia ocean of ice giants,” Lü Yongchang said softly.
"This..." Mao Zhengzhi's hand suddenly stopped, his eyes widening in disbelief. "A liquid ammonia ocean?!"
“Not bad.” Lu Yongchang reached out and waved his hand in the air, and the holographic projection in front of him changed accordingly. “Unlike the proteins we are familiar with, the main component of this substance is amide.”
“Amide…it’s actually an amide…” Mao Zhengzhi’s eyes lit up slightly, and he clasped his hands together, pacing back and forth in place.
At the same time, his lips trembled rapidly, as if he were muttering something to himself.
Lü Yongchang did not interrupt him, but simply stood quietly to the side and waited.
"I see, I see!"
"Professor, I understand!"
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