Chapter 412 The Importance of Soil Samples
There's been a lot of news lately about China's Chang'e 5 rover bringing back soil samples, and the Americans are eager to get them. They're saying they gave China a gram of soil sample, and now it's time to return the favor.
There are also various opinions on this matter in China. The most common one is: What can you do with one gram of lunar soil? How dare you even mention this?
In fact, one gram of soil can really do a lot!
The physical properties of the lunar soil are very different from those of the Earth's soil. China analyzed this gram of lunar soil and discovered a series of data including the mineral composition, chemical composition, rock type, and mineral composition of the lunar soil. By analyzing these data, China can provide data for the probe to select a suitable lunar landing site and the design of the probe landing system.
In the hands of scientists, even a single gram of soil can do things that ordinary people wouldn't even imagine. The world of top students is incomprehensible to those who aren't.
The same is true for the seabed soil, especially the soil samples brought back by Xiao Peng and his team from Mediterranean hot springs.
The Mediterranean Sea is a special sea area, which is the remnant of the 'Tethys Sea'.
What was the ancient Earth like?
Wegener, who created the theory of continental drift, believed that before the Carboniferous period, there was only one unified continent on Earth, called the "United Continent", which later became what it is today due to changes in the earth's crust.
Austrian geologist Dudova, however, believed that ancient Earth had two continents: Laurasia in the north and Gondwana in the south. The ocean separating them was the Tethys Sea, named after the wife of the Caspian god of the sea and river in ancient Greek mythology. Dudova's theory is closer to the truth, according to current geological research. For example, today's Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was once a turbulent ocean, part of the Tethys Sea.
Later, with the movement of the earth's crust, the earth changed, and the Tethys Sea also changed. Most areas were closed and gradually rose to become high mountains, while some local areas remained. For example, the western part of the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea all belonged to the original Tethys Sea.
To put it simply, this is the oldest ocean on Earth! The marine geology here is very different from that of other places. Moreover, because it is located at the junction of continental plates, submarine volcanoes are frequent here, and these volcanic hot springs and soils contain more information.
Our current understanding of the ocean is still far less than our understanding of Mars, and every discovery has the potential to change history. Whoever gets a sample of Mediterranean deep-sea soil first will be ahead.
The Americans understand this, but they have never carried out deep-sea exploration in the Mediterranean.
Deep-sea exploration is a bottomless pit!
The same deep-sea soil may have a completely different soil structure at a distance of more than ten nautical miles. This requires a lot of manpower, material resources and time. It will take decades to figure out the seabed geological structure of an ocean.
This is where the difference between the East and the West becomes apparent: China simply pursues whatever it wants; while the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, while the world's largest oceanographic research institution, relies primarily on donations and investments for funding. They need to see a return on their investment. They want to conduct research in the Mediterranean? Who knows how many investors will object! Their country's research funding is primarily used for equipment like AUVs. So, while the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is incredibly wealthy, arguably the world's best-funded oceanographic research institution, they want to conduct research in the Mediterranean? It could take years for their decision-makers to approve the plan and implement it. By then, it's too late to argue!
Douglas just said that 'science knows no borders', which sounds reasonable, but scientists do have national boundaries! Why didn't they say that science knows no borders when they restricted China's technological blockade?
When they're ahead, they keep saying, "Core technology can't be made public; it's the foundation of the country." And when they're behind, they say, "Science knows no borders." This double standard is just too blatant. To Xiao Peng, I just want to say, "Fuck you!"
You want this soil sample? No problem! First, we'll hold a press conference and let everyone know you're asking for a soil sample. We'll make this known to everyone. Then, something this valuable must be packaged well, like you used to do, encapsulating the lunar soil in acrylic and making it look like a work of art.
You all say we Chinese are still living in the past half a century, right? Things like acrylic sealed packaging are too difficult for us. We'll give you at least three to five years, and then you can give it to me based on your mood.
Anyway, by then, these soil samples will have been thoroughly studied, so you can enjoy them. Oh, and Hu Guohui still has a lot of marine life samples, which he can give to you later.
How's that? Pretty generous, right?
Douglas and Xiao Peng had one thing in common at this moment: they both thought the other was a fool.
"Mr. Xiao, I really can't agree to your offer." Douglas was not as stupid as he thought: "How about this, you make an offer and I buy yours?"
"Buy mine?" Xiao Peng shook his head and said righteously, "Professor Douglas, you're a scholar, how can you talk about money all the time? This is too vulgar, isn't it? You will only lower your status in my mind! Besides, although I don't know you, you definitely know me. What does that mean? Do you think I'm short of money? This is a symbol of friendship between our two countries! Haven't you heard the saying? Talking about money hurts feelings! We Chinese are a country of etiquette! I'm going to contact the reporter right now. Professor Fehrman Douglas of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution came to me to ask for a soil sample. Tsk tsk, this is enough for me to brag about for the rest of my life. Clementine, help me contact my reporter friend!"
"Don't!" Douglas hurriedly stopped Xiao Peng: "I'm here in a private capacity!"
If this matter really gets out, he will bring shame to the entire country. Who knows how those people will deal with him then!
Xiao Peng frowned: "Are you here to see me in a private capacity?"
Douglas nodded.
Xiao Peng waved his hand. "Damn it! Who would I know you without the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to support you? And you're still wasting my time here! You're disturbing my sleep so early in the morning! Kasin, get out! I'm going back to sleep for a while!"
Just as Xiao Peng was about to leave, the girl who had been sitting next to Douglas and had been silent suddenly said, "Mr. Xiao, please wait a moment."
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