He continued: "For now, there are only two ways we can think of to obtain large amounts of hydrogen, one from the Sun and Jupiter, and the other through nuclear fission. ”

"In the case of nuclear fission, if oxygen is used as a raw material, the fission produces hydrogen and synthesizes water...... I've just roughly calculated that under an ideal scenario, it would take about 11 billion kilojoules of energy to produce 150 milliliters of water. ”

"At this rate, humans can only generate a few million litres of water a year. It would take us a hundred trillion years to increase the volume of ocean water by a tenth, which is clearly unrealistic. Witten said slowly.

"If it's nuclear fusion?"

Witten thought for a while, shook his head and said: "No, even if we can use all the light of the sun through the Dyson sphere, it will take hundreds of thousands of years to increase the sea water by one-tenth." ”

"Hydrogen itself is the starting point of nuclear fusion, and if we want to reverse engineer it, this process must mean energy that we cannot bear. ”

"Energy has always been a huge problem for humanity. Until now, the way we get and use energy has been so monotonous. "Burning and boiling are still the main ways for people to solve energy problems. ”

"I can't predict how science will change in the future, but I think energy is a problem that humans can't get around. Whether it's getting hydrogen from the Sun, Jupiter, or fission, we can't afford to pay for enough energy. ”

Regarding the plan to obtain hydrogen, Lin Han didn't make any calculations in advance, after all, it sounded very far away.

As a leading figure in the field of physics, Witten quickly discovered the core problem of the plan, which was the problem of lack of energy.

It's not that I don't know, the energy of nuclear fusion is vast, but if you put it in this plan, it's really nothing.

It would take hundreds of thousands of years to use all of the sun's light energy to increase the seawater by one-tenth. This price is too large.

Lin Han thought for a while and said, "I think we can find a way to save energy greatly in the future, such as the direction of string theory that you are focusing on, and it is possible to solve this problem from the particle level." ”

Witten nodded, then smiled: "Maybe, but now, M theory is more like a complex mathematical problem than physical theory." ”

Lin Han said: "In any case, I think your theory is of great significance to physics, at least for a certain period of time. ”

The two talked for a while, and inevitably involved some physics and mathematical problems in the middle, although Lin Han did not have a deep study of modern physics, but he also knew some about it, and as an excellent engineer, he was sometimes inspired by Witten in his thinking, and they talked very happily.

As for the content of the "Pangu Project" about obtaining hydrogen, Witten believes that although it is challenging, it is also full of interest and mentions it from time to time.

After all, theoretical physics is very intuitive in its own value when it comes to this question.

If physics really breaks through to that extent, it means that the Pangu Project can be implemented, and various problems such as energy, resources, and environment faced by mankind will be solved.

The two chatted until it was time for dinner to end, and finally Lin Han invited again: "Professor Witten, I invite you to join the Vientiane Laboratory again, I believe it will be a place where people will not want to leave...... This "Pangu Project" can also be entrusted to you to be in charge, what do you think?"

Witten thought for a few seconds, then nodded with a smile: "I can join the Vientiane Laboratory now, after all, I still have some teaching and scientific research tasks in Princeton, and I can't spare time for the time being, and I will ...... after a while." For example, after next Christmas, I will go to Yunzhou to see it in person, and at that time I will decide whether to become the person in charge of the "Pangu Project". ”

After next Christmas, in fact, it will be about the next US election.

Lin Han couldn't help but smile when he heard this: "Vientiane Laboratory, you are welcome at any time. ”

Although it is only a name for the time being, with the fame of Edward Witten, a name is already extraordinary, and at least it can attract the attention of more scientists.

Moreover, after this exchange, Lin Han had some more intuitive understanding of the content of the "Pangu Project" about the acquisition of hydrogen, and even came up with many hazy ideas.

Maybe after a while, he will be able to make some moves himself.

At the very least, there are infinite mysteries in the area of vitality, like a treasure trove to be explored.

Intuition told Lin Han that obtaining hydrogen was not so far away, and it might even be close at hand......

The next day, Vientiane Laboratory announced that the famous physicist and mathematician Edward Witten had served as a consultant of the laboratory and was willing to become the head of the "Pangu Project" of the laboratory in the future.

In this news, Vientiane Lab publicly revealed the content of the "Pangu Project" for the first time, although it was only a few words, but its amazing handwriting still caused a sensation in the outside world.

And this project is also connected to Witten, and naturally, it is almost cited by the media as a great event in the scientific community.

Some people in Hollywood even said that they would make a science fiction movie about the "Pangu Project......

In political circles, people from both parties in the United States have expressed different views on this issue. Naturally, the Democratic Party praised the Pangu Project as a new era for environmental protection and would bring benefits to all mankind.

Republicans, on the other hand, were indifferent to the plan, instead vigorously promoting the theory of the China threat, and criticized the Vientiane Lab's digging practices, such as "We are about to lose Witten" and "China is plundering our scientists......

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ps：

It's the Year of the Dog, and I wish you all a Happy New Year.

I was looking for a good idiom about "dog", but I couldn't come up with one after thinking about it......