The evolution of insect swarms from XNUMX million years ago

Chapter 214 Mars Brood
According to later studies, the density of the Martian atmosphere is less than one percent of the Earth's atmosphere. It is speculated that it is most likely due to the geomagnetic cooling of Mars and strong solar radiation blowing away the atmosphere.

At this time, Lin Yi discovered that although the density of the atmosphere was very low, it was still much higher than the less than one percent analyzed by later studies. This density was enough for the parachute-like structure to play a more obvious role.

Maybe it's because the core of Mars hasn't completely cooled down yet, or maybe it's for some other reason - in short, it's convenient for Lin Yi. In this way, none of the designed strong impact-resistant structures are needed, and they can dissolve into nutrients, allowing the carpet to grow faster.

While descending in a circle, the underdeveloped eye structure on the remaining part of Cornerstone 2 also looked at the orange-red desert, trying to find something on it, but unfortunately, there was nothing. figure it out.

After lowering to a certain height, on the remaining shell of Cornerstone 1, two elytra-like structures suddenly opened. Inside, a pair of well-developed wing-like structures consisting of appendages and membranous structures connected between them stretched out. Come, wrap around Mars' thin atmosphere but much stronger than % of later generations, and further slow down.

After several rounds of deceleration, Cornerstone 2 finally found a rough open environment, pointed its head at that area, and began the final preparations before landing.

Among the smoke and dust, the remaining small part of Cornerstone 2 spread a pair of membrane wings that acted as a buffer, and plunged into the soil on the surface of Mars.

Although the impact force was much lower than originally imagined, it was impossible to say there was none. However, the sturdy materials and impact-resistant structure originally designed to withstand several times the impact easily protected the carpet structure, which had no precision equipment inside.

On the part of Corner Stone No. 2 that was inserted into the ground, a large amount of fungi began to spread out, and soon covered the shell of Corner Stone No. 2 that had experienced the friction and baptism of the atmosphere. The roots penetrated deeply into the ground and began to search for water sources.

Fortunately, the underground water source here is not buried deep. Although it is not liquid, it is not a problem for Lin Yi now. The roots immediately wrap around it and begin to absorb it.

The photosynthesis system and radiation synthesis system were the first to start operating, absorbing sunlight, ultraviolet rays, and cosmic radiation, producing oxygen, supplying the chemical energy synthesis system, and the cycle was thus formed.

More nutrients began to be continuously produced and transported along the root system to the remaining body of Cornerstone No. 2. A special pupal sac quickly wrapped the body of the mother nest. With the supply of nutrients, the special The terrestrial mother nest begins to pupate.

The Mars version of the Mother Nest is actually similar to the Earth Mother Nest. First of all, the structure of the outer shell and the underlying cortex are somewhat different. The outer shell can withstand low-temperature environments and is relatively pressure-resistant. The cortex has a special layer of melanin structure that resists radiation.

The biggest difference is the hole structure of the mother nest - in order to avoid various situations, the Mars mother nest will use a special pupal sac structure to produce production-level individuals, regardless of size.

The shape of these pupal sac structures is different from the terrestrial pupal sacs used on Earth, with thicker shells and various protective features. The most important thing is that at the end of the mother's nest hole, there is a valve structure that can be opened and closed.

When an individual is born, the valve opens, and other operations are the same as the mother's nest used on Earth. Nutrients are injected into the pupal sac to allow the imaginal disc structure inside to pupate.

When the grade individual is produced, the remaining nutrients are recovered, the valve structure is closed, and then the pupal sac structure is opened, revealing the new grade below. The valve structure and pupal sac will act like a compartment to prevent the mother nest from developing problems due to pressure changes, loss of air, water, etc.

The first batch of graded individuals produced were similar to the exploratory crafts that first represented the nest group on land and opened up new territories. Lin Yi simply used the name of the exploratory crafts to represent their exploration of foreign lands. The role of star surface.

The Mars version of the exploration vehicle is quite different from the Earth version. Its exoskeleton is completely sealed, leaving no gaps to the outside. The joints are also sealed by a thick layer of cortex.

Under the exoskeleton, in the cortex, there is also a melanin layer that absorbs cosmic radiation and obtains energy from it. The biggest difference lies in the abdominal cavity structure that originally accommodated the book lungs.

The original book lungs in the abdominal cavity have now been replaced by a brand new internal circulation system that integrates photosynthesis, radiation synthesis, and a synthesis using thermal energy designed with reference to certain thermophilic bacteria that live near submarine craters. Function, converting inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide and water into organic substances and oxygen.

The remaining structure is only slightly modified from the original respiratory system structure. It no longer obtains oxygen from the outside world, but directly extracts oxygen and oxygen from this new internal circulation system called the mixed autotrophic system. Organic matter supplies cells throughout the body for respiration.

The carbon dioxide and other inorganic substances produced by respiration will once again supply this mixed autotrophic system to achieve an overall material cycle - input light energy, radiation energy, heat energy, etc., and output energy necessary for life activities.

And because the heat energy generated by respiration can be used again by mixautotrophy, the system has very little energy waste and a high conversion rate.

Three pairs of steps were moving, the one-meter-long body moving forward slowly, and a pair of well-developed compound eyes sizing up the surrounding environment. Then, the first step slowly stepped out of the fungus carpet and stepped on the red soil on the surface of Mars.

That's one small step for an individual, one giant leap for a colony - the famous quote from the first moon landing is fitting here. In this way, the nest miraculously landed on other planets shortly after touching space for the first time, and initially established a firm foothold - this is an achievement that far exceeds that of later generations.

Now, what is left is the top priority of this trip, searching for traces left by Bao and trying to reverse engineer it to further explore into space.

In order to achieve this goal, one exploration vehicle or even a Mars nest is not enough. Lin Yi needs more nests and more workers to explore the entire Mars.

To achieve this goal in a short period of time, there is only one way - to continue launching rockets from the earth, transferring nutrients, multiplying more broods on Mars, and producing more exploration projects and other grades. , to achieve all these goals.

At present, the distance between the Earth and Mars is still close. If he wants to continue to launch rockets with less effort, Lin Yi must seize this opportunity as soon as possible and launch a large number of Cornerstone 2 to Mars at the same time to accelerate the pace of Mars exploration.

(End of this chapter)