1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 683: Paper Published! The Academic World Shocked! A Stunning Move! A Legacy for Generations! The Man Behind Penicillin!

After the conference, Ma Yucheng quickly compiled the results into a paper.

Regarding the author list, he originally intended to include Li Qiwei, Li Youyou, and other people from the research institute.

After all, his inspiration came from the former, and many experiments were completed with the help of his colleagues.

But Li Qiwei waved his hand dismissively and said:

"You did the core work on penicillin."

"You are the sole author."

His single sentence sealed the fate of penicillin's invention, leaving no room for doubt.

And there really isn't much to question.

If you could win a Nobel Prize just by doing odd jobs, that would be too frivolous.

According to the Nobel Prize rules, only uncontroversial and non-team-related achievements can be awarded the Nobel Prize.

Once penicillin is associated with biological research institutes, it is destined to be ineligible for the Nobel Prize.

Although Li Qiwei didn't care, he had to consider Ma Yucheng's situation, otherwise how would he manage his subordinates in the future?

In real history, several scientific achievements in China have not won the Nobel Prize because of unclear intellectual property rights.

The most famous example is artificially synthesized insulin.

Actually, the rules for the Nobel Prize are quite reasonable.

If there were no restrictions on inventors, would the work of administrative staff be considered meritorious?
Therefore, instead of getting bogged down in details, it's better to just cut to the chase.

At least for the scientists themselves, the extent of each person's contribution is very clear.

Ma Yucheng expressed his sincere admiration for Professor Li's decision.

The phrase "a man will die for one who understands him" was written all over his face.

"Even if I break my legs, I will find a high-yield strain!"

1928 6 Month 20 Day.

Ma Yucheng's discovery of penicillin was published in the top medical journal The Lancet.

The paper caused a sensation in the academic world!

Antibiotics with such powerful sterilization capabilities are simply unheard of!

However, most people remained skeptical, thinking it was unlikely.

"My God!"

"Wasn't penicillin discovered a long time ago? I've never heard of it having antibacterial properties."

"Could this just be a publicity stunt?"

In particular, the author of the paper is just an unknown Chinese person.

"China is indeed very strong in physics because of Professor Bruce's presence."

"But can biology really make such a breakthrough?"

For a time, countless people were asking who this Ma Yucheng really was.

Of course, the top academics soon learned of his relationship with Li Qiwei.

Soon, a leading figure in the field of bacteriology replicated the experiment and expressed disbelief:

"incredible!"

"Ma Yucheng's success is full of coincidences. If there is even the slightest mistake, the Penicillium mold will not be able to secrete penicillin."

"What a blessing!"

When this expert analyzed the details of the experiment, it caused another sensation.

Everyone initially thought it was just a simple experiment, but it turned out to be full of hidden secrets.

Then, the story of penicillin related to Rigdwell inadvertently spread, causing an uproar!
"My God!"

"It turns out that Professor Bruce accidentally leaked Penicillium into the Staphylococcus aureus culture medium."

"I knew it! How could anyone possibly think of using Penicillium for experiments?"

"It was all a beautiful accident!"

"Ma Yucheng is so lucky, I envy him so much."

"Oh dear, it's a pity that Professor Bruce returned to Asia and took all the good fortune with him."

With Rigdwell's endorsement, there was no longer any doubt about the results of penicillin.

As the man behind penicillin, Ridgeway's name is a pillar of strength.

Ma Yucheng also became a top biologist and gained worldwide fame because of this paper.

The China Science Society vigorously promoted Ma Yucheng's deeds.

Because his success was unlike anyone else's before.

He made a key breakthrough in biology, a field completely different from physics.

If he were to win the Nobel Prize in the future, it would be China's first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, a truly remarkable achievement.

In a way, he can be called "Professor Li the Second".

Therefore, Ma Yucheng's success was even more inspiring to scholars than Zhao Zhongyao's.

Upon learning of Professor Li's plan, many biologists in China immediately set off to various parts of the country.

China is a vast country with diverse environments, which naturally gives rise to all kinds of Penicillium mold.

If someone can find it, it will be a great achievement, and might even bring them to Professor Li's attention.

That's true success.

Today, Kuching in Borneo has become a sacred place in the hearts of Chinese scholars.

When outstanding students choose a place to pursue further studies, their first choice is Borneo, followed by countries in Europe and America.

These subtle changes are the result of the continuous breakthroughs made by the Chinese people.

Penicillin is one of the most outstanding achievements in this field.

Soon, many leading figures in the field of bacteriology gave penicillin high praise.

Professor Wright was even overjoyed and said:
"Bacteriology has achieved a revolutionary breakthrough!"

His words were like adding fuel to the fire, instantly igniting the previously calm antibiotic field.

Even more excited than these scientific giants were the large pharmaceutical companies.

Like sharks smelling blood, they pounced on him, using all sorts of connections to try and contact Ma Yucheng to collaborate on developing penicillin.

Their keen sense of smell allowed them to perceive the immense value of penicillin.

Once industrialized, it will directly disrupt the existing medical system.

However, all the pharmaceutical companies were met with a closed door.

The news of three major questions about penicillin and Rigway's $100 million investment quickly spread.

The whole world was shocked!

"Oh my God!"

"A million dollars, just to find a bacterium?"

"Professor Bruce is so rich and has such great guts!"

“The soil in my backyard is very fertile, so I’m going to check if there is any Penicillium mold.”

"."

Li Qiwei's extravagant spending stunned countless people.

Science can be used in this way?
However, many top bacteriologists have expressed doubts about this.

"Professor Bruce is probably going to miscalculate this time."

"The first problem is manageable, but the second and third problems are definitely not so simple."

"The application of penicillin may be very difficult."

Sure enough, after understanding the drawbacks of penicillin, those large pharmaceutical companies became hesitant.

In their view, the project was too uncertain.

"What if we can't find a strain with higher yields?"

"Or perhaps the water solubility problem of penicillin cannot be solved?"

"Wouldn't that mean all the initial investments would be wasted?"

For a time, there was much speculation about Professor Bruce's investment in penicillin.

But in any case, the other party's extravagant spending is astonishing!
"This is the best of times for science!"

"A single discovery can even change the world order!"

"And Professor Bruce is the person who respects science the most."

"Once penicillin is successfully developed, it will be a monumental achievement that will benefit generations to come!"

"Even comparable to the artificial ammonia invented by Haber." (Sakura Clan)

Dean Joji Sakurai of the Bachelor's College was deeply impressed after reading Ma Yucheng's thesis.

This groundbreaking innovation in the field of biology is something the entire Sakura Clan wouldn't even dare to dream of, because it requires so much foundational knowledge.

In mathematics and physics, one can rely on personal ability to defy fate and change their destiny.

However, biological research requires the support of vast resources; one cannot achieve anything by working alone in a room.

A sense of unease arose within him.

“Rigged’s influence has already begun to emerge.”

"If the previous breakthroughs were all in the field of physics, it would be understandable,"

"After all, he is the world's number one physicist. Any research topic he gives you is Nobel Prize-level. With his personal guidance, as long as you're not too stupid, you can achieve results."

"But the emergence of antibiotics is different; it is a purely biological field, and even a very niche one."

"Its birth signifies that China has developed its own innovation capabilities."

"Geniuses in various fields are beginning to emerge."

"Li Qiwei's Spark Program has been a success."

Sakurai Joji truly lives up to his reputation as an expert on Li Qiwei's theories; he even knows so much about the Spark Program.

He saw a terrifying ambition in this plan.

"Li Qiwei is trying to change a nation's scientific literacy!"

“He started planning back in the late Qing Dynasty, but nobody paid attention to it at the time.”

"But now, it's too late."

"China's foundation is already established. Even though Li Qiwei is no longer here, his spirit lives on forever."

Sakurai Joji had to admit that the man was a miracle.

He was especially stunned when he learned about the three major problems with penicillin and the $100 million gamble.

What makes him so confident?

As a chemist with some renown, Joji Sakurai believed that the second problem was not difficult to solve.

Given enough time and money, he can figure out the solubility conditions of penicillin through trial and error.

It's nothing more than mixing various solvents, which is child's play in the field of chemistry.

But the third problem is that this is entirely based on luck.

It's even uncertain whether such a Penicillium strain actually exists in the world.

But Ridge-Wei just has that much confidence.

That's why he was so shocked.

"Once antibiotics are successfully developed, their value will be immeasurable."

At this moment, the Sakura Clan Lieutenant General, who was docking with Sakurai Joji, had a strange expression.

He watched as this bigwig from the Academy of Sciences kept rambling on and on, muttering the name "Li Qiwei" repeatedly.

This isn't a scientist at all; he's just a crazy old man.

"Um, Dean Sakurai."

"Is penicillin, which you're talking about, really that powerful?"

Upon hearing this, Sakurai Joji sighed.

If it weren't for something important, he wouldn't bother explaining such a simple concept.

"Your Excellency, let me put it this way: it can reduce the probability of a soldier dying from injury by 99%."

hiss!
The Sakura Clan Lieutenant General gasped.

As a high-ranking military official, he understood the horror of this number better than anyone else.

This not only increases the chances of individual soldiers surviving, but also the morale of the entire army.

"really?"

"Dean Sakurai, you're not lying to me, are you?"

The Sakura Clan Lieutenant General was utterly shocked.

He even considered just snatching it away.

As a high-ranking official, he vaguely understood the thoughts of the military leadership, and that the situation in Asia might undergo a major change soon.

When that time comes, order will collapse, and everything will depend on strength.

However, the West's desire to maintain control in Asia is also hampered by its limited reach.

While directly targeting Li Qiwei is a bit troublesome, it doesn't matter what about Ma Yucheng.

"He's just a scientist; all he needs to do is make inventions and creations."

"Only the brave warriors of my Great Sakura Empire are worthy to use penicillin."

The sensation caused by penicillin is currently limited to the general public and has not yet attracted the attention of various countries.

Because most people are not optimistic about its future, it is full of too much uncertainty.

Although Sakurai Joji didn't believe it either, he had a strange intuition that he had no reason to believe.

"That man's actions are never as simple as they seem."

"The same applies to penicillin."

His sharp eyes gazed into the distance, as if trying to see into the future.

Although penicillin caused a huge sensation, its effectiveness was limited as long as it could not be industrialized.

Only a few countries have begun to pay attention.

Once a higher-yielding Penicillium strain is discovered, the three major problems will be solved.

The astonishing effects of penicillin will attract worldwide attention!
All of this was part of Li Qiwei's plan.
-
Kuching, Institute of Physics.

Li Qiwei is meeting with the contestants participating in the Physics Olympiad.

With the establishment of the Borneo Academy of Sciences, China and Borneo now participate in the Olympiad separately, each with its own results.

This is a fairly standard procedure.

England and Scotland in Great Britain also want to adopt this approach.

This time, the five Borneo representatives participating in the Olympiad are: Li Chengren, Wang Ganchang, Wu Dayou, Shu Xingbei, and Zhao Jiuzhang.

The five brothers directly monopolized the competition slots.

There was no other way; these five people were selected based on their performance, so there was no shady dealing involved.

Moreover, everyone in Borneo knows Professor Li's character.

At this moment, Li Qiwei said with a smile:

"Congratulations."

Besides Li Chengren, Wang Ganchang and the other three quickly expressed their gratitude.

In the past, they would have been extremely excited.

But now, having witnessed the achievements of Li Chengdao, Zhao Zhongyao, Ma Yucheng, and others, they know that they still have a long way to go.

They are only a few years older than them, but they are already on a different level.

Therefore, they all secretly harbored a strong desire to use the Olympiad as a starting point to forge their own path in physics.

At this moment, Li Qiwei said to Li Chengren:
"After the match, you will represent me to pay your respects to Professor Lorenz."

Li Chengren nodded.

"Okay, Father."

The passing of Lorentz, a leading figure in classical physics, a few days ago due to illness has saddened the entire physics community.

The humorous, witty, and erudite Bruce, the conference host, will never return.

Ligdwell personally wrote a eulogy for Lorentz, calling him "the last great man of classical physics."

Lorentz's death also marked the official end of classical physics.
-
After the Olympiad delegation left, Ridgway's life returned to normal.

He's starting to look more and more like a behind-the-scenes boss.

His influence can be seen behind the various achievements published in Borneo.

Yu Yin's neutron, Zhao Zhongyao's antielectron, Li Chengdao's meson theory, Ma Yucheng's penicillin, and Yu Qingsong's FAST telescope.

He was like a god sitting high in the clouds, looking down on everything.

At this moment, he turned his gaze to the European continent.

The physics community remains dynamic.

Research on transuranium has also reached a critical stage.

(End of this chapter)