Hot Wavelength

Chapter 64 (Planet X 2): The Great Ship
In December 2033, Liangguo Sazhou Rocket City

Michael accepted the commission to launch a spacecraft to the edge of the solar system, which he named VESSEL.

The direction of the launch is Orion, and the high-energy laser beam comes from that direction.

The high-energy laser beam appears to be aimed not at Earth, but at Psyche in the asteroid belt. Could it be that it is charging Psyche from an extremely long distance?

Michael and Daphne, who both admire science, did not believe it. They argued that if they believed that aliens could recharge Psyche from a great distance, they would rather believe that there were gods living on Psyche.

Science is science, although no scientific theory is always correct.

For example, evolution is one of the most successful scientific hypotheses in the past hundred years, but with the in-depth research of modern genetics and gene science in recent years, the evolutionary hypothesis has been challenged like never before.

Research shows that biological evolution is the transmission and change of genotypes between generations, rather than the gradual changes in adaptation to the environment as described by Darwin.

To put it simply, the genes of apes can only evolve into apes. The mutation of apes into Homo sapiens is caused by genetic mutation and has nothing to do with changes in adaptation to the environment.

What caused the mutation in the ape's genes?

Is it really true, as some scientists claim, that all organic matter and life on Earth originated from outer space, and that several famous biological explosions and the genetic mutations that led to the emergence of Homo sapiens were caused by comets?

Daphne realized she had gone off-topic and would find another opportunity to ask Eileen for advice.

Using triangulation based on Earth's revolution around the sun, she determined the celestial location of the unknown energy source. It was located on the ecliptic plane in the six-hour direction of the celestial sphere, approximately 49000 AU from Earth.

The energy source moves slowly; if it were a celestial body orbiting the sun, it would take as long as 1084 million years to complete one revolution.

A celestial body orbiting the sun? Could it be a planet?
Daphne was startled by her own guess, and she asked Michael, "Have you heard of Planet X?"

“I’ve heard of it. Some astronomers suspect that there is a mysterious planet in our solar system besides the eight planets, called Planet X, but it hasn’t been discovered yet,” Michael replied.

Daphne found research reports and related papers about Planet X and, like a popular science teacher, explained to Michael why astronomers suspect the existence of such a mysterious celestial body.

In 1783, mathematician Euler gave the orbital parameters of Uranus. Later observations revealed discrepancies between Uranus's orbital trajectory and the calculated values, leading to the suspicion that a more massive planet existed beyond it.

Decades later, Neptune was discovered, but the problem was not fully resolved. The orbits of Uranus and Neptune still deviate from theoretical values. Some have suggested that there may be another planet beyond Neptune.

Over the next century, more and more evidence emerged, leading astronomers to believe in the existence of Planet X. This evidence included the apparent influence of perturbations on the trajectories of many asteroids in the Kuiper Belt.

For example, there is an asteroid named Sedna, which can also be called a comet, whose trajectory is clearly attracted by a certain direction on the outside.

Even stronger evidence comes from the discovery by astronomers that five other asteroids similar to Sedna have orbits tilted at the same azimuth angle, suggesting they are influenced by the same gravitational source.

Astronomers predict that Planet X is 5-10 times larger than Earth, but due to its great distance, the vastness of the search area, and limitations in observation capabilities, Planet X has not yet been discovered.

Daphne was talking enthusiastically when she noticed Michael seemed a little distracted. Suddenly, it dawned on her: "X!" Why did Michael insist on renaming the social media platform he acquired "X"?
Michael's muttering interrupted Daphne's exclamation: "The farther away, the safer. Mars is too close to Earth. Planet X is the real backup plan."

"Huh?" Daphne instantly understood Michael's idea. Michael was an idealist. His plan to restart Mars wasn't for territorial expansion, but to use it as a refuge in case Earth faced a crisis and became uninhabitable for humans.

Since the goal is to find a planet as a backup for Earth and a refuge for humanity, a distant backup is obviously safer, because a crisis on Earth could also affect Mars.

Michael remarked with a touch of melancholy, "Giving up on Mars isn't just because it's too close to Earth; more importantly, restarting Mars using hypersonic waves carries risks. Risks aside, Mars is full of pores, making it impossible to restart. If we're going to have a backup, let's go for a safe backup from an ultra-long distance!"

Daphne, inspired by Michael's bold idea, also became excited: "There's always a way out. Planet X is far away from Earth. Building a superluminal power station there, even if there are risks, will not endanger Earth."

After the initial excitement, the two quickly calmed down. Astronomers predicted that Planet X was 300-800 AU from Earth. It would take humanity's current spacecraft hundreds of years to reach it.

If Planet X is actually located at a distance of 49000 AU from the energy source, then it would take 18000 years for a human-launched spacecraft to reach it.

Daphne, mimicking Michael's optimism, envisioned: "The development of modern science has only been a few hundred years, and in the decades since the invention of the computer, technological progress has increased exponentially. Finding and developing Planet X may not be possible now, but in the foreseeable future, perhaps humanity will be able to do it."

Daphne became more and more excited as she spoke, describing her blueprint for the future of humanity.

In the future, human space technology will be able to build larger and faster spacecraft, and biotechnology will be able to safely cryopreserve human bodies, allowing them to be thawed and "revived" upon reaching Planet X to engage in construction work.

After Planet X becomes humanity's second home, if Earth faces a crisis, while it's impossible to transport 60 billion Earthlings to Planet X, it's possible to extract each person's genetic material, upload their consciousness to a more advanced computer, and have them resurrected and reborn on Planet X.

As Daphne spoke with great enthusiasm, she suddenly realized that Michael's smiling expression seemed to conceal a different opinion and other thoughts.

She asked, "Michael, do you not believe that humanity will be able to do these things in the future?"

Michael continued to smile, pointing to the Shakespearean quote that was displayed as a screensaver on his computer screen: "On the clock of time there is only one word, 'now'!"
Michael's wildly ambitious mind had already conceived a new plan; he wouldn't wait for the future, he would act now. The spaceship Michael was building was tasked with sending humanity's second "calling card" to the edge of the solar system. Why not add another mission to this spaceship? To find and develop Planet X, utilize its superluminal power station, and build it into humanity's second home.

Michael listed the technological capabilities he now possesses: large-caliber heavy rockets can support larger spacecraft and greater payloads; humanoid robot technology can perform complex space tasks; and these robots do not need food, water, or oxygen, but can "live" for tens of thousands of years as long as they have electricity.

The 18-kilometer-long carbon fiber nanotube structure towed on the spacecraft absorbs the thermal energy of the superluminal waves and converts it into electrical energy, which can continuously provide power for the spacecraft and robots.

The journey was long, but Michael's even more ingenious idea was not to waste time. During the voyage, the computing power matrix carried by the spaceship would continuously train the large model and improve the intelligence level of the humanoid robot.

This idea was inspired by the large-scale model training program in low Earth orbit, the biggest advantage of which is that it does not require water cooling and is not subject to any government laws, making it extremely efficient.

Daphne pondered Michael's audacious plan and raised a question: Since it's impossible to control the spaceship in real time on Earth, the spaceship's computers need more powerful computing capabilities. How many complex programs need to be pre-programmed to deal with various unexpected events?
"No pre-programmed procedures are needed. Just like my Nikola electric car, the humanoid robot does not act according to pre-set rules and logic, but like a human, it takes what it sees as input and uses experience to make judgments as output."

“The computer built into that humanoid robot needs to reach a higher level of intelligence!” Daphne said.

Thanks to the reminders from the Mayan notebooks, Michael has improved the underlying algorithms of the supercomputer. He uses neither binary nor ternary, but a five-state decimal system based on the five physical states of microscopic particles.

With the same chip density, Michael's computer is faster and consumes less energy than traditional binary computers, and it seamlessly integrates with human brain thinking, truly achieving highly efficient brain-computer fusion.

However, no matter what, a chip is just a circuit board. When it comes to solving complex problems, especially when it comes to making decisions, even the most intelligent computer cannot reach the level of the human brain in the short term.

Michael's brain-computer interface project has also made great progress. As the first volunteer, he has successfully uploaded most of his consciousness to a computer, creating a more powerful brain-computer interface computing power. He calls this new intelligence: VESSEL II.

This was the first time Daphne had heard about the progress in uploading consciousness and brain-computer interfaces. She exclaimed, "VESSEL II, I want to try it too!"

Michael, gesturing wildly, said to Daphne, "Would you like to try Vesel III?"

"Three generations? Is the iteration so fast?" Daphne asked.

"Have you heard of dual-core computers? I want to upload parts of two people's consciousness to the same computer to create a dual-core human brain robot. Would you be willing to combine with me to do this experiment?" Michael asked.

Daphne understood, and without hesitation and with great joy, she replied, "That's wonderful! Our consciousnesses are now combined into the same computer, and we'll never be separated again!"

“Not just a lifetime of these few decades!” Michael took Daphne’s hand. “Darling, the computer carrying parts of our consciousness will board the great ship, become the super brain of the humanoid robots, and fly to the edge of the solar system!”

Michael knelt down on one knee, took Daphne's hand, and said affectionately, "My dearest Daphne, would you be willing to have a love affair with me that spans the solar system and lasts for eighteen thousand years?"

Daphne's blood rushed to her head, and her cheeks flushed: "A love that spans the solar system, 18000 years!"

"I do!!!"

Michael held Daphne tightly in his arms and whispered another secret in her ear: "Our combined clone will also bring Little Vito the living robot with it."

The night sky was clear and bright, and Orion rose high in the sky. Daphne looked up through the window, her heart filled with sweetness and longing. Suddenly, an idea came to her.

If Planet X does exist and orbits the Sun at a distance of 49000 AU from Earth, its orbital period would be 1084 million years, and six orbits would take exactly 6500 million years.

Daphne thought, "What a coincidence?"

Could this energy source at the edge of the solar system have been created by humans 6500 million years ago? Of course not, because the dinosaurs were the rulers of Earth back then.

Following Daphne's conjecture, Michael seemed to have come up with a possibility: 6500 million years ago, there was intelligent life on a planet in the solar system. They had mastered superluminal technology, which caused Mars to explode, and the debris hit Earth, leading to the extinction of the dinosaurs.

What happened next? With nowhere to go, intelligent life fled to Planet X on the edge of the solar system, where they used ultra-light waves to recharge Psyche from a great distance.

"I can't even bear to think about it. This scenario should happen in the future. Isn't this exactly why I created a backup plan for Earth?" Michael found it unbelievable.

"Why are they charging SpiritStar? Could it be that in August 2029, what our SpiritStar received was indeed the brainwaves of intelligent life?" Daphne muttered to herself.

Michael said, "It seems the answer lies on Psyche and Planet X at the edge of the solar system."

Daphne turned her gaze away from the three stars of Orion's belt, which formed a line, and glanced at an advertising sign on the building across the street. It was for an online media company that Michael had acquired and renamed: "X".

“Planet X, X, is it a coincidence or destiny?” Daphne couldn’t help but sigh. She remembered the birthday present Michael made for his son Vito on his first birthday—a large ship!
&
The poem composed of collected verses at the end of the chapter:
Guest stars also shine alongside messenger stars, Song Dynasty, Xu Jingsun

Two generations inherited unparalleled glory. (Yuan Dynasty, Anzhou)

The legacy of love endures, as it has in the past; Tang Dynasty, Yongtao
He should know that he will be reborn in another life. —Bai Juyi, Tang Dynasty
(End of this chapter)