Building a Sci-Fi Empire: Starting with Cold Nuclear Fusion

How is that possible? How could this cochlear implant technology possibly be achieved?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shulin involuntarily focused his gaze on the cochlear implant design diagram at the bottom of the computer screen.

The next moment, he also showed an extremely surprised expression, "This..."

Although Zhang Shulin didn't know much about cochlear implant technology, since he wasn't a professional in the field, he dared to say that anyone with even a little common sense would be shocked when they saw Chen Yuan's cochlear implant design.

Why?

Because Chen Yuan's cochlear implant design is actually a truly bionic ear!

The technology involved is very advanced, even employing techniques similar to brain-computer interfaces.

As we all know, although brain-computer interfaces have been developed, the technology is still immature.

Take, for example, the brain-computer interface "Beinao-1," jointly developed by Tsinghua University, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and other institutions.

It is semi-invasive and can help ALS patients rebuild their communication abilities, allowing paralyzed patients to control a robotic arm to write through their thoughts.

It looks very developed, doesn't it?

In fact, anyone familiar with current brain-computer interface technology knows that this technology has many problems.

Non-invasive methods have insufficient accuracy in signal acquisition and decoding.

Invasive devices also have long-term stability and safety issues.

For example, even after brain-computer interfaces are implanted in the human body for a long time, they still face challenges such as biocompatibility, immune rejection, electrode aging, and signal attenuation, which affect the reliability of the system.

These are the most basic problems.

There are many more issues related to the complexity and real-time requirements of other systems.

Chen Yuan designed a bionic cochlear implant technology similar to brain-computer interfaces.

Although it still relies on surgical implantation, it is so small and has so few parts that need to "connect" with the human body that the surgical risk is very low. It can truly replace the human cochlea and enable people to "hear" sounds, rather than converting external sounds into neural electronic signals like the current mainstream cochlear implants.

There is a significant gap here.

Zhang Shulin was completely dumbfounded.

Tang Zhiping, the pioneer of cochlear implant technology in China, also showed an expression of disbelief, unable to believe that such cochlear implant technology existed.

Furthermore, he didn't understand why Chen Yuan's cochlear implant design could achieve true biomimicry.

After his initial shock, Tang Zhiping quickly continued to learn more about the technology.

The further down his gaze went, the more fascinating his expression became.

"this……"

Tang Zhiping seemed to be talking to himself, "Designing a chip processor capable of handling all frequencies audible to the human ear to serve as the core of this cochlear implant, while the power supply will utilize a carbon-14 nuclear battery?"

He seemed to have thought of something and suddenly looked at Zhang Shulin. "Professor Zhang, you just mentioned Xiao Chen... um, Mr. Chen, the more advanced nuclear battery you designed, is it a nuclear energy battery based on carbon-14 isotope decay?"

Zhang Shulin's eyes were still fixed on the design drawing of the truly bionic ear on the computer screen, and he said naturally, "Yes."

Tang Zhiping quickly followed up, "Could you tell me some basic information about carbon-14 nuclear batteries?"

Zhang Shulin said, "Because of its low radiation, the carbon-14 nuclear battery can be implanted in the human body for a long time. In addition, it can provide power for more than 50 years. As for the size, the largest is only the size of a coin. If it is to be made smaller, although the power supply will be weakened, Xiao Chen said before that it can be made to a quarter of the size of a coin."

A quarter-coin size?

Wouldn't a bionic ear that fits this concept be perfect for implantation into the human body?

In other words, the cochlear implant designed by Chen Yuan is definitely not having any problems with power supply and is feasible.

Since there are no problems with the energy supply, there is only one problem left.

The question is whether Chen Yuan's sound processing chip can truly replace the human cochlea completely.

This is something that neither Tang Zhiping nor Zhang Shulin knows for the time being.

Unless they can manufacture the chip according to Chen Yuan's design and then conduct a series of tests, they will not be able to get the final answer.

Although the feasibility of this cochlear implant cannot be verified at present, Tang Zhiping still felt enlightened after seeing the design drawings.

He used to think that cochlear implants should be updated and replaced like other products on the market, but after seeing Chen Yuan's ingenious design today, he realized that cochlear implants can be truly bionic!

Thinking of this, Tang Zhiping's gaze became solemn as he said, "If this cochlear implant technology, which is on par with science fiction, can be realized, I dare say that it will be a blessing for the hearing-impaired worldwide... No, it's not just a blessing for the hearing-impaired worldwide; it could even give us humans supernatural hearing, like a superpower!"

Zhang Shulin was taken aback. "You have such a high opinion of Xiao Chen's cochlear implant technology?"

Tang Zhiping turned his head and sighed, "I think there is only one relatively accurate assessment in what I just said, and that is that, based on the technology we currently have, cochlear implant technology can only exist in science fiction and cannot be created in reality. The core of it is that chip that can process all the sounds that normal human ears can hear."

Chen Yuan has brought technological products that could only be created in science fiction into real life?

Zhang Shulin still found it hard to believe such an exaggerated story, but he knew that Tang Zhiping, as the leading expert in cochlear implant technology in China, would never lie about such a thing.

In other words, Chen Yuan's cochlear implant design is indeed a "science fiction" product?

Zhang Shulin glanced at the kitchen again involuntarily, unsure of what to say.

Previously, when he first met Chen Yuan at Xinghe Company, he thought the other party was just an inconspicuous young man in the R&D team.

Later, in less than an hour, the other party designed two different nuclear batteries, making him realize that the other party was proficient in nuclear energy and battery technology and had a very strong creative imagination, making him a rare genius.

A rare genius?

Zhang Shulin couldn't help but smile wryly as he recalled his previous assessment of Chen Yuan.

This isn't just a rare genius, this is an absolute super freak, a once-in-a-millennium phenomenon!

The technology that could only be found in science fiction was figured out by Chen Yuan in just one night.

Most importantly, Zhang Shulin is quite certain that before last night, Chen Yuan knew absolutely nothing about cochlear implant technology.

Just by looking at the outdated cochlear implant design drawings sent by Tang Zhiping, along with some related knowledge, he designed this groundbreaking, sci-fi-level cochlear implant. What else could this be but an extreme case of madness?

Zhang Shulin knew that Chen Yuan's existence was not just about having another genius in scientific research and invention, but also an extremely fortunate thing for the entire China and even for eight billion people worldwide.

This young man will definitely change the world in the future...

No, Zhang Shulin is absolutely certain that what Chen Yuan is doing now is already changing the entire world!