Chapter 1105: Chapter 18 The Late Comet (Extra for the Alliance Leader Trapped by Heart’s Gate!)_4

Indeed, there’s no denying it.

As for this element astatine, Lin Xian does have some impression of it, definitely a radioactive element.

And the number that follows represents the isotope of the astatine element.

Huh?

Lin Xian recalled the chemistry knowledge he once learned.

Astatine-339?

Impossible!

The atomic number of astatine is 85, how could there be an isotope like Astatine-339?

This is utterly unscientific!

“What exactly is Astatine-339?”

Lin Xian asked:

“This isotope… It’s not just that it doesn’t exist on Earth, it shouldn’t exist in this universe at all.”

“Exactly.”

Gao Wen gave him an approving look;

“It seems your basic knowledge is indeed solid.”

After speaking, he wrote Astatine-191~229 on the blackboard and explained:

“According to current human knowledge and chemical rules, there are a total of 39 isotopes of astatine. The most stable isotope is Astatine-210, with a half-life of 8.1 hours; the least stable ground-state isotope is Astatine-213, with a half-life of 125 nanoseconds. After undergoing alpha decay, it turns into the very long-lived Bismuth-209.”

“These 39 isotopes, according to the atomic model, should comprise all the isotopes of astatine. Theoretically, it is not likely that other isotopes of astatine exist in the universe. But…”

Gao Wen’s expression became serious, and he looked at Lin Xian:

“What if Astatine-339, this isotope, is just like Space-Time Particles, not belonging to our space and time, not from our universe?”

Lin Xian’s eyes widened:

“Are you saying that this Astatine-339 isotope is not from our space-time? It comes from other space-times and universes?”

Considering the existence of Space-Time Rifts, it wouldn’t be surprising for Space-Time Particles or even a comet to come through from other universes.

But the issue is…

Lin Xian turned around, looking at the Time Shuttle Machine the size of a semi-trailer:

“Then what’s the deal with this Time Shuttle Machine? And how did you manage to create it?”

Gao Wen turned around.

He then wrote another line of numbers on the blackboard–

[March 27, 2077]

Seeing this familiar date, Lin Xian was taken aback.

This date…

Indeed, it was the date Einstein answered when Galileo inquired at the Genius Club meeting yesterday about when humanity would make the next astronomical breakthrough!

After writing, Gao Wen turned around and said slowly:

“March 27, 2077, is a critically important day in the history of human astronomy. On this day, astronomy achieved a revolutionary discovery, or a disruptive breakthrough.”

“Astronomers captured a distant comet through the telescope… This comet flew towards Earth from the outer reaches of the Solar System.”

“This wouldn’t be anything unusual, as there are plenty of comets. But the problem is, the trajectory, speed, and spectrum of this comet were all very strange, completely different from any celestial body observed before.”

“I won’t go into too much complexity, but astronomers felt from its spectral analysis that the comet absolutely carried something that did not belong to this universe, or this space-time.”

“However, it would take over a hundred more years for this comet to reach Earth, and people could only wait patiently for its arrival.”

“Until 2234, the comet finally reached the Solar System, with gravitational coefficients completely wrong, heading straight for Earth! Fortunately, the world was prepared, and it was shattered by nuclear missiles outside the atmosphere. The debris orbiting Earth took many years to fall into the atmosphere and slowly descend onto the Earth.”

“And after that, Earth ended up with a lot of unscientific isotopes, naturally, including [Astatine-339].”

…

Lin Xian’s thoughts were still immersed in the question Galileo had posed to Einstein.

After coming back to his senses, he also heard Gao Wen’s complete explanation.

“I understand.”

He articulated:

“So, the difficulty in creating a Time Shuttle Machine isn’t about the science and technology, but about when this chemically impossible isotope, [Astatine-339], would arrive on Earth.”

“According to what you said, the anomalous comet from another space-time, from another universe, won’t descend to Earth until 2234, bringing the element [Astatine-339] to Earth. Doesn’t that mean…”

“Exactly.”

Gao Wen nodded gravely, with a tone full of regret:

“Because the comet’s arrival date on Earth cannot be changed, the earliest possible time for humans to manufacture and use the Time Shuttle Machine is firmly locked.”

“If you really come from the year 2024 and can only return to 2024, then like I just said, it’s absolutely impossible for the Time Shuttle Machine to be manufactured in your time. The earliest time you could use the Time Shuttle Machine will be–”

“200 years later! In the year 2234.”