All human activities today are inseparable from energy.
From the current automated and intelligent manufacturing factories to the development of the moon and the solar system, to human beings themselves, all activities are inseparable from energy.
However, research on energy itself has never stopped.
A year ago, the energy used mainly came from fossil fuels, coal, oil, natural gas, etc., plus nuclear energy, solar energy, hydropower and other clean energy sources.
In terms of energy volume, solar energy accounts for the largest proportion. Even coal, oil, natural gas, hydraulic power, biomass energy, etc. can be said to be indirect, or secondary solar energy.
There are only energy sources such as nuclear energy that do not come from the sun.
Since the solar energy provided by the sun is so huge, humans have been studying how to use solar energy efficiently.
At the beginning, we tried every means to utilize solar energy on the earth, then to the solar power station, and finally to the light beam project.
Now, after the light pillar project matures, humans no longer worry about energy depletion in the solar system. As long as the sun does not burn out, humans will have a steady stream of energy.
According to the existing plan, the light pillar project is to be continuously optimized and the light pillar project will comprehensively cover the entire solar system, thereby forming a complete energy network so that humans can use the energy provided by the light pillar project anywhere in the solar system.
Relatively speaking, the core of the light pillar project is the sun, which only collects and transmits solar energy.
Once the sun goes out or goes out, the light beam project will lose its meaning.
To put it simply, the light pillar project is controllable, that is, the collection and transmission of solar energy are controllable, but the sun itself is uncontrollable.
From this point of view, this is intolerable to humans.
Now we are optimizing and improving the light column project, and we are also fully developing nuclear energy, including fission energy and fusion energy.
Relatively speaking, fission energy has developed very well, and now many backup energy sources are provided by fission nuclear power plants.
However, fission energy has a big flaw, that is, the nuclear fuel required for nuclear fission is not much compared to the entire universe, which makes it impossible to use fission energy on a large scale.
But fusion energy is different.
In the universe, every star that lights up is a huge fusion reactor.
To develop controllable nuclear fusion, to put it simply, we need to master the sun, or in other words, the star itself.
Then consider the proportions of hydrogen and helium in the universe.
It can be said that as long as humans master controllable nuclear fusion technology, humans will be able to break away from the constraints of the solar system and truly achieve energy freedom.
Generally speaking, what we are doing now is to optimize and improve the light column project, and then develop fission technology and controllable nuclear fusion technology.
You know, the light pillar project can be copied to other star systems.
For example, if humans reach Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the solar system, they can completely copy the light beam project so that the light beam project covers the entire Proxima Centauri and even the entire South Gate II.
In this way, the energy problem is solved.
Once the energy problem is solved, there will be a basis for solving other problems.
Simply put, the light pillar project can fully mobilize the energy generated by stars.
As for the development of fission energy and fusion energy, it means taking the initiative in energy and controlling the source of energy.
Speaking of which, the research on fission energy at this stage can be said to have just begun, and there are only a few fissile materials that can be controlled.
Compared with controllable nuclear fission technology, controllable nuclear fusion technology is even more unbearable.
So far, no controllable nuclear fusion technology has been successfully developed, let alone controllable fusion substances.
Whether it is fission energy or fusion energy, what it releases is the energy in the atomic nucleus, and what it obtains is the energy stored in the atomic nucleus.
The above is the acquisition of energy.
In addition to the study of methods and methods of energy acquisition, there is also the study of energy, or energy itself.
According to the current basic theory, energy does not appear or disappear out of thin air, but is only transferred in matter.
The question then arises, is there a certain pattern in the flow of energy?
Right now, there are many scientific research teams studying the flow of energy, but the progress is not obvious.
But it is certain that the study of the flow of energy involves the nature of the universe. Once the flow of energy is understood, it is not far from uncovering the nature of the universe.
In the underground planting area of Yuecheng, after Su Zhe and others discussed the energy issue for a while, the seven of them came to the bean sprout processing workshop.
After being collected, the bean sprouts undergo a series of steps such as cleaning, and are finally packaged into small portions.
The entire bean sprout processing process is fully automated, with no manual intervention at all.
Zhou Dashi pointed to the packaged bean sprouts and said, "These bean sprouts can be fried and eaten after washing."
There are not many bean sprouts harvested from one acre of land.
In the past, large-scale planting of bean sprouts on the moon was unimaginable.
If nothing else, its energy consumption is unbearable.
Compared with growing bean sprouts on earth, its cost performance is pitifully low.
For example, many people have said that planting on the earth and transporting it to the moon consumes less energy than planting on the moon.
That's it now.
With the light beam project, the amount of energy consumed is no longer a concern.
Fan Xiaoming nodded and said: "Looking at these sparkling bean sprouts, I really want to taste the taste of these bean sprouts."
Looking at these harvested bean sprouts, I feel very good.
Zuo Dajun asked Zhou Dashu, "Where will these bean sprouts flow to? Will people on the moon eat these bean sprouts?"
He still knows something about the underground planting area in Yuecheng.
In the planting area, in addition to related facilities, the initial seeds, land, water, air, etc. in the planting area are all created using the resources of the moon itself.
Zhou Dashi replied, "No, in the short term, crops and food not produced on the earth will not be eaten by humans. For the people on the moon now, everything they eat is transported from the earth. As for the bean sprouts produced, , part of it will be used for research, and most of it will be used to feed pigs. In fact, feeding pigs is also part of the research.”
Fan Xiaoming explained: “In a short period of time, we humans will not eat food that is not produced outside the earth. This requires long-term research. Only after the safety of food produced outside the earth is confirmed will it be promoted on a large scale. "
The environment outside the earth is different from that on the earth.
For example, gravity, radiation, etc.
These need to settle over time, and only after it is basically determined that these outputs are basically harmless will they be provided for human use.
The reason for this is that in the final analysis, human beings' current demand for food is relatively limited.
Right now, there are only so many people on Earth.
As the planet deindustrializes, grow agriculture.
Especially if we use the method of planting on the moon to plant on the earth, how much agricultural output will there be.
You must know that using the same method on the earth consumes far less energy than planting on the moon. The most important thing is that the output on the earth is "safe".
In other words, for a long time, the agricultural output on the earth will be enough to feed all humans.
Only when the human population explodes on a large scale will the earth's agricultural output become insufficient.
With this time, it is estimated that the agricultural output outside the earth will also be mature, and it can be eaten with confidence.
Bao Qizheng nodded and said: "This is also for the safety of us humans, but having said that, this is also because we are too cautious. The bean sprouts we planted are actually no different from the bean sprouts grown on the earth. Of course, There are still subtleties, and even if there is a problem with people eating it, with our current medical level, we are still capable of curing the person."
In his view, the main reason for being so cautious now is still a problem with people's concepts.
As far as the Yuecheng underground planting area is concerned.
Although land, water, and air all come from the moon itself, they have all gone through processes one after another. It is no exaggeration to say that every molecule and atom of these materials has been screened.
Remove the radioactive material from it.
According to theory, the land, water, and air in the planting area are not much different from those on the earth.
In other words, the crops grown are also safe.
But theories are theories, and no one really lets go immediately.
The main reason is that the current output of earth agriculture fully meets current needs, especially after breakthroughs in related technologies.
Zuo Dajun shook his head and said: "You can't say that. After all, these are not produced on the earth, and there are still risks. Anyway, the food output on the earth is completely enough now, and there is no rush to eat these. Take your time, anyway. We have enough time."
Zhou Dashi said: "Take it step by step. As long as the sun does not go out, we will have a steady stream of energy for us to squander. As time goes by, the relevant technology will mature, and gradually everyone will accept it."
It is difficult to make people accept food produced outside the earth for a while. After all, inherent opinions have been formed.
Let everyone accept that these outputs are either mandatory or change over time.
As for the former, if the general environment changes and the earth's output is not enough, then everyone will inevitably accept the output from outside the earth.
However, this is unlikely to happen.
With the current level of science and technology, no matter how bad the earth's environment is, it will not be worse than that of the moon, and its output will not be worse than that of the outer world.
Except for very special circumstances, that's all that's left artificial.
As it stands, no one will force people to eat these outputs.
The latter can only rely on time.
As time goes by, everyone's ideas change.
The group of people walked towards the breeding area while talking.
The breeding area and the planting area have the same structure. There are fifty floors in a space of five hundred meters up and down, and the area of each floor is also one hundred square kilometers.
The breeding area is relatively rich.
Chickens, ducks, geese, pigs and the like.
Bao Qizheng said: "That's right, we have the conditions to do this. In fact, after a period of time, people will slowly accept the output of extraterrestrial products. Besides, humans will step out of the earth and the solar system to face this day. It’s a matter of time, we can’t rely on the earth’s output even after humans reach Proxima Centauri. This is unrealistic.”
"It is certain that it will be accepted in the future, but it is not realistic to accept it in the short term. Just like artificial womb technology, it can only be used for the rapid reproduction of livestock. It will not work to increase the population. It is not technically impossible, but it is ethically unacceptable. Allowed." Zuo Dajun said.
He agreed with Bao Qizheng's statement.
For human development, it is only a matter of time before we take this step, but it requires a process.
Fan Xiaoming looked at the underground passage and said: "Actually, it's too early to say this now. Maybe we won't need to plant these crops or raise these meats in the future. With the development of science and technology, these will be manufactured directly in factories in the future. All kinds of ingredients can be made for you."
This situation is possible.
Just like flour.
The normal procedure is to grow wheat, wheat and then flour.
In this process, growing wheat is a relatively long process.
With the development of science and technology, flour can be produced directly in factories.
The factory can process water, carbon dioxide and other substances through a series of steps such as synthesis, and finally produce flour.
What is needed is nothing more than relevant synthesis technology, material raw materials, and energy.
The relevant synthesis technology is actually not difficult, as long as the wheat growth mechanism is analyzed and then industrialized.
As for resources, raw materials and energy, there is no shortage.
In other words, with relevant technologies, energy and raw materials, there will be an endless supply of food.
This is not his imagination, there are many scientific research teams working in this direction.
In his opinion, it will take less than a few years for such an industry to become large-scale.
Just like artificial meat of the past.
That's just artificial meat made from soy protein and some ingredients.
This is not the case, it can directly turn inorganic substances into food through a series of steps.
Xu Zhengping said: "Yes, this is a big direction. For example, artificial sugar, artificial protein, artificial fat amino acids, etc. are now available. It is estimated that large-scale food production will be possible in a while. Only these cultivation There’s no need for anything like that.”
This is said, but there is still a long way to go before it can be realized.
To put it bluntly, it is plant bionics.
Just like the entire mechanism of wheat growth.
After the entire mechanism is understood, large-scale production can be achieved.
Zuo Dajun nodded, "This... this is possible, but it will be more difficult for everyone to accept the food produced in this way."
"If there is any difficulty, it is just a matter of time." Bao Qizheng said, "It may be difficult for our generation to accept it, but the new generation will not think there is anything strange about these, whether it is food produced in traditional ways outside the earth. , or factory-produced food, it is not a problem for the new generation. Let me tell you, there are many things that we are not easy to accept now, but for the new generation, it may be normal. "
Society is developing and many things are changing.
What is unacceptable to modern people may be accepted by people in the future.
Modern people think that the food they eat should grow in the fields, or be raised. This is the modern view.
It won't be certain in the future. What we eat may be directly produced in the factory.
