Chapter 119: Dark Matter

"Dark matter?"

Hearing the term, Tian Wenyuan recalled the research conducted by CERN a few years prior. "Junior brother, are you talking about that thing they were studying at the European Organization for Nuclear Research?"

Zhang Mingyang nodded and replied, "Dark matter is an energy far more mysterious than antimatter. It accounts for over 90% of the matter in the universe, while the visible world we perceive makes up less than 10%. Dark matter cannot be observed directly, yet it can interfere with the light waves and gravitational pull emitted by celestial bodies."

Zhang Mingyang scratched his head, muttering, "How could I have forgotten about this?"

Tian Wenyuan, completely ignorant of these subjects, failed to grasp his meaning. "Junior brother, is dark matter the same thing as antimatter?"

Zhang Mingyang shook his head. "Not at all! The origins of the concepts of 'dark matter' and 'dark energy' can be traced back to the set of gravitational equations derived from Albert Einstein's General Theory of Relativity. The results of these equations predicted that the universe was in a state of perpetual motion, which contradicted Einstein's own belief in a static universe. To force the equations to describe a static state, Einstein introduced a term known as the 'cosmological constant'."

"Later, however, observations from space telescopes revealed that the universe is actually expanding, and the so-called 'cosmological constant' added by Einstein was subsequently forgotten."

"Research from the last few decades has shown that the expansion of the universe is not slowing down under the influence of its own gravity; rather, it is accelerating, driven by an invisible, inexplicable, and mysterious force."

"Therefore, scientists have deduced that our universe might be governed by a state of matter unknown to humanity. This 'matter' possesses properties, existence, and mechanisms entirely different from ordinary matter. Because it is fundamentally distinct from what we know, scientists have tentatively labeled it 'dark matter' and termed its effects 'dark energy'."

"Antimatter, on the other hand, is completely different from dark matter. Antimatter is the opposite state of normal matter. When matter and antimatter meet, they annihilate each other, resulting in an explosion that releases a tremendous amount of energy."

"Positrons and antiprotons are antiparticles. Compared to the electrons and protons we are familiar with, they have the same mass but opposite electrical charges. Scientists have hypothesized that there may exist matter in the universe composed entirely of antiparticles—that is, antimatter."

"The Large Hadron Collider at our base uses this very principle, accelerating proton beams to collide and produce antimatter."

Listening to the explanation, a thought occurred to Tian Wenyuan. "Junior brother, could that triangular object not be an artificial sun, but rather a device absorbing dark matter?"

Zhang Mingyang had considered this as well. "I've thought about that, Senior brother. But humanity doesn't even know what dark matter looks like, let alone how to capture it."

"If that triangular object is truly absorbing dark matter, what is its principle? How does it compress dark matter without letting it disperse? These are questions we would need to study. Besides, dark matter is still just a scientific hypothesis; we don't even know for sure if it exists."

"Sigh!"

Tian Wenyuan remembered the base's archives. "Junior brother, isn't there a design blueprint for a dark matter weapon left behind by Wang Huairen in the archives?"

At the mention of this, Zhang Mingyang grew even more puzzled. "That blueprint is completely useless! The base tried to build it back then, but without the core energy source, the weapon was nothing more than a paperweight. I still don't understand what Wang Huairen was thinking at the time. Why leave a design if there was no power source?"

"Fair point."

Tian Wenyuan recalled that most of the designs Wang Huairen left in the archives were purely conceptual and lacked any scientific basis. Why, then, had he left them behind?

"Forget it, let's not dwell on that for now."

Tian Wenyuan packed up his computer and prepared to leave. "Junior brother, get some rest. Once you're better, we'll study this together."

"Alright."

"I'm heading out. I need to return to headquarters."

With that, Tian Wenyuan slung his bag over his shoulder and left the room.

Once Tian Wenyuan was gone, silence returned to the room. "Might as well watch some TV."

Zhang Mingyang turned on the television to catch the latest news.

Midday News: "At 10:00 AM yesterday, an unusual sight appeared in the sky over the North Pole, drawing attention from all over the world. A black void appeared in the center of a white cloud, looking as if the Earth had been punctured. Looking up from below, one could see the cosmos through the gap. The phenomenon lasted for nearly half an hour before vanishing completely."

"Experts have explained that this is a mirage-like phenomenon caused by the refraction and total reflection of light. We urge the public not to be alarmed."

Looking at the photo of the 'black hole' on the screen, Zhang Mingyang leaned in closer. It really did look like a hole in the Earth. It was truly miraculous.

*Knock! Knock!*

Another knock at the door.

"Please, come in."

A beautiful nurse walked in with medicine. "Time for your meds!"

"Already?"

Zhang Mingyang glanced at the clock—4:00 PM. Why did time feel like it was moving faster now that he wasn't working?

He took the pills and swallowed them with water. "Nurse, could you ask the doctor for me how much longer I have to stay? If I keep staying here, my project will be over by the time I get out."

The nurse smiled and replied, "Wouldn't it be better if the project were over? Aren't you tired of working yourself to the bone every day? Why not take this time to get some rest?"

"It's not about being tired. Oh, please, Nurse, just ask for me."

Zhang Mingyang pestered her.

"Fine!"

Unable to resist his persistence, the nurse agreed. "But I'll tell you now, even if you know your discharge date, you won't be leaving any earlier."

"What? Why?"

"Your team leaders informed our director that you must be fully recovered before you can be discharged. Until then, you aren't even allowed to step outside the hospital gates."

"Damn it! Are you serious?"

This had to be Old Man Wang's doing. No way! I have to call him.

"Hey, where's my communicator?"

Zhang Mingyang began rummaging through his bed.

"Stop looking, it's with me!"

The nurse held up the communicator to show him.

"Why did you take it? Give it here."

As he moved to grab it, the gunshot wound on his chest flared with pain.

"Don't move!"

The nurse quickly helped him back down. "I didn't take your communicator; your leaders asked me to hold onto it. They told me to tell you to stop worrying about work and focus on recovering first."