NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 23: The Public Opinion Gradually Grows
The next day.
Before anyone noticed, a piece of news quietly made it to the front page of the newspaper.
"Xia Country's Controlled Nuclear Fusion Experimental Reactor Plan Officially Launches Today!"
Of course, without any surprise, this news also made it to the top - search list on Weibo.
For a while, it attracted countless netizens' comments.
"What? The controlled nuclear fusion experimental reactor plan is officially launched just like that?"
"I remember the ignition was just successful a few days ago, right? Isn't this progress too fast?"
"Can an expert come and explain what this news really means?"
"Here comes the explanation. A successful ignition only means that Xia Country can ignite nuclear fusion in the controlled nuclear fusion device. There is still a long way to go before truly mastering controlled nuclear fusion. The current experimental reactor is the real start of researching controlled nuclear fusion."
"So that's how it is... But this is still really fast. I hope Xia Country can give ITER a big slap in the face and be the first to develop controlled nuclear fusion!"
"I think it's unlikely. I heard that the controlled nuclear fusion technology at ITER is almost mature. Kicking Xia Country out at this time, everyone should understand the reason."
"..."
At the same time, an article appeared on Zhihu.
"Useless Efforts! A Stellarator Can Never Achieve Controlled Nuclear Fusion!"
As time went by, the influence of this article gradually began to spread.
Reposts, likes, shares...
The power of the Internet is extremely huge.
In just over ten hours, the popularity of this article shot straight to the top of the Weibo hot - search list!
...
After coming back from Councillor Li's place, Lü Yongchang didn't rest at all. Instead, he turned around and entered the nuclear physics laboratory of Sandaokou University.
He needed to start the second controlled nuclear fusion experiment as soon as possible.
Only when long - term controlled nuclear fusion is truly achieved in the stellarator can he propose to Councillor Li to build a fusion demonstration reactor!
"What the hell is this!"
"I'm so angry!"
Just as Lü Yongchang was hunched over the desk, studying various data collected from the first ignition, the office door was pushed open with a bang, and Fang Xu's angry voice came from the door.
Looking at Fang Xu's flushed face, Lü Yongchang was stunned for a moment. He immediately put down the pen in his hand and asked, "What's wrong?
"Did some researcher make a mistake with the data again?"
Hearing Lü Yongchang's question, Fang Xu shook his head repeatedly. Then he took out his phone from his pocket, unlocked the screen, and placed it in front of Lü Yongchang. "Look at what they're saying online!"
"I'm really pissed off! All kinds of clowns can come out and say a few words these days!"
A hint of confusion appeared in Lü Yongchang's eyes. He looked at the phone screen on the table curiously.
Seeing the familiar interface, he couldn't help but laugh.
"Yo! Academician Fang, you even browse Zhihu!"
Fang Xu gave Lü Yongchang an annoyed look. "What nonsense. I don't browse that. This is a link sent to me by a friend!"
Lü Yongchang shook his head with a smile and reached out to scroll the screen.
"Useless Efforts! A Stellarator Can Never Achieve Controlled Nuclear Fusion!"
The moment he saw the title, his eyebrows twitched slightly, and his expression became more serious.
The article wasn't very long, just a few hundred words.
However, the content was a bit harsh.
The first half of the article objectively described the differences between the stellarator and the Tokamak device, "emphasizing" that the stellarator was a device abandoned by Western countries.
Seeing this, Lü Yongchang looked up at Fang Xu in surprise. "This... What's wrong with this?
"Doesn't it seem to be written quite well?
"These are all facts, aren't they?"
Fang Xu let out a deep sigh. "Keep reading."
Lü Yongchang looked at Fang Xu suspiciously, then scrolled the screen down again.
Gradually, he realized the problem.
Just looking at the first half, this article was a proper popular - science article.
But in the second half, its stance was a bit off.
First of all, the article mentioned that the Tokamak device of ITER could sustain a fusion reaction for up to 26 minutes, highlighting the "defects" of the stellarator.
After all, in the first ignition experiment, the stellarator only carried out a fusion reaction for about two minutes.
Secondly, the article even directly stated the research funds that Sandaokou University obtained for this stellarator project - a full one billion yuan!
At the end of the article, the author used extremely intense language to criticize the nuclear physics laboratory of Sandaokou University.
Money - grabbing, vainglorious, wasting the public resources of Xia Country...
It almost made Sandaokou University and the nuclear physics laboratory seem worthless!
"See? I don't even know who this author is. If I find out, I'll definitely..."
Fang Xu's teeth - gnashing voice came from the side.
Unlike Fang Xu's reaction, Lü Yongchang casually closed the web page and returned the phone to Fang Xu.
Seeing Lü Yongchang's reaction, Fang Xu's emotions seemed to get stuck.
He took his phone back in confusion. "Yongchang, aren't you angry?"
In his opinion, this article was almost like cursing them to their faces!
As an academician of the Academy of Sciences, Fang Xu asked himself that he really couldn't swallow this anger!
He thought that as the chief engineer of the controlled nuclear fusion project, Lü Yongchang would be even angrier!
But... the reality slapped Fang Xu in the face.
Lü Yongchang chuckled and slowly shook his head.
"It's just some confusing ideas posted by an Internet big - V. There's no need to get angry.
"What, are we going to put down our work and go online to write an article to refute it?"
Fang Xu was momentarily at a loss for words.
As Lü Yongchang looked down at the data materials on the table, he said casually, "We're scientists. We don't need to care about these momentary glories and humiliations.
"I believe that as long as we successfully operate controlled nuclear fusion on the stellarator, these so - called rumors will naturally disappear.
"Don't forget what controlled nuclear fusion means to Xia Country."
After saying that, Lü Yongchang focused all his attention on the materials in front of him.
As for Fang Xu, he stood there in a daze with a complicated expression.
He never expected that at over forty years old, he wasn't as insightful as a young man in his early twenties!
Controlled nuclear fusion wasn't a matter of personal honor or disgrace.
This was a battle for national fortune that hadn't been seen in a hundred years!
...
Although Lü Yongchang put this matter aside, Jiang Yongxing, the dean of the School of Nuclear Physics at Sandaokou University, couldn't let it go.
After all, this was slander against Sandaokou University!
He reported the whole thing to Minister Hong Qiming immediately.
"嘶..."
"Okay, I see. I'll send someone to look into this carefully."
Hong Qiming's solemn voice came through the phone.