1900: A physics genius wandering around Europe

Chapter 490: Sky Eye Telescope, Insight into Space and Time! Physics and Astronomy are the Universe! Grand Ambition!
1922 2 Month 15 Day.

Astronomers from dozens of countries around the world gathered in Rome to attend the first plenary meeting of the International Astronomical Union.

This is not only the highest-level conference in the astronomical community, but also a feast in the field of science.

For a moment, the whole of Rome was in an atmosphere of joy and celebration.

This conference allowed everyone to appreciate the stunning charm of this thousand-year-old city.

The meeting was held at the National Museum of Rome.

This museum is located in the center of Rome.

It displays the history and culture of Rome from prehistoric times to the Roman Empire.

A large number of precious cultural relics and restored scenes can help people understand the development process of Roman civilization.

The Italian officials chose this place as the venue for the meeting for the purpose of showing off and publicity.

There is also a huge conference room in the museum, which can accommodate hundreds of astronomers.

Not far from the museum is one of the most luxurious hotels in Rome, the Hassler Hotel.

Li Qiwei and Gao Lu and others who came from China stayed here.

And the day before, Yu Qingsong arrived in Rome with Hubble and others.

Thus, all the Chinese delegations were present.

8am, at the hotel entrance.

Li Qiwei led everyone on foot from the hotel to the meeting place, chatting as they walked.

There was a smile on everyone's face.

Gao Lu said excitedly:
"Qiwi, we have received the telescope from the American Astronomical Society."

"This really solves the urgent need for domestic astronomical research."

Ridgway's previous trip to the United States made the debate of the century famous.

At the same time, it also greatly promoted the strength of American astronomy.

Reciprocity and social etiquette.

The American Astronomical Society donated a batch of brand new telescopes to China.

These telescopes are mid-range in the United States and are far from comparable to those at the Mount Wilson Observatory.

But for China, these telescopes are definitely high-tech equipment.

After Gao Lu and others got it, they treated it like a treasure, rubbing it constantly and couldn't let it go.

"Oh my god, how can the stars be so bright when I look at them through this telescope?"

"Oh my god! I can even see the surface of the moon clearly."

"It's full of potholes. As expected, there are no Chang'e and Jade Rabbit."

Li Qiwei became interested and asked with a smile:

"Oh?"

"It seems that Professor Haier and his colleagues are quite considerate."

"What is the diameter of the telescope sent by the United States?"

Gao Lu made a gesture with his right hand and said enviously:
"Three of the best ones were given, with a caliber of 80 centimeters."

"The Americans are so rich!"

"A telescope of this level is very difficult to make, so I'll give it to you as a gift."

The glass and metal needed for telescopes cannot be achieved by ordinary craftsmanship.

With the current technological level in China, even with the support of Li Qiwei's company's technology.

For now, we are still powerless to deal with such high-end materials.

However, Li Qiwei curled his lips after hearing this.

"I thought you could give me a 5-foot-tall one."

Gao Lu and others smiled bitterly when they heard this.

They thought Professor Li had too big an appetite.

There are probably not many such high-end telescopes in the United States, so how could they be given as gifts?

At this time, Li Qiwei said domineeringly:
"Don't worry."

"In a dozen years, I will build you a 20-meter telescope, which will far exceed the 2-meter telescope in the United States."

Gao Lu and others were shocked.

Oh my god!
20-meter caliber, isn’t that too exaggerated?

How big is this telescope?

Chang Fuyuan and Jiang Bingran gasped.

"My goodness, with such a large caliber, how far can you see?"

"This is not much different from Erlang Shen's Heavenly Eye in mythology."

"Just glance up at the sky and you'll find the latest results."

Yu Qingsong is about to graduate from the University of Pittsburgh this year.

On Ridgway's recommendation, he would go to Mount Wilson Observatory to pursue his doctorate under the guidance of Hale.

After graduating with a doctorate, he immediately returned to China and started his astronomy career in the country.

Gao Lu has high hopes for him.

He pushed his glasses and analyzed carefully:

"For a telescope of this size, I'm afraid the lens can only be made of polished metal."

"It should be impossible for glass craftsmanship to produce a glass that large and still remain flat."

Chang and Jiang were both amazed that Yu Qingsong's current level had already surpassed them.

Gao Lu nodded and said:

"Yes."

"Glass is too expensive to use. If there is even one flaw, the mirror will be ruined."

"And the technology for large-area metal polishing is relatively mature."

"Of course, it is still unimaginably difficult to build a 20-meter caliber."

Li Qiwei listened to the discussion and smiled slightly.

The caliber of only 20 meters frightened them.

In later generations, China's "Sky Eye" radio telescope had an incredible diameter of 500 meters.

What is this concept?
It’s as big as 30 football fields!
A telescope with such a large aperture can receive even the weakest electromagnetic waves.

Any disturbance in the universe cannot escape the observation of the sky's eyes.

It is no exaggeration to say that it provides insight into the long river of time.

Therefore, the goals of the Sky Eye Telescope are to explore the origin and evolution of the universe and to search for aliens.

Everyone imagined the future of Chinese literature along the way and soon arrived at the entrance of the Roman National Museum.

At this moment, the scene was packed with people.

When Li Qiwei and his group appeared, they immediately became the focus of the audience.

Augusto, president of the Italian Astronomical Society, looked surprised and stepped forward quickly.

Although the Italian Astronomical Society was established only a few years ago, its predecessor, the Italian Association of Spectroscopists, was established very early.

As the name suggests, the Society of Spectroscopists actually studies stellar spectra.

It can only be considered a branch of astronomy.

This is the helplessness of small countries. There is simply not enough soil to cultivate scientists in all fields.

With the establishment of the International Astronomical Union, in order to keep pace with the international community, the Italian Society of Spectroscopists naturally changed to the Astronomical Society.

Augusto was an Italian physicist and astronomer, and the first president.

He is just 40 years old this year, and his academic level can only be considered average internationally.

But today, as the host country, it is normal for Italy to come forward to receive the astronomical experts who have come from afar.

Seeing his idol, Li Qiwei, Augusto said excitedly:
"Professor Bruce, you are finally here!"

“The speech at the University of Rome was so wonderful!”

"I think all the teachers and students in Italy are probably waiting for your answer."

"Today's meeting will surely attract the world's attention."

After being complimented, Li Qiwei smiled happily.

“Thank you for your country’s support for the Astronomy Congress.”

Then, accompanied by Augusto, Li Qiwei entered the museum.

Since the meeting started at 9 o'clock, everyone still had time to visit the various cultural relics in the museum.

As soon as Li Qiwei came in, he was pulled over by Haier, Dyson and other big guys, leaving Gao Lu and others to make their own arrangements.

Looking at the dazzling array of bizarre Roman artifacts in front of him, Gao Lu said with emotion:

"The period from the monarchy to the empire in ancient Rome roughly corresponds to the period from the Spring and Autumn Period to the Han Dynasty in China."

"Looking at the craftsmanship of these cultural relics, you can see how far ahead of the world China was at that time."

Yu Qingsong and others nodded in unison.

This place is said to be home to the brilliant cultural relics of ancient Rome, but compared with China of the same period, the difference is like heaven and earth.

The Spring and Autumn Period was a peak period in the history of Chinese thought and even in the history of world thought!
Yu Qingsong said:
“But once Westerners mastered the power of science and technology, they advanced too fast.”

"It is extremely difficult for China to transform, and the Qing Dynasty's ideological restrictions have made things even worse."

"If Professor Li hadn't come out of nowhere, I really can't imagine what the current situation in China's scientific field would be like."

Several people have the answer in their hearts.

"At least for today's meeting, Huaxia is not qualified to participate at all."

Soon, following a reminder, everyone stopped visiting and walked towards the conference hall.

9 am, inside the National Museum in Rome, Italy.

The first plenary session of the International Astronomical Union officially begins.

There was order in the conference hall with hundreds of people.

The participants wore finely tailored tuxedos, held papers and pens, and looked focused and solemn.

Sitting in the front row were Li Qiwei, Hai Er and other big guys.

Everyone's face was filled with anticipation.

Augusto served as host.

As it was his first time presiding over such a high-level meeting, he seemed a little nervous.

There is no humorous style, but the content is announced in a very formal manner.

“According to the resolution of the Executive Committee, the process of this meeting is arranged as follows:”

“The first day is for academic exchange activities.”

"We have invited a total of 10 scholar representatives to serve as sharing guests at the conference."

"Due to time constraints, please limit each person's report to less than half an hour."

"The next day we will hold the federation's re-election and group discussions."

"The discussion was mainly about the selection of personnel for various positions in the Federation."

“At the same time, we will discuss the establishment of various professional groups.”

"According to the proposal of the Executive Committee, the International Astronomical Union will have several professional groups."

"For example, star groups, galaxy groups, surveying groups, and so on."

"Please discuss the specific contents in detail the next day."

“The advantage of grouping is that we can hold several special discussions and seminars in the future.”

“And the triennial conference mainly discusses the overall development of the federation.”

Wow!
There was an exclamation from the audience.

The proposal to divide the federation into groups is absolutely correct.

Today, the scope of astronomy research is very broad.

It's hard to find such a super all-rounder again.

Those who study stars may not understand comets and planets.

Those who study the spectrum will not go deep into the movement of galaxies, etc.

Therefore, the establishment of a professional group is very necessary.

Otherwise, in the future, we can't gather all astronomers to hold a meeting to discuss a stellar issue.

This is a huge waste of resources.

Everyone seemed to have seen the booming future of astronomy.

Finally, Augusto said:

"Now, please welcome Professor Bruce, President of the International Astronomical Union, to give the opening speech."

There was a steady and grand applause in the meeting hall.

Li Qiwei walked onto the stage under the gaze of everyone.

“I believe many people have heard the news.”

"That's right. At this conference, I will resign as president of the International Astronomical Union."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a slight murmur from the audience.

Apparently, the news had already spread.

So people wouldn't be so shocked.

Besides, it is only a matter of time.

Professor Bruce still has to solve the ultimate problem in physics.

"However, this does not mean that I will quit the study of astronomy."

"With the rapid development of quantum theory and relativity, I gradually had a hunch."

“I think that in the near future, the forefront of astronomy and the forefront of physics are likely to merge into one.”

"Many years ago, I told Hubble that we could consider combining astronomy and physics."

"Later, general relativity and nuclear fusion both proved my conjecture."

"But this is not enough."

"The universe is made up of space, time and matter."

“Its ultimate secret must also be hidden in time, space and matter.”

"Relativity currently only describes the nature of space and time."

"But we know very little about the nature of matter."

“That’s the realm of quantum theory.”

"How can protons, neutrons, and electrons, which are so tiny, make up the vast universe?"

“There must be a deeper truth to this.”

"My goal is to build a bridge between astronomy and physics research."

“When the ultimate truth of physics is realized, the secrets of the universe in astronomy will be revealed.”

"That day will definitely not be too long!"

“Physics and astronomy are the universe!”

boom!
The short speech was so thought-provoking that it made the venue boil.

At this moment, everyone understood Professor Bruce's grand ambition.

The big guys said excitedly:

"Professor Bruce stepped down as president of the federation not to evade responsibility, but to take on greater responsibilities."

"He actually wants to unify astronomy and physics!"

“What an ambitious ambition!”

"Physics and astronomy are the universe! This sentence is so shocking!"

All the astronomers present were deeply touched by the last sentence.

The core theories of astronomy are based on physics.

Therefore, many people regard it as a branch of physics.

But this is not the case, the two are subjects of the same level.

Even if we follow what Professor Bruce means, there is only one discipline in the world.

That is: cosmology!
Astronomy and physics are both branches of cosmology.

Their ultimate goal is to explore the mysteries of the universe.

In the Chinese words, there are three thousand roads, but they all lead to the same destination.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the venue was pushed to a climax.

Everyone looked at Professor Bruce enthusiastically.

The man's means of bewitching people are truly horrible.

Just a few words can make people scream with excitement.

He vindicated astronomy!
Astronomers are not fortune tellers who only look at the stars.

Like physicists, they study the ultimate truth.

And from today, astronomy will enter a new future!
(End of this chapter)