Training the Heavens

Chapter 264 Marie Curie
This was a woman in her thirties, dressed simply and with a plump figure. She was very curious when she saw Zhang Xingjiu coming in. She seemed to have not expected that someone like her would appear in the library during the holidays, and that he was a yellow person.

"Zhang Xingjiu, from China, is a freshman in the Department of Physics who just enrolled this year." Zhang Xingjiu walked forward and stretched out his right hand.

"Marie Curie, from Poland, bachelor's degree in physics and mathematics, currently pursuing a doctorate in physics." She really gave the name that Zhang Xingjiu had in mind.

There was no way, this face was too familiar. Zhang Xingjiu had seen her portrait on the walls of high school and university corridors in many worlds. Now that he saw her in person, he could naturally recognize her.

If he had come last year, the name he would have been given would not have been this, but Marie Skłodowska, who had only just married Pierre Curie the previous year and had started using her husband's surname.

"It's an honor to meet you here. May I ask what field you are mainly researching now?" Zhang Xingjiu continued chatting with the doctor, feeling a little regretful.

Dr. Roentgen of Germany had discovered X-rays the previous year. Otherwise, he could have obtained radioactive materials through the Curies and snatched away this achievement, thus winning the first Nobel Prize.

"I am now mainly studying the radioactive phenomenon of uranium salts. I always feel that I can find new elements from them." Marie Curie did not hide her research.

You can chat with the couple in the future, but you must go to their laboratory less often. It is a life-threatening thing. Pierre Curie only lived to be 47 years old, and Marie Curie passed away at the age of 67. Both of their lifespans were shortened due to long-term exposure to radioactive elements.

"Finding new elements is a hot research field nowadays. I wish you good luck and hope you can achieve your goal soon." This reminded Zhang Xingjiu that there are still many elements that have not been discovered yet, and he can definitely take advantage of it.

This year, europium was discovered in Demargues, France.

In 1898, British chemists Ramsey and Rayleigh discovered neon, xenon and radon, and won the Nobel Prize in 1904.

In 1907, Welsberg of Austria and Urbain of France discovered lutetium from ytterbium soil.

Not to mention the contribution of the Curies. In fact, Becquerel also won the award together with them. They discovered polonium and radium while studying the radioactive phenomenon discovered by Becquerel.

"Thank you. Excuse me, how old are you this year? Did you study in France before?" Marie Curie was not sure about the age of the yellow man, but she felt that Zhang Xingjiu was particularly young.

"I'm sixteen years old. I used to study at a missionary school in Shanghai. Thanks to the school's recommendation and an article I wrote in Nature, I got the opportunity to study at the Sorbonne. I just started today."

Zhang Xingjiu was born in 1879 and has not celebrated his birthday yet, so it is not wrong to say that he is sixteen years old.

"You are really a genius, you were only sixteen. Oh no, if you count the time it took to submit the manuscript in Shanghai, did you publish your paper in Nature when you were only fifteen?" Marie Curie was very surprised.

The commotion here alarmed another reader in the library. A bearded man who looked to be in his late 40s came over and said, "Marie, can you introduce this new friend to me?" "This is Mr. Zhang Xingjiu from China. He published an article in Nature at the age of fifteen, and now he is our junior! This is Pierre, my husband, a doctor of physics, and also a professor of physics at the Sorbonne University." Marie looked at Pierre with sweet eyes. They had just gotten married and their relationship was at its best.

Zhang Xingjiu couldn't help but think of another physics giant, Lang Zhiwan, who would pursue a doctorate under Pierre's name a few years later. After Pierre's death, he had a story with Marie, and she was nicknamed the Polish slut.

"Oh, I remember now. Mr. Boulogne told me that this year the school will welcome a talented young man from the East. This will also be the first international student from China at the Sorbonne University. Welcome, you will definitely like this school!" Pierre stretched out his right hand.

"I have felt the enthusiasm of the Sorbonne University. Your handshake is much more sincere than those outside the school." Zhang Xingjiu said after shaking hands.

"Oh, I'm sorry, these prejudices are really stupid." Pierre understood what Zhang Xingjiu meant. Since he could marry a girl from Poland, it meant that he was not so prejudiced on racial issues.

After chatting for a few sentences, they talked about Zhang Xingjiu's paper. Zhang Xingjiu told them the issue in which the paper was published, and they quickly found the journal. The journal library of Sorbonne University is quite complete, and they have subscribed to more than one copy of such famous journals as "Nature".

When a new journal is published in London, several copies will appear in the library of the Sorbonne University within a week at most. This may be the reason why European science can explode in multiple countries at the same time. Geographical reasons make communication easier.

Today's scientific field is in a transition period from generalists to specialists. Many physicists also have a good foundation in mathematics. Mary has a bachelor's degree in mathematics, and Pierre also has a good foundation in mathematics. Both of them roughly understood Zhang Xingjiu's paper.

"To be honest, it's not easy for me to fully understand this paper. It's really amazing that he can write such an article when other people are still in middle school." It's because they can understand it that they realize how amazing Zhang Xingjiu is.

"It's nothing. Galois and Abel had already made more remarkable achievements when they were my age." Zhang Xingjiu said modestly.

"Abel published his first paper at the age of nineteen, and Galois had not yet formally started studying mathematics when he was your age!" Pierre was equally clear about the experiences of these two people.

Seeing that they were getting more and more interested in their conversation, Mary had to interrupt them. "Gentlemen, the administrator has already seen us several times. Even on vacation, it seems a bit inappropriate for us to chat in the library like this. Why don't we go out and find a place to chat over coffee?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Pierre and Zhang Xingjiu quickly nodded to the administrator.

Then Zhang Xingjiu went to get some recent journals and magazines, completed the registration, and went out with the Curies.

The French really love coffee. Even during holidays, there is a cafe open on campus. Pierre ordered a cup of coffee for Zhang Xingjiu and a few pastries. "The Napoleon pastry in this cafe is the best in the whole school. You should try it."

In this way, Zhang Xingjiu met two friends on the first day of school.

(End of this chapter)