Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

The next morning, Fang Xu, sporting panda eyes, pushed open the laboratory door early in the morning.

Looking at the busy researchers in the laboratory, Fang Xu's eyes showed a hint of confusion.

What about Lü Yongchang?

He quickly grabbed a passing researcher and asked, "Where...where did Lü Yongchang go?"

The researcher looked surprised and then pointed to the depths of the laboratory.

"Professor Lü arrived a while ago; he was already busy in the lab when we got here!"

It's unclear when exactly, but Lü Yongchang began to be referred to as "Professor Lü" by these researchers.

Fang Xu was too lazy to correct the way they addressed each other.

After all, having witnessed Lü Yongchang's skillful and confident research methods, not only these researchers, but even Fang Xu felt a sense of admiration from the bottom of his heart!

If he hadn't known Lü Yongchang's true identity, he probably would have mistaken him for a senior professor!

After pulling himself out of his reverie, Fang Xu quickly turned to look at the clock on the wall.

6: 45.

He clicked his tongue in amazement.

Indeed, no one's success is accidental.

Fang Xu sighed inwardly as he quickened his pace toward the depths of the laboratory.

……

Perhaps hearing the approaching footsteps, Lü Yongchang shifted his gaze from the apparatus in front of the experimental table.

He was taken aback when he saw the dark circles under Fang Xu's eyes.

What's wrong with you?

Fang Xu waved his hand with a smile, saying nonchalantly, "Hey! It's nothing! I just had a little trouble sleeping last night!"

"Why don't you... go and rest for a while?" Lü Yongchang said with concern. "Anyway, there's not much to do today. We just need to test the superconducting properties of carbon nanotubes."

A flicker of excitement flashed in Fang Xu's eyes, and he immediately blurted out, "Rest my ass! These dark circles under my eyes are from staying up all night because of this, and you want me to rest?!"

"Where's the wire? Let me see!"

Seeing Academician Fang's excited expression, Lü Yongchang couldn't help but chuckle.

He turned to the side, making way for the equipment on the lab table.

A glass dome with a diameter of 30 centimeters.

Fang Xu quickly stepped forward and came to the glass cover.

Through the glass cover, he could clearly see a black wire about ten centimeters long connected to two metal probes.

The wire is very thin.

To the naked eye, it is almost the same size as a strand of hair.

Fang Xu reached out, curled his fingers, and gently tapped the glass cover: "Is this... a vacuum?"

Lu Yongchang shook his head in denial, saying, "Of course not. It's just a small cleanroom right now. You wouldn't want some dust to affect the experimental results, would you?"

But he quickly added, "To be precise, it's not a vacuum environment yet."

As he spoke, Lü Yongchang pointed to the vacuum pumping equipment next to him.

Fang Xu raised an eyebrow slightly.

This sentence contains a lot of information.

"Could it be... that this material can achieve superconductivity even in a vacuum?!"

Lu Yongchang reached out and took a sheet of A4 paper covered with writing from the lab table, and handed it to Fang Xu: "According to my calculations, superconducting wires made of carbon nanotubes are extremely stable, with a normal operating temperature range between -50 degrees Celsius and 80 degrees Celsius."

Fang Xu's eyes lit up suddenly, and he quickly asked, "What about the air pressure?"

"Within two standard atmospheres."

"hiss!"

Upon hearing Lü Yongchang's answer, Fang Xu gasped sharply.

Good guy!

If Lü Yongchang's calculations are correct, then these superconducting wires made of carbon nanotubes could be used in almost any corner of the earth!

Even in the extremely high pressure of the deep sea, all that is needed is to install a section of pressure-resistant pipe!

This also means that the power industry in Xia Kingdom will undergo earth-shattering changes!

"Yongchang...do you know what you've done?"

Thinking about the series of changes that would happen in the future, Fang Xu stood there blankly, muttering to himself.

A smile appeared at the corner of Lü Yongchang's eyes, but he didn't say anything.

He knew perfectly well what this wire meant!

Although these technologies are somewhat advanced for Xia Kingdom now, they are far from enough to cope with future disasters!

After admiring the carbon nanotube wires on the lab bench, Fang Xu said solemnly, "Let's begin the test!"

……

Upon learning that the first test of the room-temperature superconducting coil was about to begin, all the researchers in the laboratory put down their unfinished research tasks and gathered around Lü Yongchang.

This is a chance to witness history!

No one would want to miss such an opportunity!

Lu Yongchang swallowed hard, carefully reached out, and connected the metal probes at both ends of the wire to the testing instrument.

Although he was very confident in the materials he used, but...

In materials science, who can say for sure?

Perhaps there was an accident during the manufacturing process that caused the tilt angle of the carbon nanotubes to change by 1°, or perhaps there was some other reason...

It can be said that if even the slightest mistake occurs, the manufacturing of this room-temperature superconducting material will be considered a failure!

While his mind wandered, he turned on the switch for the testing instrument.

Power on!

A number appeared on the screen of the testing instrument.

Resistance value: 0 Ω!

It worked!

A hint of excitement flashed in Lü Yongchang's eyes.

"Increase the current!"

Fang Xu's excited voice came from the side.

Lü Yongchang immediately turned the knob to slowly increase the current.

When they saw the resistance value on the instrument screen remain perfectly unchanged, all the researchers in the laboratory let out a soft gasp of surprise.

Unlike the researchers around him, Lü Yongchang's expression remained very solemn.

The test is not over yet.

He also needs to test the material's performance in low-pressure environments!

Lu Yongchang winked at Fang Xu, who was standing to the side.

Fang Xu nodded slightly and turned on the vacuum pump next to him.

With a low humming sound, the air inside the glass enclosure was gradually drawn out.

As the barometer readings slowly decreased, even Lü Yongchang broke out in a cold sweat.

It's important to know that superconducting materials react extremely violently to environmental changes!

In the past, superconducting materials would lose their superconducting effect if there was even a slight change in temperature or pressure!

Under the influence of such a powerful current, once the superconducting effect of the wire disappears, even if the resistance value is very small, it will instantly generate extremely powerful heat.

The consequence, naturally, was that this currently unique room-temperature superconducting wire would melt and break!

Several tens of seconds later.

Looking at the calm resistance curve on the test instrument screen, Lü Yongchang finally broke into a bright smile.

He gently wiped the sweat from his forehead, raised his right hand high, and shouted, "I did it!"

"We did it!"

Fang Xu, his face beaming with excitement, shut down one instrument after another, then rushed to Lü Yongchang's side and patted him hard on the shoulder: "Well done!"

"We have room-temperature superconducting technology, Academician Fang. We should start preparing for the modification of the stellarator!" Lü Yongchang quickly snapped out of his elation and said in a deep voice.

Fang Xu nodded excitedly.

"I'll go and inform the lab staff right away; we'll begin modifying the stellarator this afternoon!"