章 68: Chapter 68: The Jianmu Project
Ella received the news over a decade later.
After conquering Gliese 581, she did not rush the fleet to attack but instead took several decades to consolidate and integrate the new civilization into the Civilization Federation.
This was a necessary step for Yan Xia, who wanted a tightly-knit civilization structure rather than loose colonies.
Meanwhile, in Tau Ceti, Ella was working on another project.
This project was called the "Jianmu Project," or the "World Tree Project."
In Eastern and Western mythology, both trees were believed to connect heaven and earth, and the most important word was "giant."
The Jianmu Project was not Ella's idea but Yan Xia's suggestion.
Yan Xia had been contemplating how to create a habitat for the interstellar life forms in space, as the vast universe would make it impossible for these life forms to travel from one star system to another, even with lifespans extended to millions or billions of years.
They were not created as zoo exhibits but for their genes.
So, Yan Xia proposed a plan to cultivate plants in space.
These plants would take root on a dwarf planet, absorbing radiation and elements from the dwarf planet to grow. Due to the extreme cold in space, they would require heat during their initial growth, and once mature, they would form an insulating layer with their dead outer skin while continuing to grow and expand the outer shell.
Why dwarf planets?
Because they are large enough, and the high pressure inside may provide the necessary heat for these plants to grow.
Upon reaching maturity, these trees would absorb all the absorbable matter from the dwarf planet, growing to a height of 500,000 to 1 million meters.
At this point, the tree's massive size would create high temperature and pressure inside, ensuring stable growth.
Even after death, these trees would be frozen by the cold of space, becoming evergreens.
In reality, achieving this was not difficult.
Initially, Ella estimated a 0.0014% survival rate for these trees, and a 0.00067% maturity rate, making the overall probability minuscule.
However, with slight modifications, the survival rate could be increased to around 5%.
The solution was to use advanced technology to assist in the initial cultivation, rather than letting the plants grow passively in space.
After the first generation, technology could gradually be withdrawn, allowing the plants to adapt to the space environment. After 20 to 30 million years, the plan could be realized as Yan Xia envisioned.
Life is resilient, but the universe is not gentle.
After the initial construction of the capital in Tau Ceti, Ella shifted her focus to this project.
She cultivated a giant tree attached to an asteroid.
This tree's cells could grow at the optimal rate with sufficient nitrogen, hydrogen, helium, and oxygen.
During its seedling stage, it could grow 1710 tons per day, entering the growth stage after 40 years, growing 33,800 tons per day, and reaching maturity after 1300 years, growing 2.1 million tons per day.
Its lifespan depended on the resources available on the asteroid or dwarf planet. If resources were abundant, the tree could grow indefinitely, like cancer cells, until it was destroyed by the extreme pressure of its own mass.
The cells of this giant tree were based on Ella's research on cancer cells, and they would continue to grow as long as there were resources, pushing the limits of gravity.
The mass of this tree was approximately 400 billion tons, equivalent to a height of 600 kilometers. In theory, a dwarf planet of this size could support the growth of the Jianmu to its maximum potential.
The first Jianmu cultivated by Ella resembled a banyan tree, with a trunk diameter of 147 meters and a height of over 1890 meters. This giant tree had just transitioned from the seedling stage to the growth stage.
The tree had many aerial roots, each two meters thick, with small holes that secreted solid gas. Some of this gas would dissipate into space, while the rest would remain attached to the aerial roots, waiting to be harvested by living beings.
Upon reaching maturity, the Jianmu would also bear fruit, each fruit 400 to 500 meters in diameter. These fruits did not contain seeds, as the seeds were grown in separate pods. When the seeds were mature, they would be shot out by air pressure, flying into the vastness of space.
Upon colliding with an asteroid, dwarf planet, or planet, these seeds would germinate if the temperature conditions were suitable.
Each seed was the size of a thumb, and a tree would produce millions of seeds every 30 years.
"Not bad, not bad!"
Yan Xia had been observing this tree for over a hundred years.
The tree met his expectations, and he even wished to create an ecosystem on this tree, making it even more mythical.
"We are creating a myth."
There is a saying that science leads to theology.
Yan Xia somewhat agreed, but the theology he referred to was not the kind that babbled about gods. Instead, he used science to create miracles.
These miracles, in the past, could be called divine!
"Actually, it's difficult for these trees to meet the natural growth requirements, Yan Xia!"
Ella reminded the excited Yan Xia that they might have created a fleeting wonder.
"Who knows? Ella, the possibilities in the universe are endless."
"By being created, it already has the potential to transform the universe into a real forest."
This anticipation was Yan Xia's source of joy.
Yan Xia realized that living too long could become dull, as the world could not continuously produce new things. Eventually, everything would be experienced, leading to a state of wisdom and detachment.
Time dulls everything, including once-loved and cherished things.
Yan Xia was actively seeking new sources of joy.
"I want to live for a few decades this time, like a student or a professor."
"The developing civilizations may bring us some excitement."
"How about joining the Interstellar Explorers Association?" Ella suggested.
"There, something new happens every day."
"Perhaps, there may be a historical figure in our civilization who will propel the entire civilization forward at some point."
"We are like stars, shining brilliantly."
Yan Xia agreed, as living was not just about relaxation but also about understanding the needs of the lower classes in the Civilization Federation.
A qualified leader should not only focus on development but also ensure the health of the entire civilization, both physically and mentally.
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