Anwesha walked into the lab just
like every day. She had just completed her new thesis and was just waiting for
some of the additional formalisms to be carried out. She started going through
her thesis and was trying to figure out any advanced modules she can take up to
improvise. Just then, she received an anonymous call. The caller turned out
to be Dr. Ihan Paul, the pioneer of Geology and Extra Terrestrial Sciences.
Anwesha couldn’t believe that she is talking with “The Ihan Paul”. Dr. Ihan informed her that
he has discovered a new project and he needs Dr. Anwesha to assist him with the
project. But when Anwesha asked about the project, he told that he can’t tell
her without her confirmative nod to assist him. Anwesha took
no time to say yes for the project. After all, it is Dr. Ihan! Dr. Ihan asked
her to meet him at his lab the next day at 9:30 in the morning. Anwesha was
really happy but she pondered that why Dr. Ihan called only her. There are many
radio biologists but why her! And what could be so secretive about that
project.
Anwesha was one of the brightest
radio biologists but she was humble enough to acknowledge the fact. She loved
following her regime strictly and was never over possessed. But she was extra
sincere. There were issues that boggled her mind now and then, and she tried to
devise steps towards them. A girl with a clear vision, she is sufficient for
herself.
The next day, Anwesha woke up
with a look into the day ahead of her. She wanted to apprehend what was waiting
for her but she rarely had apprehensions. It was a fine morning. The e-walls
showed a temperature of 42 degrees and the visibility hour for the sun to be 5
hrs. That was a great sign to start a new day. She took in her nutrition
capsules and checked her nutrition levels. She reached Dr. Ihan’s lab at 9:20 am.
She saw some researchers busy working there. They are perhaps Dr. Ihan’s team.
She saw Dr. Terra in the waiting area. Dr. Terra and she had both worked together
for a common project in the past. Dr. Terra was one of the most amazing chemical
researchers she has ever met. She moved to the waiting area. Dr. Terra and
she exchanged formal greetings. She came to know that Dr. Terra was also
invited by Dr. Ihan for some project, maybe it’s the same project she is
invited for. Dr. Ihan walked in, sharp at 9:30. He welcomed them both and
invited them to his cabin.
“Thank you both for coming here.
It’s about a project that was discovered just yesterday. And that’s why I need
your help.”Dr. Ihan said. “But why us?” asked Anwesha. Dr. Ihan replied, “Well,
you two are the most eminent and dedicated researchers in your respective
fields and both support the cause for reviving the resources our earth had in
abundance before.” “So is this about this?” asked Dr. Terra. “Partially yes”,
replied Dr. Ihan, and said “let me talk about the project. You both know that
the petroleum that was once available abundantly is now scarce and it’s going
to finish in just a year from now. The thing that was once available just by
paying money is now a luxury available to the petro card holders; even they can access only two litres a year. The fellows at the UNO want us to find a
substitute for the petroleum within the next 10 months and I am afraid no significant work
has been done till now.” “So, are we here to discover petroleum or something”,
asked Dr. Terra. Anwesha said, “Is it really so?” “Not exactly!” replied Dr.
Ihan, “Actually one of our space rovers returned some samples from Uranus
yesterday. I found a sample of a rather interesting rocky material among
the others. It has radioactive qualities and a rather strange greenish
substance that resembles chlorophyll pigments. In addition, it is amalgamated
with a strange chemical that we are unaware of till date. I examined it and I guess we
can do something on it. I mean, it can be developed to act as a substitute for
petroleum. If it can, then it’s well and good, but if it’s not, then we can come
up with a new substance. Right? What do you think?” “Well, I need to see the
substance first” Anwesha said. “Of course. But, you have to sign an agreement
before that, confirming doing the research along with us.” Dr. Terra and Anwesha
exchanged glances and after a few moments affirmed to the proposal. They took
out their signing devices and signed on the interface at Dr. Ihan’s cabin. The
three of them then walked into a well protected chamber. The chamber housed
that substance, a substance from a strange planet Uranus; a substance that can
change their lives on earth, the substance definitely had potential. The
substance was kept in a Silicate-Iridium container. “Stunning!” gasped Anwesha.
“And you have to work on this stunning piece from now. Today is the 5th
of January and we have authentication on this substance, and hence the research, till the 12th of June. On the 12th, at 11:30 pm, this
substance will be handed over to the International Radiology and Geology Agency
for sending it back to the ISS. So, we have 160 days with us. Let’s begin.”
said Dr. Ihan and showed both Dr. Terra and Anwesha their working units.
Anwesha started examining the
sample provided to her. The substance had very unusual radioactive qualities. It
was an unusual kind of radiation. The pigments that resembled chlorophyll were
another mystery. Perhaps, the radiations affected the pigment,s but it was not
clearly perceptible. She used the pigmentolium to observe the pigment’s
activity but it didn't show any significant observations either. Throughout the
day, Anwesha couldn't find anything significant about the substance. Anwesha
saw Dr. Ihan and Dr. Terra working, through her borosilated window. She saw Dr.
Ihan rarely moved from his unit. He remained glued to his place but he always
maintained a calm face. Composed as always, he was deeply engrossed in his
work. Dr. Terra, however, portrayed various changes in her emotions during her
work. The work continued.
On the 29th of
February, they had a formal meeting to discuss their findings and proceedings
on their research. Anwesha presented the particulars from her research. She
said, “I have discovered the nature of radiations. It’s sort of novel. It’s a
purplish-white radiation with properties of iodine in it. Yes, iodine. The
radiations are not exactly getting radiated. I mean they are emanating from
them but they are not lost completely to the surroundings. In fact, they are
absorbing the properties from their surroundings and are converting it into
another form. The pigment found in the substance, I think, is perhaps the
source of the radiations. I can say this because the pigment has some iodine
like properties as well; though it has some additional properties, some resemble
Iridium’s and some are still unidentified. The pigment is not exactly green. It
changes color. That is, it changes its pigment formulae with respect to time
and the radiation. The formula, that I first identified, was an amalgam that
contained iodine and some other elements. After the first period evaluation,
which is around 20 days, it changed its formulae again. It has now a compound
that contained carbon. Actually it was an allotrope of it. Among the other
elements, one resembled Iridium, but the rest are still a mystery for me. I
hope you may have the answers for the mystery elements Dr. Terra.” Dr. Terra
looked up and said, “Some of the mysteries are still to be unraveled. Yes, I
have identified some of the elements but there are numerous others which are
still to be identified. The thing, that you are calling as resembling iodine is
in fact not iodine but a chemically-modified compound that has the same number of
electrons always. However, it loses protons in order to combine with others. That is, it
forms a compound not by donating or accepting electrons, but by protons. I
have observed it to be rarely donating protons. All the time, I mean
frequently, it accepted protons to make bonds. So, it’s rather an unusual
behaviour. Also, I have discovered yet another element; actually I don’t know
whether it is really an element or something else. It’s like a vapour with no
protons, at all, in its nucleus. It has only two neutrons and five electrons. And
it seems rather odd in its chemical properties because it doesn't show a stable
set of properties, they vary from time to time.” “That’s rather peculiar. I
hope it’s something that is native to Uranus because earlier we discovered a
similar kind of substance which showed different properties every time it was
inspected!”, exclaimed Dr. Ihan and said “I guess whatever we have found
out till date is pretty good but, we need to find something more. Finding an allotrope of
carbon is really a breakthrough. That means it surely possess something
meaningful for us. I hope to find a way out to deal with those allotropes and
the radiations. Yes, one more important thing, I want you people to know, is that the pigments that you say may be the cause of radiations are actually the
source of radiation. I have confirmed the fact. So, let’s proceed to our work
stations. I hope we will definitely find something by June 10th.
That’s the day for next phase of assessment and discussion and then we will
convey our successful findings, hopefully, to the International Radiology and
Geology Agency on the 12th of June.”
May 1st . Just 40 days
left. Anwesha thought she has to do something else. She just can’t keep staring
at the sample and perform some test based experiments. What they needed now is
a major breakthrough. She has to take some viable steps, but what? Should she expose
the sample to high temperature…No, because if it actually contains flammable
substance, she doesn't even know the volume of explosion it may result in. She
still has not been able to find out the exact properties, that is the flammable
properties, of the radiations. But she has to take a risk. What if she takes
the pressure in control and slowly manipulate the ratios? She thought of taking that risk. She started all that she can do. But, nothing significant did
happen. Days rolled by. Tomorrow, they have their next and the last assessment.
Two days after, their hope, officially, will die. Anwesha thought, she should go
back home. She should spend a few moments alone before the moment dooms on her.
She took the sample with her and went to her home. She kept on thinking but she
didn't know exactly what was in her mind. She couldn't even sleep throughout
the night. She moved out of her room, took out the sample and just gaped at it.
She just hoped for some miracle to happen. She has found so much but nothing
has proved to be actually useful. She wanted to find something meaningful, if
not petroleum properties, something which could have been of some use. But she
has found nothing more than some mysterious properties which didn't seem to be
of any use now.
The next day. She went in to the
lab. They had their assessment discussion and as expected, it was decided that
the sample will be handed over after 48 hours. Dr. Ihan asked them to prepare
their thesis on the findings, whatever they may be. Anwesha moved on to her
work station and started on with the thesis work. She was kind of sad and
gloomy. On the 12th, at 10 am they prepared themselves for the
handover. They had to deposit the samples provided to them, for research, to
the prime source in the silicate- Iridium container. Anwesha thought to have a
last look at the sample. She took the sample to her work area and looked. To her amazement she found a different, altogether different, form of radiation.
This was more severe. It had a more dynamic behaviour and the pigment was not just a pigment any more. It was a more prominent substance. It had shown the property
of growth. It has now a substantial growth associated and when she tried to
find any other properties; she discovered that it is perhaps showing some
locomotion. If this actually is something, she has perhaps found out the most
amazing things which SETI has been trying to find out since decades. But how
did this happen? The handover process
was scheduled at 11:30 and she is supposed to return the sample by now. But….She
took a closer approach on the properties and moved the temporometer backwards
for a few hours. She found out that the sample has responded to some external
temperature issues. And it had now some terrestrial properties. Anwesha
couldn’t stop herself and stirred in to find more. She saw more allotropes of
carbon and some of nitrogen too. Dr. Ihan then walked into her work area and
asked her to deposit her sample. Anwesha called him and asked him to just have
a look. It certainly has to be the most major breakthroughs of human civilization.
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[ This piece of writing was actually written when I was in my 11th grade. But some parts, specially the characters have been modified. This modification is dedicated to the 4 years of my engineering life at my college, My ITER. I love my college and am already missing it. I was an IT- A. Initials of the characters played here signify that. Ihan-Terra-Anwesha. Moreover, the planet Uranus specify me, as it's the initial of my second name.
By: - I.U. of I.T. A ]
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