6: Chapter 6: High-altitude tremors caused by a meteorite from outer space!

"Elder Bai, when I was awakened by the duty call in the middle of the night, I also thought I was dreaming, thinking some new researcher was talking nonsense!

But immediately after, they made multiple instant observations and reached a unanimous conclusion: it wasn't an issue with the observation equipment!

Instead, the gravity at that spatiotemporal coordinate... indeed underwent an instantaneous, colossal change!"

Director Liu's throat went dry. He swallowed hard and, with his body trembling, reported truthfully to Elder Bai.

"Whew—"

Elder Bai took a heart-soothing pill from his assistant and swallowed it with some warm water.

Then, Elder Bai rubbed his chest over his heart, his expression solemn to the extreme. He spoke briefly:

"So, through calculations and observations, you discovered that the point of colossal gravitational change was precisely caused by the small meteorite TUKR-1204?"

"Exactly!"

"Even though the point of colossal gravitational change only appeared for a few seconds, it still possessed a 'trajectory of motion'!"

Director Liu nodded affirmatively:

"After comparing data over a thousand times, it perfectly matches the landing trajectory of the small meteorite TUKR-1204!

Therefore, the conclusion reached by the scientists at the Panzhihua Observatory is that the actual mass of the small meteorite TUKR-1204 is not 93 times that of the sun, but rather..."

As Director Liu reached this point, his voice gradually trailed off.

His body trembled even more violently, as if he found that inferred conclusion hard to accept.

The dozen or so scientists present in the calibration hall also lowered their heads in silence, their eyes filled with a trace of confusion and doubt about the existence of the entire Universe.

As a former leading authority of the Academy of Sciences, Elder Bai naturally understood what that conclusion was.

A flash of clear wisdom shone in his eyes. Looking at the scientists present, he said in a serious tone:

"The secrets of this Universe are like a vast ocean, and we humans have only just begun to explore beyond our toddler's cradle.

There is no need to doubt the entirety of physics just because of a single cosmic phenomenon that overturns traditional physics!

In my view, this is not a bad thing at all!

On the contrary, it is... the sign of the birth of a brand-new, great physical theory!"

Raising his voice, Elder Bai's aging body exuded the purest love for physics.

"Comrades! Cheer up!

A brand-new, great cosmic phenomenon is waiting for us to personally unveil!"

Perhaps it was Elder Bai's passionate words that took effect, or perhaps it was due to his prestige,

but the scientists present raised their heads once more. The confusion in their eyes was gone, replaced by an unprecedented fervor!

Indeed!

This was a brand-new cosmic phenomenon!

If anyone could construct even a partial theoretical framework for it, they would surely go down in history as one of the greatest scientists of this century!

"Continue your report!"

"Yes!"

Director Liu nodded solemnly, his voice recovering its usual composure:

"After an intense discussion, our unanimous conclusion is that inside the small meteorite TUKR-1204, there exists an 'independent black-box spacetime' that is different from our physical Universe!

Due to 'excitation' from an unknown cause, when it entered the Blue Planet's atmosphere from outer space, it instantaneously displayed its unique spatiotemporal characteristics to the physical Universe!

Therefore, the colossal change of over thirty million times the spatiotemporal curvature was not caused by 'mass', but rather by the independent black-box spacetime inside the small meteorite!

And because of this,

even though that gravitational source, which is comparable to a giant black hole, appeared in the atmosphere above the Blue Planet, it did not exert any substantial impact on the Blue Planet or other celestial bodies in the Solar System!"

"The black-box spacetime directly acts on the physical spacetime it passes through without affecting other points in spacetime. It must be said that this is a super event capable of changing the entire field of physics!"

Elder Bai took a sip of the tea on the table before him and said with great emotion:

"I'm afraid no one could have imagined that in the early hours of the day before yesterday, we, the humans of the Blue Planet, experienced the most perilous... fatal crisis since the birth of our civilization!

Fortunately, the colossal gravitational change was caused by the black-box spacetime. If it had been caused by mass... it would have been more terrifying than the end of the world!"

The scientists present were also incredibly relieved, feeling a sense of surviving a disaster. "Indeed, during the end of the world, there is still a chance to feel despair.

But under a gravitational source comparable to a giant black hole, before one's consciousness could even react, they would watch in horror as their physical body, like spaghetti, was torn infinitely apart from head to toe!"

Once the atmosphere settled down, Director Liu continued to report respectfully to Elder Bai:

"Fifteen minutes after observing the TUKR-1204 meteorite, through multi-angle observations and auxiliary positioning from scientific research satellites,

we finally discovered that the landing site of this small meteorite... is located precisely at 'Yuxi Mountain, Shenwan City, Guangnan Province'!

Seeing the urgency of the matter, I immediately contacted the Shenwan Astronomical Research Institute as well as the police officers of Shenwan City.

I requested them to immediately seal off Yuxi Mountain and conduct a carpet search for the small meteorite's whereabouts."

Elder Bai frowned and asked, "Has there been any news?"

"As of now, 23:54, no news has come from there yet!"

Hearing this response, Elder Bai's brow furrowed even tighter.

He pondered for a moment, a flash of determination passing through his wise eyes, and said to the assistant beside him:

"Get me—Yao Jinyu of Guangnan Province!"

The assistant skillfully took out an internal-use phone from his briefcase, found Yao Jinyu's number in the contacts, and dialed it immediately.

"Beep, beep, beep—"

The phone rang only three times before the deep, powerful voice of a middle-aged man who had long held a high position came from the other end:

"Hello, this is Yao Jinyu of Guangnan Province."

Seeing that the call had connected,

the assistant placed the phone receiver to Elder Bai's ear.

Elder Bai replied with a warm smile, "Hello, Little Yao, it's me!"

"Oh, Elder Bai?"

Guangnan Province.

Inside a heavily guarded No. 001 family residential compound,

Yao Jinyu threw off his light blanket, draped his coat over his shoulders, and immediately sat up in bed.

With a smile on his face, he said with deep respect:

"You haven't rested yet at this late hour? How has your health been lately?"

"I'm getting old, so there's nothing major, just some of those old ailments that flare up occasionally."

Elder Bai shifted the conversation and said:

"Little Yao, I'm really sorry to bother you so late, but I have a matter here I would like to ask your help with!"