About the author
Liu is the first Asian writer to win the World Science Fiction Hugo Award, and a member of the Chinese Popular Science Writers Association. He has won the China Science Fiction Galaxy Award for nine consecutive times. In 20 15, he became the first Hugo Award winner in Asia with his novel Three-body.
About this book
Spherical Lightning is a long science fiction novel centered on spherical lightning, which shows us a unique, mysterious and strange world. The English version of 20 18 Ball Lightning was officially released.
Core content
This book tells the story that the protagonist and his beloved girl Lin Yun worked together to study a high-tech called ball lightning, which ended the world war. Through this story, the author provides us with a scientific theoretical framework, which can accommodate the common feelings of human beings: the dead people have not completely disappeared, but have become a state of vague dreams and continue to live under another rule.
order
Hello, welcome to listen to a book every day. I'm Huai Sha. Today, I'm going to talk about Liu's novel Ball Lightning.
There are probably two most famous labels about this novel: one is the prequel of Three-body, because many characters and technologies in Three-body appear in the book Ball Lightning. The second label: hardcore, this science fiction novel involves a lot of knowledge of quantum theory. People who like science seem to enjoy it, but if they read it as a literary work, they will find it a bit too difficult.
Today I want to talk about this book from a very soft angle. Let's discuss a question that science can't answer: where did those we love go after they left this world?
Mr. Liu Xiaoli, a famous documentary director, once said a sad sentence, he said: "A person's life is the process of the loved one leaving."
Yes, this sentence is very sad, but it is also a cruel fact. Disasters, diseases and accidents do kill people we love. People can't be resurrected after death. We tried to adapt to the departure of our loved ones, but finally found it unforgettable for a long time. Maybe this is life.
However, this novel tells us that those who died, they did not disappear completely, but became a blurred and dreamy state and continued to live under another rule. So what kind of state is this? Is it really possible?
First, let's get into the story of the novel.
first part
To sum up the whole article in one sentence: The protagonist and his beloved girl, Lin Yun, studied a high-tech called "ball lightning" together, and finally ended the story of a world war. The whole story can be divided into three paragraphs.
The first paragraph can be summarized as: What is ball lightning?
At the beginning of the story, it describes a night of lightning and thunder.
It was the birthday of Hero 14, and a family of three sat in the living room to eat and chat. Suddenly, an accident happened, and a ball with light flew in from the window. At first, the family thought it was ball lightning. Spherical lightning is a kind of lightning. It is not the kind of cracked lightning that we usually see in the air, but round. It is also commonly known as ground rolling thunder by ordinary people.
Ball lightning hit the hero's parents with a bang. The next second, they turned into two piles of ashes, which means they died in an instant. In such a second, a happy family is left with only the protagonist and an orphan.
Afterwards, experts carefully analyzed the scene of the incident and thought that the big ball of light that suddenly flew into the house was not a simple lightning. But what it is, scientists can't say clearly. Since then, the hero has become a scientist, and he really wants to crack the secret of this "ball lightning".
Later, the hero went to college, where he met the physicist Professor Zhang Bin. This Zhang Bin is a very important figure in our novel. Professor Zhang Bin led the protagonist into the research field of "ball lightning". Later, when doing research, the hero got to know Lin Yun, the heroine of the novel. Jelly Lin is a cold beauty, but she is very kind to the hero. The two struck a spark of love, and then fell in love while doing research. You can say that life is very happy.
At this point, the novel used a lot of space to describe their specific research process, including how they visited various scientists in Russia, and also involved a lot of physical knowledge. I omitted all these plots for you. Anyway, the final conclusion is that "ball lightning" is not lightning at all, but actually a macro electron. Then what is this macro-electron?
First of all, in the real world, we all know that electrons are very small and are moving at high speed around the nucleus. It is said in the novel that there is actually a bigger world outside the earth and the universe where we live, and that world is called the macro world. However, there is nothing in the novel about what the macro world looks like. Electrons in the macro world can act on our world. The ball of light that killed the hero's parents was not thunder at all, but macro electronics.
According to quantum theory, we know that microscopic particles have a property called "nonlocality". It is the words "uncertain region" that are not localized, and so are electrons. What it means, in layman's terms, is that we have no way to determine where an electron is. This is a state of high spirits, which you can understand as being here at one moment and suddenly flying to another place at the next. The middle is not flying at the speed of light, but moving instantly.
According to the scientific setting in the novel, anyone killed by macro-electrons will become as high as electrons. Scientists call them quantum ghosts, and "they" are indescribable. Speaking of this exclamation, in the novel "Three-body", human beings came up with a plan called "Quantum Ghost" to fight against the three-body people, using the settings in "Sphere into Lightning". Therefore, this is why people call this book a prequel to Three-body. As for what is a quantum ghost, we will talk about this topic in detail later. Let's review the story now.
Just now we said that scientists have made it clear that ball lightning is a macro electron in the macro world. Lin Yun, the heroine, was very excited when she discovered this, because she thought that macro electronics could be used for military purposes.
This is the second part of the novel: What can ball lightning do?
After some efforts, Jelly Lin has successfully developed a macro-electron machine gun, which can continuously fire a macro-electron. This weapon has two advantages. First of all, you can go through walls, because macro-electronics can move instantly, so you can attack enemies hiding in bunkers. The second advantage is that selective strikes can be achieved. It is set in the novel that scientists can adjust the properties of macro-electrons and type whatever they want. For example, there is an enemy truck now. If the "ball lightning machine gun" is set to kill mode, a string of ball lightning flies past, and the electronic equipment of the whole truck is fine, and all the people are reduced to ashes. If you switch to attack electronic equipment mode, people are fine and the electronic equipment of the whole vehicle is out of order. If you switch to the "natural rubber" mode again, you will burn all the tires once.
After the development of this ball flash machine gun, it immediately got the opportunity of actual combat. This time, the hero and Lin Yun broke up.
The thing is this: several terrorists occupied a nuclear power plant, and they took several children as hostages. After all, it is in a nuclear power plant, and humans dare not shoot easily, so they decided to kill it with a spherical lightning machine gun. Lin Yun personally operated the ball flash machine gun, and several macro electrons flew through the wall towards the bad guys. The terrorists inside didn't understand what was going on, so they were burned to ashes. But unfortunately, the children of those hostages were also killed. The hero felt very painful, and at this time, he found Lin Yun's eyes shining with fanatical light. The hero was startled when he saw it: My girlfriend is a murderous maniac, and he hates Jelly Lin.
After this incident, the hero is full of disgust with the weapon "ball lightning". First decided to break up with Lin Yun, and then resigned from the ball lightning research center. After resigning, I went to the United States alone to do some scientific research unrelated to ball lightning, which is equivalent to fading out of this profession. Shortly after the hero resigned, his physics teacher Zhang Bin also fell ill and died. Zhang Bin's will is to cremate the body with ball lightning. While Lin Yun stayed in the institute to study ball lightning weapons.
A few years later, the world war broke out. This is also the third part of the novel, how the ball lightning ended the war.
In the second half of the novel, Liu describes a world war. The two sides of the war are China and another hostile alliance. Who is this hostile alliance? The author writes vaguely, but anyone with a discerning eye can see that it is actually the United States.
At the beginning of the war, China's army used ball lightning weapons, but unexpectedly, Americans also mastered macro electronics and related technologies. After some battles, China lost several battles in a row. The enemy came from the Pacific Ocean and was about to land in China.
See China will be defeated. At this time, a huge explosion suddenly occurred on the Gobi Desert in China, and the land of Fiona Fang 1000 km was razed to the ground. Moreover, the explosion also produced a side effect. Electronic equipment broke down in China13, and less than half of China returned to the agricultural age.
To everyone's surprise, after the explosion, the enemy immediately signed an armistice agreement with China, and the war was over.
What the hell is going on? It turned out that the explosion was caused by Lin Yun. After she broke up with the hero, she devoted all her energy to the study of macroscopic particles and made a major breakthrough. She thought, since there are macro electrons in the macro world, there must be macro atoms. Since there are macroscopic atoms, is there also macroscopic nuclear fusion? After a series of complicated experiments, Lin Yun finally mastered the fusion energy of macro atoms, and the fusion of macro atoms can not only release huge energy. Another side effect is that the radiation wave released after the explosion can disable all electronic equipment nearby.
Later in the war, Lin Yun saw that China was going to be defeated, and she decided to trade her life for peace. This macro fusion explosion is equivalent to telling the enemy that China has mastered the terrible macro fusion weapon. If you dare to move again, I will continue to trigger macro-integration, and the whole world will return to the farming era. Lin Yun was also killed in the explosion.
This is a threat of mutual assured destruction. As long as the enemy looks scared, they can only sign an armistice agreement with China. Lin Yun defended China's territory with its own sacrifice and gained world peace.
The hero was very sorry to learn the news. He knew that he had been wrong about Lin Yun. Lin Yun is cold-blooded, not because she likes killing people, but because she is a soldier. She knows that in order to defend what she cares about, she must make sacrifices, even her own life.
At the end of the story, human beings began to rebuild their homes destroyed by the war. Because of macroscopic atomic technology, the future of mankind may usher in a technological leap and great progress, just as mankind ushered in great technological progress after World War II. And the hero, finally married his first lover, but in his heart, always with the thoughts of Lin Yun.
This is the main plot of ball lightning. Next, we enter the theme of this audio, about how quantum ghosts continue to accompany their loved ones.
the second part
Let's look at it from another angle. In fact, the whole novel is the story of the protagonist's constant loss of relatives, but these people have been with him in the form of quantum ghosts.
At the beginning of the story, the protagonist lost his parents. But he soon found that his parents were still with him.
The first paranormal took place after the hero went to college. One day, when he returned to his original home, he suddenly found that the cup on the table had fallen down. He didn't do it backwards, which was his mother's habit before her death.
Then, the hero found some hair in the sink of the toilet. These black and white hairs are obviously left by their parents. It's impossible. People have been gone for several years. How can their hair still be there? Moreover, suddenly the next second, I found that my hair disappeared in front of him like magic. The hero felt at that time that his parents must have stayed in the room. But he has no fear in his heart. What child is afraid of his parents' souls? On the contrary, the hero had an inexplicable sense of happiness at that time. Through this detail, he understood the existence mechanism of quantum ghosts. Although the real parents didn't appear, they stayed with him in some form. The hero was very pleased.
Why do people feel sad about the death of their loved ones? A big reason is that they will never receive any new information from their loved ones, which is the most unacceptable thing in our hearts. We always want a room, a place and someone's appearance.
In fact, this is the psychological mechanism for us China people to visit graves in Tomb-Sweeping Day. We are particularly afraid that the cemetery is barren, so we should regularly maintain weeding and wipe the tombstones repeatedly, hoping that there will be vitality and new changes here, giving people a new state of information. As we all know, once a flower or a tree grows next to the tombstone, we will be very happy inside, and we may say it is an epiphany. Why are we happy? Because I received new information from the deceased.
Therefore, this is the first special feature of quantum ghosts, which we can call: generating new information.
We went on to read the story, which was also the second person lost by the hero, his teacher Zhang Bin.
Teacher Zhang Bin died of illness. As we just said, because he has been studying spherical lightning all his life, his will is very special. I hope that future generations will smash their bodies into ashes with ball lightning weapons. As a result, after such a fight, Zhang Bin, like the hero's parents, unexpectedly became a quantum ghost.
This matter was discovered by Lin Yun. The specific discovery process is as follows: At that time, Lin Yun was studying the nuclear fusion technology of macro atoms, and there was a mathematical expression that she could not derive. Later, when she visited Zhang Bin's grave, she suddenly found many mathematical formulas on the tombstone. This is definitely an epiphany of Teacher Zhang Bin, because how can a tombstone craftsman understand such abstruse mathematics? Lin Yun quickly copied down the mathematical formula and went home to see it. Sure enough, it was the mathematical expression that she struggled to crack.
Why did Zhang Can Bing understand these formulas after he became a quantum ghost? Because he is a physicist, he can better understand the quantum world after becoming a quantum ghost, so he calculated the mathematical expression of macro-atomic fusion. At the same time, he can also observe that Lin Yun was anxious because he couldn't work out the formula, so Zhang Bin chose to go directly to Lin Yun to visit the grave and write the formula on the tombstone.
We see that another feature of quantum ghost is revealed here: quantum ghost can exist across time and space and go wherever it wants. This shows that time is not an obstacle for them at all.
What is the essence of death? In fact, a person has failed in the confrontation with time, and death is the result of this confrontation failure. However, these quantum ghosts can successfully overcome time. They have not been extended, but they are no longer limited by time. To some extent, superior to Yu Yongsheng. This is exactly what we want to see.
This is the second characteristic of quantum ghosts. They conquered time.
Let's go on reading the story. At the end of the novel, didn't Lin Yun die in a macro fusion explosion? According to the scientific setting of the novel, she also became a quantum ghost.
One night, the hero was working on the workbench. Usually there is an empty amethyst vase on his desk. That night, he suddenly asked about a smell. When he looked up, there was a blue rose in the vase But when the hero looked carefully, the rose suddenly disappeared. However, the residual fragrance in the air is the perfume that Lin Yun used when he first met. We know that taste can store memories. At that moment, the hero remembered all the good memories of the past. This shows that Lin Yun is still with him in a special way.
Because Jelly Lin used exclusive memories that only belong to two people, it shows that her personality, memories, life goals, personality and ideals still exist as a person. Although she has no specific body, her spirit still exists.
Think about it. What do we miss when we miss someone we love? It's his consciousness, his personality. The reason why a person is him, not others, is precisely because he has a unique consciousness.
At that moment, the hero even felt that he was the happiest person. Because of the ball lightning, although it took away several people he loved, it also gave him a unique sense of happiness. Those important people are with him in a special way.
Having said that, we have summarized the three characteristics of the quantum ghost described in this novel, namely, generating new information, not afraid of time, and retaining the original personality.
I have to say that if those who have passed away can really exist in this way, it is really gratifying.
Below, I will talk about my views on this novel from the perspective of science and sentiment.
the third part
First, let's look at the scientific setting of the novel.
I'm sorry, in fact, according to the current scientific understanding, there is no experimental evidence to prove that there are macro atoms and macro electrons in this world, and there is no scientific theory to support the immortality of human consciousness. This is a "pure scientific" explanation I gave you as a popular science worker.
However, we won't talk about pure science today. Next, I want to share my real personal experience with you. These experiences made me rethink the significance of science to human life.
I told several friends about the book "Ball Lightning". After each story, I will explain to them what is the superposition state of quantum and what is the multiverse. These are all very hard-core physical knowledge. But do you know what their first reaction was? At least three friends, on different occasions and at different times, asked me: Huai Sha, do you think my relatives are still alive in another world?
You see, they are very concerned about this problem.
Do you know what I answered? I answered categorically at that time: it is possible, it is entirely possible. After getting this answer, I can see that their eyes are shining. The feeling is that their long-cherished wish has finally found scientific support. At that moment, I can realize that the light in their eyes is valuable, which may be the most valuable thing in the world.
This incident made me realize that what my friend needed at that time was not a rigorous scientific explanation, but an emotional space supported by scientific theories that could keep his dreams. This makes me rethink the significance of science to human life.
Let's sum up, in fact, scientific methods can be divided into the following four categories, namely:
First, science has clearly verified the right thing.
Second, science has clearly verified the incorrect things.
Third, what science now knows clearly and cannot be verified.
Fourth, science does not know whether it can be verified.
First, let's rule out the fourth point. At present, science does not know whether it can be verified. If you don't know, we won't discuss it. We focus on the first three points.
Let's look at the first point and scientifically clarify what has been verified. There are many things in this part. Every physical law we have learned and all the scientific and technological achievements to realize productization belong to this one. These things can definitely improve our quality of life.
This part of knowledge has a characteristic: it can provide certain and measurable value to human beings. For example, a technology is clearly marked in the patent office, how much is the technology transfer fee and how much is the single use. A technology company with a valuation of several hundred million can be clearly seen in the secondary market. Or a new drug approved by FDA, a definite chemical formula, and its commercial value can be estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars.
Second, science has clearly proved incorrect things. For example, science clearly tells us that singing and dancing on the earth can't accelerate the recovery of the sun when a solar eclipse occurs. Also, you can't get rich by buying lottery tickets and gambling in casinos. This part of knowledge can definitely help us avoid losing some value. For example, if you go to a casino to play a game called Baccarat, the mathematics behind it has clearly told you that, first of all, it can't get rich. On average, for every bet of 100 yuan, you lose 4 yuan. You can clearly know that your assets are "thinning" at a rate of 4%.
In science, the first two kinds of knowledge can be summarized as: what has been clearly proved by science and what has been falsified by science. They are our best weapon to face the world rationally. It makes our life controllable and perceptible. As modern people, facing these two kinds of knowledge, our only attitude is obedience. I like one word very much: good advice. If you are a rational person, I can't even find any reason not to listen to good advice.
It is worth discussing the third one. What do we think of those things that science can't draw conclusions at present? What are these things, such as whether Hawking radiation exists. In this matter, we have to measure the surface of a black hole. Scientists can tell you that it is almost certain that humans cannot measure it at present. Or the famous Schrodinger's cat, there is a cat in the box, which may be alive or dead. But as soon as you open the lid, it will surely die. Then you will never know whether it is dead or alive. These things, science clearly tells you, there is nothing I can do.
The macroscopic electron and quantum ghost discussed in this novel belong to this kind, and science can't prove or falsify it at present.
For these things, my personal attitude in the past was that if you are not sure, take the minimum value and don't hold out too much hope. However, my friends' reaction to the book "Ball Lightning" completely changed me. Why can't we take the maximum value? At least, at present, my attitude at 20 19 is: because the value and significance of generate here are immeasurable.
Having said that, I have to say a personal experience. I know an entrepreneur who is rich, self-disciplined and a vegetarian for a long time. I asked him why, and he gave me a very emotional answer. He said, because my family is watching me.
It turned out that a few years ago, his family was sick. Then I silently made a wish in my heart, saying: No matter whether the illness at home can be cured this time, I will be a vegetarian in the future. But in the end, his family died, but he insisted on being a vegetarian and became very healthy. He insisted that there must be a soul watching him. For such a rich man, the stimulation from the market and everything in the world really can't inspire him. But his relatives are watching him, which is priceless to him.
Descartes said, I think, therefore I am. With thoughts, we exist. The poet Gu Cheng also said: Close your eyes, the world has nothing to do with me. In the application, we got the signature of Gao Shuang, a teacher who teaches astronomy, and said: The world is not made up of atoms, but stories.
Yes, the universe is really big, but what really shocks you is the meaning in your heart.
Let's go back to the question we asked at the beginning: Where did those we love go after they left this world?
I think I prefer or even believe this explanation:
What will happen if the whole human world is really reduced to the microscopic scale of macro atoms? Not sure. Not sure. To some extent, anything is possible.
Moreover, there are really many serious scientists who believe that there may really be only one species in the universe. The creator created a huge universe to play with us humans. Why is it impossible? Isn't it just a little wasteful? God is not afraid of waste. If there is really only one species in the universe, why can't we elevate our imagination to the highest level?
Therefore, the greatest value of the novel Ball Lightning lies not in whether it conforms to the scientific setting of quantum theory, nor in its description of a high-tech world war. On the contrary, the author has taken a small step forward under the current scientific background, providing us with a scientific theoretical framework on which ordinary human emotions depend. Science fiction has established a buffer between science and emotion, and put on armor for our soft emotions. This book tells us that those images that will appear in our imagination and dreams are really possible. Our relatives are in this universe, and they may whisper back to us at any time and tell us: yes, I am. Because your heart is the universe, if you need it, I will always be there.
Written and narrated by Huai Sha.
Brain map: Moses brain map studio