episode_0140

Episode 140. The Discovery of Electricity (2)

****

In the center of the lab, on the desk, sat a giant voltaic cell. Its shadow was cast on Amy’s face.

Amy tilted her head.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you stack frogs, you can generate bioelectricity?”

“Hmm. It’s kind of similar.”

“Why on earth?”

“To put it simply… …. The difference in potential between zinc and copper. As copper corrodes, the energy stored in the copper is released.”

“Not really medical content.”

“Right. It’s closer to physics than physiology.”

Even in the original history, Galvani’s research led to the discovery of these facts, but Galvani’s theories were eventually disproved.

In a way, this is a physical and chemical concept necessary for understanding the principles of nerves.

“A battery made by stacking frogs allows you to control invisible forces? The electromagnetic force that comes from this machine is similar to static electricity or lightning, right?”

“No. It’s not made by stacking frogs, it’s made by stacking zinc plates and copper plates. The latter part is roughly correct.”

Amy thought about it for a while.

“Wasn’t the frog’s movement generating electricity? I still don’t understand.”

“That’s why. Since the signal transmission in the human body is also transmitted through electricity, if you apply an electric shock to a frog’s leg, the frog’s leg moves.”

“Aha. Then how do you shock a frog’s leg?”

“Remove some of the frog’s skin, then open the leg and find the frog’s ulnar nerve.”

“Yes… … ?”

The expression on his face was one of shock.

No, if you do an experiment, the lab animals might die. It’s a bit of a shame.

“How did you figure that out?”

That’s right. What was Galvani doing when he discovered that when he hung a frog on a copper ring and poked it with a zinc knife, its leg would twitch? I don’t know for sure.

“That happened.”

“Yes.”

Amy looked puzzled, but didn’t press the question further.

“Okay. Amy. You have work to do.”

“Yes.”

“Go to the physics department at the Academy of Physics or other professors in a related field and see if there are any other professors who can present this content together.”

Amy nodded solemnly.

“Take Istina too.”

I wonder if there’s a physics professor at the academy. Well, if there is, graduate students will come to him. If not, there must be something similar.

****

Amy and Istina set out to find someone to work with Professor Asterix.

Would professors from other departments really want to work with Professor Asterix? Amy and Istina had slightly different opinions on this matter.

On the other hand, professors from other departments may also want to work with Professor Asterix, who has achieved countless scientific achievements.

On the other hand, there may not be any other professor who would want to work with Professor Asterix, who is famous for his strange personality and unconventional research methods. His main research areas are also different.

anyway.

The two moved to the physics and research building.

****

Istina and Amy decided to go separately and look for people so that it would end quickly.

Istina’s strategy was this: Professor Asterix was a scholar with many connections deep within the Empire and a wealth of research achievements.

Naturally, those who would participate in such a difficult study had to be experienced, wise, and, in short, capable professors.

dripping.

After knocking, Istina stepped into Professor Mycellus’s laboratory. The white-haired old professor looked up from the book he was reading.

“Who are you?”

Unlike the highly specialized modern academic world, scholars in the 18th century often held multiple fields of expertise. There were several reasons why this was possible.

There was less to study than in modern times. The scientific discoveries that fill today’s high school textbooks were made by them.

For example, Newton was not only a mathematician, but also an astronomer and an alchemist. Galvani was a physicist and a doctor.

Professor Mycellus was similar. This professor was an alchemist, a physicist, and a biologist.

Istina thought about it. She came looking for me after seeing the name. Would this professor want to work with Professor Asterix, the youngest in the Department of Healing?

This old, proud professor might not want to work with Professor Asterix, the youngest professor with a strange personality. Anyway.

“I am Istina. I am a graduate student of Professor Asterix. I am currently writing a new thesis and am looking for someone to research with me.”

Professor Mycellus scratched his chin.

“Professor Asterix… … . Are you talking about that guy? The professor who came from the royal family.”

“Yes.”

“That’s interesting. What kind of paper is it?”

“This time, it is said that a mechanical device that can handle the power of static electricity and lightning has been created.”

“By magic?”

“No. It has nothing to do with magic.”

Professor Mycellus frowned.

“But. From what I hear, it seems like you’ve already finished making it. Are you done?”

“Yes, I have already completed it.”

“Really?”

It was a halfhearted reaction. After some thought, the old professor scratched his chin and continued speaking.

“If you made it all. Why did you come looking for me?”

“That’s… ….”

Istina had nothing to say in response. She came because Professor Asterix told her to, but Istina didn’t really know why.

“If you’ve already finished your research and are looking for someone to put your name on it like a charity. I don’t need that. Find someone else.”

“Okay.”

Actually, it might be because she was too lazy to write a paper on her own that wasn’t related to starch. Istina thought so, but she couldn’t answer like that.

“Thank you for listening.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

Istina bowed and left Professor Mycellus’s lab. This one didn’t go well. Amy wondered if it would work out.

****

“The power of lightning, that sounds fun… … . Oh, is that Professor Asterix? The one who made the new medicine and cured the princess last time? ”

Amy adopted a different strategy.

Professor Asterix is known for his strange personality. Basically, there are many people who wouldn’t want to work with him, especially if they’re from a different department.

So, the chances of success increase if you find a young professor who has nothing to show for himself yet.

I don’t know if they use that expression in their papers, but in any case, isn’t this paper guaranteed to be a hit if you present it with Professor Asterix?

Amy nodded.

“Yes. That’s the professor.”

“Professor Asterix. He’s really famous. How much of it is rumor and how much is true?”

Amy tilted her head.

This is Professor Bernstaffen.

He was a physicist, a magician, and an alchemist. In fact, the physics field was not big enough to make a living by teaching physics alone.

Still, Professor Bernstaffen was an exception in the Academy, being the youngest professor in the Department of Physics and one of the few female professors in the department.

“Well… …. What are you curious about?”

“First of all. Is that professor really from the royal family? Did he really cure the princess? Is he dating the princess?”

Amy scratched her head.

Professor Bernstappen doesn’t seem interested in the new research, at least not yet.

“I think so.”

“Wow. That’s really amazing… … . You developed a drug? Is that true? What’s the principle?”

“Only the professor knows what the principle is. It is true that he created it and is using it.”

Professor Bernstaffen nodded seriously, as if his curiosity had been satisfied.

“Then. Did Professor Asterix really date the saint? There was a story that he cured the saint, but did people confuse him with the princess?”

Amy thought about it for a moment and then answered.

“The saintess is also receiving treatment. I don’t think I’m confusing her with the princess, but the rumors about her dating the saintess seem a bit exaggerated… … ?”

Professor Bernstappen nodded.

“Look at my mind… … . This is not the time to spread rumors about other professors. What kind of research are you conducting? What kind of research are you suggesting we do together?”

Professor Bernstaffen was a rather noisy person. You might get along surprisingly well with him.

****

Amy and her group returned to Professor Asterix’s laboratory with Professor Bernstaffen.

The lab was already a mess. Professor Asterix turned his head at the sound of the door opening.

“Oh, are you here to apply for graduate school?”

****

Amy brought along someone who seemed to be her friend, so I wondered if she was a student applying to graduate school. But she shook her head vigorously.

“Professor Bernstaffen of the Department of Physics.”

“Oh. I see.”

She looked around the lab with a curious look. The lab was a mess.

In addition to human specimens, we were also working on several voltaic cell materials and frog carcasses.

“Why are there so many frogs?”

“Oh, that one?”

I was looking for a way to demonstrate bioelectricity directly at the conference. I already know the results of the experiment, but the way I present it is important.

“I was doing an experiment to move a dead frog with electricity. Anyway… … .”

I looked at Professor Bernstappen for a moment.

Professor Bernstaffen had curly brown hair tied up in a ponytail. Her eyes were unusually purple. She looked around with a puppy-like, curious gaze.

“If you want to study together, let me explain what we have made and what we are trying to make.”