EFFECTS OF OPENNESS / CH. 18:RESEARCH
MESSAGE TO DR SIMON FINDHORN-BUNTING, MARS UNIVERSITY. WEDNESDAY 9TH OCTOBER
Dear Dr Findhorn-Bunting,
I've just been directed to contact you by a citizen of Atlantis who unexpectedly took some friends of mine back to Earth. To be precise, via them, he said 'get everyone behind some heavy duty radiation shielding, hit the off button with a long stick, mark it with a great big warning sign saying it could accidentally kill everyone at the university, and contact Dr Simon Findhorn-Bunting on Mars for advice. I attach the rough design parameters of my setup, and would value any insights about what made him so nervous.
Thomas White
(M.A. student, Lunar university.)
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Dear Professors Wentworth and Randolph,
An M.A. student at your university has just been put in contact with me by a concerned citizen of Atlantis. Let me add my concerns to his own, and detail our experimental regime here on Mars.
1. Safety parameters regarding test area for unconstrained forcefield experimentation will be in broad accordance with gamma-ray laser safety regulations for a similar continuous power. i.e. a device with a supply of 1kW or above shall be over the horizon from any living human.
2. The test facility should be categorized as a space traffic hazard when operational at high powers (see below).
3. At device turn-off, it should be assumed that there will be a radiation burst equal to the total time-integrated radiation flux intercepted by the device, and/or relevant decay products for unstable particles. This total flux will occur over a sub-millisecond timescale, and the localised burst can of course trigger other radioactive breakdowns. Whether there will be gamma rays included in this outburst depends on the exact nature of the field.
The motivation for items 1 and 2 above are that the forcefield hedgehog is a self-folded sheet of almost fractal complexity. Depending on the exact circuit configuration and radio-frequency perturbations of the forcefield 'hedgehog', the fractal surface may be 'flattened' to create a disk, cone, or 'rod' (actually a cylinder approximately half a millimetre diameter). Each of these surfaces has an area proportional to the power input but there seems to be a scaling factor depending on the curvature of the surface. Experimental results indicate that a three metre diameter disk, equates to a thirty one point five metre spike, and a hedgehog approximately one millimeter diameter. The rod diameter does not show any correlation to input power, so we're seeing the rod length linearly dependent on the input power, the disk diameter as a square root and the hedgehog proportional to the cube root of the input power.
Clearly, the sudden manifestation of a rod which expands at approximately a third of light speed can have adverse effects on life and any physical structures it may intersect, and the appearance of the disk form carries a significant risk of dismemberment of anyone directly observing the experiment.
Professor Simon Findhorn-Bunting, PhD BSc
(Head) Forcefield research dept, Mars.
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MESSAGE TO HATHELLAH YOUNG, MARS, SATURDAY 10TH OCTOBER
Dear Hathie,
According to an astronomy program I've just looked at, from Earth, Venus, Mercury and Mars are all pretty much all in the same bit of sky at the moment.
Yes, that's right, I'm thinking orbits, and delta V and things. Did you know, what with the Earth about to go behind the sun relative to you, it's not the recommended time of year to come visit? Do you think I care? Not at all.
Boris.
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Dear Professor Findhorn-Bunting,
From your concerned letter it does indeed seem that young Mr White is dabbling with forces he can't control safely, and he states that he is unable to obtain any forcefield at the reduced powers you indicate are more suitable for lab work.
We have searched for recent publications regarding the experimental set-up you are using that allow these reduced powers, but so-far have drawn a complete blank. Please could you give us some pointers? With the status quo, as the laboratory's safety officer, I am required to prohibit any further research on this topic, and indeed, in the time available it seems that his research phase has of necessity come to an abrupt end. Yet it seems a shame to blight his young career by making such a call.
Your research facility seems significantly better equipped and prepared than our meager budget allows, thus I wonder if there might be any possibility of him conducting his research remotely?
Prof. Bob Wentworth.
Head of Electronics faculty,
University of Luna.
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Dear Professor Wentworth,
I attach a paper we've been working on for the past five months, basically attempting to obtain for ourselves the information I sent you, and which is now in-press at Advances in Space Research. That information I received anonymously, some 6 months ago from a citizen of Atlantis. At the time, of course, none of us knew about that marvelous city, but I had every reason to trust the source, given the manner in which the information was delivered to me.
Our own efforts, as you will see from the paper, have proved to be only somewhat closer to the safe laboratory power levels, and we are not able to reduce the hedgehog below 2mm so far. I have only personally observed the 1mm 'hedgehog' on equipment lent to us for the experiment by Atlantis, on a strictly 'no looking inside' basis.
A friend who originated in Atlantis stated to me that this piece of technology is of the sort used in Atlantis schools, however the school version contains a safety limiter that does not permit more powerful fields to be developed.
My best suggestion, in view of the short time for Mr White's research timetable, (and interplanetary travel times) is to enquire from Atlantis as to whether a similar loan could be arranged, or whether Atlantis or some other Earth government would be able to arrange for his experiments to occur on some isolated island on Earth.
I'm afraid we do not yet have the support staff to conduct distance-operated experiments at our facilities, unless of course his research needs directly correlate with experiments we'd do ourselves. Were more time available for travel, we would of course welcome his use of the facilities here as part of a cooperative project. That option would of course require that he be able/willing to live on Mars in the normal manner.
Professor Simon Findhorn-Bunting, PhD BSc
(Head) Forcefield research dept, Mars.
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FINDHORN-BUNTING COMPLEX, WEDSOL, 13TH OCTOBER, 6PM
“Simon? What have you been telling the lunar university?”
“Urm... what context? I've backed up Boris' warning about using forcefield research in a laboratory.”
“Karella's just had 'a please can we have a forcefield to play with?' request.”
“Ah, that was probably sparked by me. I said we hadn't got down to one millimeter hedgehogs but Atlantis lent us one, maybe they could ask.”
“You didn't say 'lent us one for the purposes of that one paper about the risks?'”
“I thought I did. Urm... yes.”
“And... what's their need?”
“I don't exactly know, Boris might. He put the guy in contact with me, after all. All I know is he was generating a twenty millimetre hedgehog on the lab bench.”
“Sounds familiar.”
“But his coils were the other way round to mine, so he had a very real risk of making a disk.”
“Sounds nasty.”
“Deadly, and he's a master's student, into his second year, so really he needs to be running a couple of confirmatory experiments and writing up. Not that I'm sure what exactly he's been studying.”
“You didn't ask?”
“Would you ask an ambassador from another country what the treaty they were planning to draw up might say?”
“Well, Ruth, maybe,” Alice said.
“Yes, but she's a special case.”
“Your Robert certainly thinks so. You've heard they're engaged?”
“Of course. But he's cautious, and not a bit nervous. It's subject to her parents approval.”
“What do his think?”
“Very happy, by the sound of it.”
“Well, let's hope hers are then.”
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MESSAGE TO RUTH MARS-SPEAKER, MARS. FROM BORIS, SUNDAY, 14TH OCTOBER.
Hey, Ruth, Hathie told me a while ago that you have some news but not what. Come on cousin! Curious minds want to know the gossip.
Boris.
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MESSAGE TO BORIS GRAVITYMASTER, ATLANTIS. FROM RUTH, THURSOL, 14TH OCTOBER.
Sorry, Boris. I'm going to write to my parents first, but I keep putting it off.
Ruth
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MESSAGE TO PROF. BOB WENTWORTH, LUNA, THURSOL 14TH OCTOBER
Dear Professor Wentworth,
This is to confirm that the Atlantis government have received the requested character references and testimonies for your student Thomas White and are willing to provide transport for him to Mars, where he can conduct his scary research without killing anyone. Atlantis will not be charging for the first 100kg of mass (him, worn/carried clothes, cargo and journey food). Additional cargo will be charged at 1.2 Mars Transfer Kilos per Kg. His total mass budget for the trip is, I understand, not likely to cause problems, but I understand total volume is limited. Please discuss these details directly with Atlantis. I understand that assuming you can arrange delivery to Atlantis port on time, (whenever that is — I have no idea) cargo may originate on Earth or Luna.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Mars University have indicated that they are happy to receive him and provide accommodation under their cooperative research programme. Please do ask him to read the attached packing list carefully, in particular reference to the items I've highlighted. I understand that much food on Luna is imported at reasonable prices, but that is NOT true here, so he should assume he will be bringing his own dried foods and herbs/spices, eating gloop and eventually growing his own food (hydroponic buckets etc. are available locally, but he should either bring his own nutrients or expect to buy them with transport kilos). Local bartering of foodstuffs is of course possible, and at the moment luxuries like imported rice and wheat flour are trading at 1kg for 5kg of local root vegetables. Sugar is not a normal part of the Martian diet, but is produced locally now at a luxury price. It should not be brought as a trade item, as importing it has historical links to immoral behaviour.
In my opinion, Mars seems unlikely to develop a supply of decent quality steel any time in the next decade. You can get reasonable gardening tools, but some people prefer to import those, let alone screwdrivers, pins, needles etc. I would, however advise against bringing such items as barter items, as too much depends on the perceived quality of the brand and established trust that the merchandise is genuine. Some substandard imported products bearing fake brand marks have recently left people very angry.
Be aware that any gold must be declared on arrival and is not easily traded, as it is linked to purchase of claims. Other precious metals and gems may be traded, but the market is small, fluctuates wildly and I cannot in any way say if they are more valuable here or on Earth.
Ruth Mars-speaker Emilia Matthew,
Ambassador of Atlantis to Mars
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Dear Mum and Dad,
I've been nervously planning to write but failing, for almost a week now. I have tentatively said yes to a question I was asked on Frisol, but only yes with the proviso that I want your input and approval. You are coming to Mars aren't you? Please don't say plans have changed and you're not. So, let me tell you the context. On Frisol night we ended up with a big radiation storm. James Newsbringer and his wife Margaret, Hathellah, Robert and I ended up crowded into my bedroom (that's underground and is designed as a radiation shelter, have I said?). We'd had about an hour's notice, so we'd got into the house-dome, tidied up and while I cooked I moaned a bit, and pointed James to a box I'd dismissed as not very good dried seaweed. Silly me to doubt my beloved queen. She'd actually sent me some beautiful crystal pieces. Did you engrave any of them, mum? I think I recognise the style. If so, thank you so much! A lovely surprise. James thought the seaweed was packaging, then I read Karella's letter, and got another surprise. Not nasty seaweed, not packaging either. Old potion. So, since James and Margaret are newly wed and we didn't want to wait with giving her potion until she became pregnant, I cooked some. Being the scatterbrain I am, I'd forgotten the old name. So, Margaret drank some and tried to wash away the aftertaste with a chilli. Which only worked for a while. Hathellah recognised it — Hathellah the elder had given some to her when she had pneumonia when she was younger, apparently it worked. Robert took some last of all, making clear it was for love of me, not love of swimming that he risked the foul brew. Then, in a flash I half remembered that the mermaid that cooked it should kiss those she feels kindly towards. I certainly felt kindly towards Robert, so I shocked him and everyone else by kissing him first and explaining later. I let James kiss his own wife. The kiss is important, and mermaid's kiss with a kiss is kind indeed, Margaret's experience with vile aftertaste had vanished by the time we'd almost poured cold water on the newlyweds (the poor things had to suffer a night in a room with three others, too) and Robert says he hardly got any aftertaste before I shocked the poor man. After I'd told them the story of mermaid's kiss, which I finally remembered all of (I think it was after, anyway), Robert and I got talking, well thinking together. Both of us were, I think a bit bemused that we'd heard no emotions from the other, sure we must be overflowing with them — especially after I'd shocked him. So we talked. Hathellah is very much the dominant talkative twin, but this time he told her to stop, to not interpret his emotions. It turns out she doesn't know them, he's too private a man, not even sharing them with her or me. While his sister, and let's face it, me too, thought that he was in shock at the thought of having a girlfriend, Robert has had, in his pocket, a ring his grandmother told him to give to a nice Christian girl if he couldn't find a mermaid. So, he shocked all of us, and asked me if I'd marry him, and if I'd wear that engagement ring. I know his faith, I think I know his love of me — we don't want feedback but in our discussion we did let a bit out, I don't know his future work any more than he does. It seems too soon, but Martians are born risk-takers, and you know me. I'd already said though, that I wanted your approval. Not just of the idea of me being old enough to decide, but of him. For once, I wish to follow traditions, my beloved parents, and he is respectful of that. He asked not if I would marry him, but if I would marry him if you approved. I hope the answer is yes, but if you see what I am blind to, please say and do not hold back. An engagement of months is quite normal here, and it is not a betrothal, no vows have been spoken nor unconditional promises, so we are not doing anything unusual in the eyes of Martians. Nor, indeed, is engagement after five weeks considered fast among truthsayers. But it does feel fast, and it does feel I've known him forever. What shall I say? I think I love him, truly, deeply, and quite possibly unselfishly. So I'll weep if you tell me he should give his ring to another (that's the custom), but I'd rather I weep than we enter a marriage we should not. Enough on that subject, and onto another.
Mummy, be aware, I know two seers here, father and cute three year old. I think the father had no training, and seers are not known even to the gifted here. Daddy, James had an idea — the old stories of the Mer, (not the secrets of the deep, of course) published maybe week by week, or month by month, in English, to help others understand our sense of history. Perhaps written, as they expect here, or perhaps told as they should be, What do you think? If written, James points out they should be proofread, corrected. Before you leap for joy at such a task, Daddy, there will be more boring work that must take priority — so far, it seems there may be a treaty of perpetual friendship, seas for us to swim in, an atmosphere fit for all to breathe, fish to catch, demarcations of sovereignty. Mer and Martian law in parallel. Even a council of unity? Who knows. I would certainly not trust myself with such details.
Too many years have passed, and I miss you.
Your loving daughter,
Ruth.
ps Boris has heard I have news, but not what. Please do tell him.
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MESSAGE TO PROFESSOR SIMON FINDHORN-BUNTING, MARS UNIVERSITY, MONDAY 15TH OCTOBER
Dear Professor Bunting,
We understand that the government of Atlantis have cleared this all with you, and indeed with Mars, but just to check before anyone gets on a spacecraft... you're really willing for Thomas to come and use your facilities, and not at all concerned at the speed Atlantis are willing to get him there?
Is there anything I should be aware of about the Mars University cooperative research programme?
Bob Wentworth.
Luna Univ.
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MESSAGE TO RUTH MARS-SPEAKER, MARS MONDAY 15TH OCTOBER
My daughter, you have grown up in so many ways while away from us. We will certainly meet your Robert, but do not expect either of us to say 'stop, don't', as though you were still a child. But we will, of course, tell you what we see.
Yes, I knew of the two seers, from our queen and James. You know them well? I wonder what the father will see in me! Or should I worry more of the daughter? 'James boy mermaid' indeed! She is a perceptive one, to see such.”
Boris wasn't that surprised, and said something like he wondered how Martian Robert's sister wanted to be about things. I think he's quite nervous about meeting her, actually.
Your father is, as you anticipated, delighted at the thought of editing English language versions of our histories. I don't suppose you know any opportunities for them to be publicly sung do you?
your proud Mother.
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MESSAGE TO EMILIA KNIFETEACHER, ATLANTIS. FROM RUTH, SUNSOL 17TH OCTOBER.
Mummy, should we be more worried about 'James boy mermaid' (other than about the grammar and semantics, of course), 'princess mermaid' or 'Ruth happy, Ruth boyfriend Thingumy happy' (when I approached their home to introduce Hathellah to the mother, and Robert came too. She's decided his name is Thingumy. We'd decided to walk together the day before, but certainly hadn't announced it).
Today I went to Robert's fellowship — also where Lara's Harry attended. Lots of people send their greetings if you meet either of them. It wasn't the first time, but the previous time had been a family service. I hadn't realised how much of our church backgrounds were similar. The elders asked me to introduce myself, and to give my testimony. I also explained my attitude to the ring I wear and how Robert hadn't asked for — and I hadn't given — a definite yes, out of my desire to finally honour your advice. That was well received by the elder generation and got us some shocked looks from the younger one. I think it will be a difficult decision which church to make home if Robert and I do marry. I really appreciate pastor Tom Durrell's style of teaching, and the friendships I've made there, but being here was also a taste of home. Maybe we'll just alternate for a while. I don't know.
You said Boris seemed nervous? I don't think he needs to be of this church family. In case you're wondering Hathie (she prefers that name from friends) is not in any way nervous at meeting Boris. It is much more the case that she's impatient that he actually turns up so she can have some hugs. Out of interest, has Boris been inundated by a wave of admirers with his new name, as Hathie expected?
And when are you coming?
Ruth
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MESSAGE TO RUTH MARS-SPEAKER, FRIDAY 19TH OCTOBER
Oi, Ruth,
Why are you asking your mum about my crowd of admirers, not me? Afraid you'd upset me? Lara, bless her heart, stated at my big naming day that as well as conquering gravity, I'd also managed to claim the affection of Hathellah granddaughter of Hathellah granddaughter of Hathellah, who wasn't likely to accept any rivals. So no, I haven't been mobbed. But there were a few fluttery eyelashes asking me to let them know if things didn't work out with Hathie. Anyway, I'm resolutely not telling many people at all about arrival dates or times. Particularly Hathie, much though she begs and pesters; I'd like to surprise my princess.
Boris
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MESSAGE TO ROBERT YOUNG, MARS, 21ST OCTOBER
Hi Robert, I do believe you're the perfect co-conspirator in surprising Hathie and Ruth. Do you feel you can keep a secret?
Boris
in flight
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Dear Boris,
Sorry for the slow reply... you'd like me to get them to help me fetch something bulky from the spaceport? When?
Robert
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MESSAGE TO ROBERT YOUNG, MARS, THURSOL 22ND OCT.
Great! You answered! James is now involved too, which is just fine, since we'll need two vehicles for everyone. Ruth said you had a trailer for the Albatross one, could you arrange to have that too? Arrival is Satursol, around lunchtime, depending what Mars traffic control think. I'll let you know.
I'll send some true but confusing info for Hathie and Ruth's consumption.
Boris.
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MESSAGE TO RUTH MARS-SPEAKER AND HATHELLAH YOUNG, MARS. FROM BORIS, 22ND OCTOBER.
Hi, Today is Thursol there right? I'm very happy to say that we've finally had our flightplan approved by Mars operations. Even after your hard work, Ruth, and Albatross 1 they treated my flight plan like a joke at first... just because I said I can hover in mid-air if they needed me to. Oh, and something about it not being the right time of the cycle to leave Earth. I don't know, have they never heard of how much free delta V you can get with a Mercury-flyby and playing with gravity?
Anyway, mirrored forcefields are no problem, and the Mercury-flyby was a joke, so there's no risk of us toasting. We are officially on the way! Right now, we're dawdling a bit to let the others catch up. It rather looks like someone got their fingers confused and they got the last but one course change bearing entered wrongly. Not dangerous (except if there'd been other traffic there), just embarrassing. I hope it wasn't me that did the typing. Who knows.
Anyway, I thought you'd like to know we're on our way at last. Take care!
Boris, and everyone on board
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Fly to me quickly, but safely, my boyfriend.
Albatross 1 got here in what, ten days? Does that mean Satursol week?
Hathie.
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MESSAGE TO HATHELLAH YOUNG, MARS. FROM BORIS, 23RD OCTOBER
Princess, the drive is different, none of us bits of squishy cargo like the thought of feeling like we weigh twice as much as we do on Earth, and we're not doing a fiery plunge into the atmosphere like Albatross 1 did to slow itself down. But we've still got the wings, hence Albatross. (I don't think they're going to flash 'happy birthday Ruth' this time round, that would be embarrassing).
I've decided: I'm going to turn them on just to check. I think, based on my quick calculations of our albedo at the moment, and their angle to the sun then if you look towards the right bit of sky tonight then (a) you'll get more radiation exposure than I want you getting, since I read there's a storm forecast and (b) there's a small chance you might see us.
The only problem is, I can't work out where the right way is from your point of view, sorry. Roughly in the direction of Venus. Just don't get a radiation dose.
Boris
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Boris, I've just had my pet physicist of a brother check your calculations. I think you lost some orders of magnitude. Unless your wings are 500km across, there's no way I'm going to see you if you're near Venus. And you're right. big storm forecast tonight, so much so I'm underground already.
Hathie
Fly to me safely, my boyfriend.