NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 143
Episode 143: The Discovery of Electricity (5)
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I examined the nerve sample extracted from the corpse under the microscope. Though it was degenerated, I could still see where the nerve endings connected to the muscle.
“Why does the one I cut not show up well, but the one Professor cut turns out fine?”
Istina scratched her head.
“Because it’s too thick. You need to slice it paper-thin.”
“Ah, I see.”
I moved away from the microscope, and Istina took a look. Since I had already adjusted the focus, she should be able to see where the nerve connects to the muscle.
“I can really see it!”
“Mhmm.”
Istina stretched her back like doing a big yawn. That’s what happens when you stare into a microscope for too long.
All the pathologists I knew ended up with turtle necks. Istina scratched her head…
“When do you plan to give the presentation?”
“As soon as possible. I’ve already sent letters to the professors letting them know we have something to show. It’ll happen soon.”
The paper on the principles of nerves was only five pages long, mostly diagrams, but length doesn’t matter in research.
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Well, there’s no real need to drag this out.
Since the autumn symposium was just held recently, it would be hard to organize another big gathering. There probably aren’t enough people available right now.
Instead of holding a full symposium, I decided to personally invite as many professors as possible for this presentation. As the Empire’s top academic institution, the Imperial Academy has its own ways…
When you think about it, which is closer to a symposium? Gathering 100 medical professors or bringing together three Nobel laureates? I’d say the latter.
Anyway, today I’m the sole presenter. Twenty professors sit in the front row, while graduate students and undergraduates fill the back of the auditorium.
All voluntary attendees.
How touching.
“Thank you all for coming today. I will be revealing my research on the structure and function of nerves.”
Even inviting only Academy insiders, it feels like gathering people from across the empire.
“A few weeks ago, a young woman in her twenties visited my clinic, experiencing symptoms like limb weakness and abnormal eye movement. It was a unique case. Her brain was fine, her muscles were fine… so why couldn’t she walk?”
Of course, I was talking about the Sacred Maiden.
This was why our lab started researching nerves – because of the Sacred Maiden.
“The key lies in the nerves. Today, I will explain their structure and how they work.”
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“As always, let’s start with the close relationship between structure and function. We need to review the macroscopic structure and function of nerves first.”
Let me explain the macroscopic structure of nerves.
“All nerves originate in the brain and spread throughout the body to every organ and muscle. Now, how exactly do they spread?”
I looked around the auditorium.
“Has anyone here ever dissected nerves?”
For those who haven’t seen a dissected corpse:
“You might think ‘aren’t nerves obviously there when you open up the body?’ But actually, all you see are blood vessels and fat tissue. Finding nerves isn’t easy if you don’t know what you’re looking for.”
No one raised their hand.
“None of you, huh? Most nerves cluster around the spine, connecting to the brain through the spinal cord. You can confirm this during dissection.”
Moving on…
“If nerves connect the entire body to the brain, then what is their role? What do you all think?”
No one answered immediately. Professor Fisher raised his hand.
“Aren’t these things we’ve known for ages? Nerves converge in the brain, dividing into motor and sensory nerves, controlled by the brain.”
I nodded.
“Yes, that nerves transmit information. But how exactly do they do this? Blood vessels and lymphatic vessels are hollow, transporting fluids, but nerves are solid, right?”
Professor Fisher furrowed his brow, clearly confused.
“There must be something…”
“Exactly.”
I clapped my hands.
“There must be some physical-chemical method to transmit information quickly and relatively accurately without using liquids or sound.”
“Isn’t it some kind of vital force?”
“That’s why I’m giving this presentation – because it’s not.”
[Elanvalt]
While such concepts may exist in this world, my principle is to clarify whatever can be clarified.
Since I already know how nerves transmit signals, this isn’t particularly difficult.
Professor Fisher still wore a skeptical expression – the mark of a great scholar.
Even after several discoveries and presentations, he still questions and demands proof instead of accepting my words at face value.
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“Moving on to the next conclusion. Nerves transmit signals through some invisible mechanism. What exactly is it?”
I looked around.
“Does anyone have any guesses?”
Of course not. I pulled out the frog leg I had prepared earlier.
“Behold! A frog.”
Just before the presentation, I had dissected a frog’s leg. When I inserted an zinc blade into the skinless frog leg, it twitched.
“You see? The frog leg moves in response to specific stimuli. Considering Professor Fisher’s point that nerves transmit information, could inserting a metal rod mimic the nerve signal transmission process?”
Professor Fisher nodded thoughtfully.
“Interesting. We need to consider what property of the metal rod causes this reaction in the frog’s nerves.”
Science is narrative.
The progression of the story matters.
When discussing nerves: what do they look like? What role do they play? How can we simulate their function? Why?
At this point, Professor Amiya raised her hand.
“What’s the conclusion?”
“Electricity. Nerves transmit tiny amounts of electricity, similar to what we observe during lightning or static electricity.”
“Do you have evidence?”
Of course.
I nodded.
“Wait. Are you saying Professor Asterix discovered a new force in physics through this experiment, solving the thousand-year-old mystery of nerve signal transmission?”
I had to shake my head.
“Look, the existing academic community hasn’t even considered that nerve function involves information exchange, right?”
“Erm…”
“You haven’t thought about clarifying the principles and structure of nerves. I’m suggesting we approach nerves as information transmitters and investigate their mechanisms.”
Professor Amiya couldn’t respond.
“Then let’s consider how these electrical signals are generated. What does this setup look like? The frog leg touches metal, and when we bring another metal piece near, electricity seems to be generated momentarily, correct?”
It seemed no one was following completely, but it didn’t matter much. The paper had already been published, so they could study it carefully later.
“We should consider that the interaction between metals generates electricity. Using this principle, I’ve created a device to produce electricity – a simple battery.”
I showed the audience a palm-sized Voltaic pile, then touched its wires to the frog leg, causing it to twitch again.
The auditorium fell deathly silent.
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Oliver raised his hand.
“Professor, even if we accept that you discovered a new force while researching nerves and identified it as the principle of nerve signal transmission… isn’t that a bit far-fetched?”
“Oliver student, didn’t you follow my logic during today’s presentation? Where do you think the error occurred?”
Oliver thought for a long time.
“I lack the knowledge to say for sure, but it just seems unrealistic on a common sense level.”
The auditorium began to murmur.
What nonsense, everyone’s thinking the same thing, what’s the problem, isn’t it hard to verify across different fields, did Oliver say something wrong, try refuting it etc.
These were discussions among the professors sitting in their seats, not directed at me.
Certainly, from a common sense perspective, Oliver’s reaction is understandable.
As I said before, scientific discoveries don’t always follow common sense.
Discovering electricity while studying frog muscles actually happened in our original history, and it will happen here too.
As you can see.