Scientists say this about the "hard technology" in "The Wandering Earth 2"...

Xinhua News Agency, Hefei, January 27th. Planetary engines that spew blue light into the sky, quantum computers that see through everything, and space elevators that soar into the clouds... During this year's Spring Festival, the Chinese original science fiction film "The Wandering Earth 2" was a hit, and the endless "hard technology" elements in the film made the audience excited. From science fiction back to science, can these imagined things be realized? The reporter interviewed scientists in related fields.

Can a planetary engine be built?

In the film, humans plan to install tens of thousands of giant planetary engines on the Earth to propel the Earth on its "wandering journey". These engines rely on the huge energy generated by heavy nuclear fusion. Wang Teng, an associate researcher at the Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, who has long studied nuclear fusion energy, said that nuclear fusion reactions are the process of recombining two atomic nuclei to generate a heavier atomic nucleus, which can generate huge amounts of energy. "It makes sense in principle to use this energy to propel the Earth."

However, achieving heavy nuclear fusion is by no means easy. Heavy nuclear fusion uses elements such as silicon as fusion materials. Such fusion must first overcome the electrostatic repulsion between atomic nuclei. The heavier the atomic nuclei, the more charge they carry, and the more difficult it is to produce fusion. "The controlled nuclear fusion that we are currently studying extensively all uses light nuclear fusion." Wang Teng said that its fusion materials, deuterium and tritium, are two isotopes of hydrogen, the lightest element in nature, and are easier to achieve than heavy nuclear fusion.

The Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Hefei Institutes of Physical Science has an all-superconducting tokamak nuclear fusion experimental device (EAST), known as the "artificial sun". Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Chen Nuo

Wang Teng told reporters that controlled nuclear fusion is one of the most cutting-edge scientific issues in the world. After more than 70 years of joint efforts by all mankind, nuclear fusion research has entered the "chapter" of experimental reactors and engineering reactors from experimental devices. "It may be too early to let fusion energy promote planetary travel, but it is promising to light a lamp," said Wang Teng.

Are quantum computers really omnipotent?

In the movie, the 550 series quantum computer with super computing power and self-awareness is amazing. "Obviously, it is already an excellent general-purpose quantum computer." Professor Guo Guoping, Secretary General of the Quantum Computing Professional Group of the Computer Society of China, believes that quantum computing is expected to play an important role in our production and life in the future.

According to reports, the academic community divides the development of quantum computing into three stages: "achieving quantum computing superiority", "realizing a dedicated quantum simulator", and "building a programmable general-purpose quantum computer".

A well-known scholar in the field of quantum computing in China said that quantum computer research and development at home and abroad has achieved the first-stage goals. Achieving the second-stage goals is the main research task of the current academic community. It will take at least 10 to 15 years to achieve the applications shown in science fiction movies.

A physical picture of the optical quantum interference of the quantum computing prototype "Jiuzhang". Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Liu Junxi

What is the key to a space elevator?

In the movie, the space elevator that soars into the sky and connects the earth and the sky is shocking. "The most important issue is to find the right material to use as the elevator cable." Guan Qingfang, an associate researcher at the University of Science and Technology of China who has been studying new materials for a long time, believes that the "space elevator" represents mankind's pursuit of the ultimate performance of materials.

A qualified space elevator cable needs to have the following capabilities: first, it must be strong enough, and second, the material's service performance under extreme conditions must be considered.

"Humanity will continue to break through the limits of material performance and develop new materials," said Guan Qingfang.

The new material "carbon spring" developed by the team of Academician Yu Shuhong of the University of Science and Technology of China (Photo by Xinhua News Agency Anhui Branch)

When will robot dogs really enter our lives?

In the movie, the intelligent robot dog "Benben" is naive and impressive. Chen Xiaoping, a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, believes that technologies such as artificial intelligence have already entered the homes of ordinary people and are active in many areas of production and life.

A bionic robot dog for family use displayed at the World Manufacturing Conference. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Duan

At present, artificial intelligence has not yet been able to fully participate in our lives in a human-like manner. However, learning ability, perception ability and even decision-making ability have been demonstrated in some robots. Chen Xiaoping believes that how artificial intelligence will develop in the future, is it possible or necessary to adopt the same working principle as human intelligence? What impact will this have on humans? Further exploration is needed.

(Reporters: Xu Haitao, Chen Nuo, Liu Fangqiang, Qu Yan, Dai Wei, He Xiyue)

Source: Xinhua News Agency