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Author's Note (Yeah, not the translator; this is from the original author): To distinguish it from the Mage World's elemental magic, the elements in this periodic table were renamed "etherments."
"These models all have some truth to them—reasonable in parts, but flawed in others, especially when it comes to stability," said the project lead, a transdimensional mage from the Sixth Tower.
He approached Adam, holding a stack of data, his expression troubled. "If the nucleus really exists, how do the electrons stay stable outside of it? Even if we use your electromagnetic field theory, this part is still unexplained."
Adam understood the question well. According to classical electromagnetic theory, electrons orbiting the nucleus should release radiation, lose energy, and spiral inward until they collapse into the nucleus almost immediately.
While the models they had tested were clearly incomplete, the data they had collected was valuable. Adam combined this with his earlier research on Planck's quantum hypothesis and expanded it to the atomic scale. In just a short time, he built a nuclear model in front of them.
The mages had studied Adam's previous papers repeatedly by now and had a good understanding of his approach. They could follow his calculations and reasoning with ease.
When Adam's nuclear model was completed, they treated it like a precious discovery. It was far more stable than the previous models, and for now, it seemed convincing.
"This is incredible!"
"Amazing! What a beautifully elegant model!"
Adam reminded them that scientific exploration is never truly complete. What seemed correct today could be overturned tomorrow with more research. He urged the Atomic Energy Research Institute to maintain an attitude of inquiry and skepticism, never accepting any result as the final truth.
Amid the excitement, Yurius quietly leaned in and asked Adam, "This knowledge—did you bring it from another universe? That's what you said, right?"
Adam wasn't surprised that Yurius knew this. After receiving confirmation from Anne, Adam no longer felt the need to hide it. He answered, "The ideas were inspired by that, but the actual work has been a joint effort by all the mages. The results belong to all of us."
Yurius shook his head. "No, the credit is yours. Whether these ideas came from your origin or were uncovered during your explorations, your name will always be linked to these discoveries. That can't be erased."
---
A year passed in what felt like the blink of an eye.
The Atomic Energy Research Institute advanced at an incredible pace, with progress visible every day.
None of the mages found the constant calculations and experiments boring or tiring. Instead, they threw themselves into their work with increasing enthusiasm.
The results were astounding.
Discoveries like atomic mass, atomic radius, protons, neutrons, and electron clouds appeared one after another, as if they were growing from the ground after a rainstorm.
New papers were written and uploaded every day, each marking another breakthrough.
But beyond these findings, the institute's first truly world-changing achievement was the Etherment Periodic Table.*
Through experimentation, the mages identified the smallest atom: hydrogen. This etherment, consisting of just one proton and one electron, marked a key turning point in their research.
The Etherment Periodic Table wasn't just a way to organize their discoveries; it was a framework that unified their understanding of the basic building blocks of matter. It bridged the gap between theory and practical application, marking the dawn of a new era for the Mage World.
After comparing the experimental data, the mages were awestruck by the atom's incredible structure. The arrangement and behavior of electrons outside the nucleus followed clear patterns, and as the etherment atomic number increased, these patterns showed periodic changes.
This discovery immediately captured the attention of the mages. They exchanged countless papers from the Tower's archives—papers covering years of research on atomic structure—and extracted key conclusions.
Then, they compared these conclusions with their new data, reorganizing everything into a more coherent framework.
After a period of refining their understanding, they succeeded in creating the Etherment Periodic Table.
The Etherment Periodic Table was far more than just a simple chart; it was a profound breakthrough. It confirmed the critical role of the Atomic Energy Research Institute and carried much greater significance than they had anticipated.
This achievement earned Adam newfound respect from the transdimensional mages of the Sixth and Seventh Towers.
The periodic table would not only make the search for new etherments easier, but it would also accelerate progress in both towers. Adam had redefined their path forward.
The etherment Periodic Table, along with the discovery of new particles and models, sent shockwaves through the Mage World.
Mages saw these breakthroughs as far more important than any big data or cloud computing plans. This was groundbreaking knowledge that could change their understanding of the world.
There was little resistance to these new ideas. Mages valued knowledge above all else and didn't cling stubbornly to outdated beliefs.
Every mage knew that knowledge had no boundaries, and to stay ahead, they had to embrace the latest discoveries.
The Atomic Energy Research Institute and the Personal Chip Research Institute became the two most talked-about places of the moment. The former held the potential to change the world, while the latter could revolutionize society.
As a result, Adam reaped tremendous rewards. All papers were credited to the institute, and as its head, Adam had the authority to sign them.
Along with the rewards and resources, Adam's name began to shine brightly. His work on electromagnetism started drawing attention.
Apprentices just beginning their studies, or those still searching for their path, began to learn about his work and chose electromagnetism as their foundation.
…
Amid all the excitement, there was one person who felt less than energized—Yurius.
"Adam, when are you going to deal with the enriched uranium?" Yurius asked, his tone filled with frustration. "I admit, what you've done recently is impressive, but…" He ran a hand through his hair. "That wasn't our original goal."
Adam chuckled and glanced at the level-eight transdimensional mage. He understood Yurius' concerns perfectly. The progress they had made was undeniable, but the further they moved, the more difficult it became to focus on the original goal that had sparked their research. No wonder Yurius was starting to feel anxious.
Adam replied, "According to your theory, the atomic nucleus has immense mass, and when this mass is lost, it can be converted into energy."
Adam was impressed by how well Yurius had grasped this concept. It was a reminder that even basic atomic energy research had led Yurius to such a core insight.
"But how do we achieve that? How do we split the nucleus and release the energy?"
"With magic?" Yurius continued. "I've tried, but current magic can't do it. It's too small, and magic... is too big."
Adam nodded. "Exactly. There's no magic that can directly accomplish this at the moment. So, we need to use some physical methods to create the phenomenon first, and then we can work on turning it into something magical."
He then pulled out a stack of papers on neutrons and laid them out in front of them. "This is it. We need to accelerate neutrons to bombard uranium atoms."
"But to do that, we need some very precise equipment," Adam continued.