04x07 - The Two Scientists

[bunniefuu]

[LUNA] Um, it came out
pretty nicely, didn't it?

In the words of Doctor Xeno.

Well, it's rather...

elegant.

[gasps]

[SENKU]
Luna.

Was Doctor Xeno
a NASA scientist?

Wait a sec!
How did you know that?

♪

[SENKU]
When I was a kid,

he helped start me down
the path of building rockets.

♪

Their Doctor Xeno
was my old science mentor.

♪

THE TWO SCIENTISTS

[traffic humming]

[clinking]

Hm.

All right.

-Ready?
-Hm-mm.

[whooshing]

-Whoa!
-Whoa!

[expl*si*n]

-[dog barks]
-[man screams]

♪

[scoffs] Next one's
getting off the ground!

[XENO]
Oh!

Oh, dang it!

None of this makes
any sense to me!

[grunts]

Whoa, I bet you're huntin' down

some sick rocket secrets
on that thing!

Huh?

I didn't know
you could read English!

That's amazing!

I wish, but not quite.

Still stuck at,
"This is a pen."

What's a "Disizapen?"

Naturally,
most of these articles

are written in English,

so I have to squeak
by with a dictionary.

But poring over articles
only gets you so far.

You save loads of time

by sharing info
with your colleagues.

That's how science works!

[clicking]

♪

You mean
you're sending that message

all over the world?

Yep!
Near and far!

I'm basically
a science spammer. [chuckles]

♪

Got a question from a kid
in elementary school.

"If space is black,

then how come
the sky is blue?"

That's adorable!

Be sure to give them
a good answer.

And here's one
from a Japanese student.

[FEMALE STAFF 407A]
His name is "Senku," huh?

[laughs] He must
have put a lot of effort

into writing that in English.

What's the little tyke
wanna know?

[all gasps]

[SENKU [YOUNG]]
I started my rocket research

by modding the hell
out of a car turbocharger,

but I'm hitting
a stupid number of roadblocks

just deciphering
research reports.

The first problem
was with the oscillating

component
of the firing pressure.

I managed to get
the margin of error

on the intermediate frequency

oscillatory combustion
down to 7%

by running
a computer simulation,

but let's be real,
there's no way

in ten billion years
I could have crunched numbers

that nasty on the potato
I call a PC.

So I set up a VPN
on a lab server

at the university
my dad taught at...

I'm pretty sure he's confessing

to some serious crimes here.

There's no way
a little kid wrote all of that.

This must be some
elaborate prank.

I don't care what it is.

We can't get mixed up in it.

Just ignore him.

♪

[gasps]

You really did it, Senku!

You got a reply,

and it's even from a real-life
NASA science person, too!

Simmer down, ya big oaf.

[XENO] I've included the math
below for reference,

but long story short,

the nozzle needs to be
made of niobium alloy.

Doctor Senku.

I suspect your efforts
are being led

wildly astray by faulty data.

You are clearly
using subpar equipment.

You should get your hands

on a resistance thermometer

that has a rhodium-platinum
alloy heat sensor.

Science is elegant.

Signed, Doctor X.

All done!
Time to chow down.

Sure thing.

Oh!

So, you've gotta buy
the thermometer

in that picture, right?

Try the hundred-yen store!

Wonder
how much the thing costs.

[both slurping]

♪

PLATINUM

PLATINUM-RHODIUM
ALLOY

THERMOMETER SENSOR


[groans]

♪

Senku!

I can't believe you came
all the way

over to the US to see me!

[SENKU [YOUNG]] Yeah, yeah,
now skip the waterworks

and give me the goods already.

I need that magic card.

[BYAKUYA]
Oh, okay.

The mythical,
demon's credit card

is a ridiculously
powerful tool.

Any astronaut training
in the US

can buy whatever
scientific equipment they want,

and it's all
on the government's tab!

You're not wrong,

but how do you even know that?

Information like that
won't turn up

in a standard Google search!

♪

You're going home already?

What are you,
one of those people

who lost on the plane
in All-American Ultra Quiz?

Generation-gap alert,
old fart.

I don't get that reference.

But when's your next visit?

I guess whenever

I need to renew
the credit card.

Don't be cruel to your old man!

♪

PLATINUM-RHODIUM ALLOY
RESISTANCE THERMOMETER

XENON
GAS

PHASE-CONTRAST
MICROSCOPE

THERMAL
CAMERA

Whoa! That's some
pricey-lookin' tech, dude!

I have no idea
what any of it is!

I could've made do without it,

but it's hard to argue
with free.

I'll take any advantage
I can get, and this is huge.

With my mountain of equipment.

And all the knowledge

I'm gaining in Doctor X's
online classes.

I'll research everything.

I'll try everything!

We'll forge our way
across two-million years

of human history,
but not from the ground up.

We'll be standing
on the shoulders of giants!

[clicking]

[message chimes]

Hm.

♪

[TAIJU [YOUNG]]
Man, Senku.

I thought the whole idea
was to build a rocket ship.

So I don't get why you ask him

so many questions that
have nothing to do with that.

[laughs]

If we knew every use
case for each kind of science,

that would be way too easy.

It's like asking why
I don't just hit the track

and bet on all the winning
horses from the start.

There's still so much
we don't know yet.

In a lot of ways, science is--

-[message chimes]
-[gasps]

[XENO]
Science is power.

♪

For example,
I trust you don't need me

to tell you that
your little rocket

and a ballistic m*ssile
are fundamentally

one and the same.

With the power of science,

a knowledgeable man
could guide

the ignorant masses to truth,
and rule over them completely.

That makes science

a rather elegant power,
Doctor Senku.

[SENKU [YOUNG]]
Nah, world-domination crap

doesn't move me one millimeter.

Sounds stupid boring.

I wanna uncover
all the world's secrets,

and that includes everything
in the cosmos, too.

All of it.

Everything!

♪

Ten billion percent of it all!

♪

[crickets chirping]

[indistinct canteen chatter]

Oh, hey, Xeno!

What would you do
if you were sent back in time

to the Stone Age?

[smirks]

I'd create scientific
weapons from scratch,

and rule as a dictator.

[laughs]
Lame answer.

Who'd want that?

[chuckles]

But what if there were
rival scientists?

Exactly.

Humanity will always
have one trick up its sleeve,

and that's curiosity.

I'm ten billion percent sure
a greedy b*stard

who literally wants
to know everything about

everything would show up.

Basically,
someone just like my son.

[chuckles]

That wouldn't change anything.

I would have no choice
but to annihilate this person.

A true battle
for the stone world,

in which only one
can reign supreme.

If you can manage that,

it would allow you
to keep the temperature

in the chamber
under 60 degrees Celsius.

Meaning, theoretically
speaking,

that homemade "rocket"
of yours could be loaded

with all manner of biological
and chemical weapons.

Everything means everything.

I'll even learn the stuff
that doesn't appeal to me.

♪

[SENKU] This suggests that
sulfonamides would work.

They could treat pneumococcus.

Oh. You goin' somewhere?

-Just Africa.
-Africa?!

♪

[plane whooshes]

My son's on the way!

Aw, you two must be
real close, huh?

[BYAKUYA]
Actually, the awful reason

he's coming to see me
is because

my credit card expired.

He's gonna wait
for me outside.

I should mention,
his name is Senku.

That name...

Huh?

[wind gusting]

♪

[BYAKUYA]
Senku!

I missed you so much!

[chuckles]

[laughs]

What's up?

Nothing.

♪

[plane whirring]

♪

PETRIFIED
SWALLOWS?!

SWALLOW
POPULATIONS SOCIAL MEDIA

POSTS EUROPE SOUTH
AMERICA JAPAN

There's a strong correlation

we cannot ignore, between
these social media posts

and swallow populations.

It's safe to assume
these are real swallows

turned to stone.

That's an innovative approach.

Old fogies like me
can hardly use a smartphone

much less analyze its data.

This kind of science
is a young person's game.

It wasn't me.

It was a high-school student
who posted that data analysis.

♪

A kid from Japan.

♪

[helicopter whirring]

CDC [U.S. CENTERS FOR
DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION]

[RESEARCH DIRECTOR 407A] All
the internal organs are intact.

No one could make
such a complex sculpture!

[RESEARCHER 407A]
There's a notable difference

in hydrophobicity, between
the center and the peripheries.

The finer areas repel
more water.

We're not sure
of the significance yet.

[RESEARCH DIRECTOR 407A]
What about the X-ray

fluorescence analysis?

[MALE RESEARCHER 407B]
Mostly iron, traces of gold,

as well as carbon and nitrogen.

Yet it hardly reacts
to any chemical known to man,

just a slight ion outflow
in response to nitric acid.

[RESEARCH DIRECTOR 407A]
UV radiation?

[RESEARCHER 407C]
No embrittlement in response

to short wavelength
electromagnetism.

[RESEARCH DIRECTOR 407A]
Impossible!

[RESEARCHER 407D]
It reacts in unpredictable ways

to each frequency.

We have no way
to determine its structure.

I've never seen
a mineral like this before.

Honestly, I'm not even sure
it is a "mineral."

[GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL 407A]
This is a global-scale...

No, a universal-scale anomaly.

Doctor Xeno of NASA,

we would appreciate your input.

♪

[SENKU]
So, it does sink in water,

but it's a bit light
to be a rock.

Though, it could be
a porous rock,

maybe something like pumice.

[laughs]

Well, it's worth a shot,
anyway.

HIROMATSU
HIGH SCHOOL

[SENKU]
We're making gasoline

out of plastic bottle
caps today.

Normally,
you would use something

super porous, like zeolite.

Let's try this swallow wing.

See if it works
as a substitute.

This is it, Senku.

My mind's made up!

I'm finally gonna do it!

After five long years...

-I'm tellin' her how I feel!
-[ALL] Ah!

[SENKU]
Wow.

That's fascinating,

but I can't leave
the lab right now.

Looks like I successfully
made gasoline!

-Whoa! -Just need a nuclear
magnetic resonance machine.

I'll check the carbon
distribution.

Could give me some
indication of its properties

and pore depth
and stuff like that.

[SENKU]
Research everything.

♪

Try everything.

Hm.

♪

[helicopter whirring]

[STANLEY]
It was my understanding

that today's event
was just supposed to be

a DARPA tech demonstration.

But if that's really true,

then why invite soldiers
from Special Forces like me?

It's so suspicious
I can practically feel

my as*h*le puckering.

[laughs]

It's a gathering of the best.

All of the most talented
superheroes in America,

wonder what the deal is.

[XENO]
Here's your answer.

An unknown form of terrorism,

perhaps an attack
by a foreign power.

[gasps]
Doctor Xeno!

It's classified!

You can't show that yet!

It doesn't matter.

They'll know soon enough.

We've got that expert
briefing tomorrow,

then it will all be
public information.

Oh! We could try doing
a potentiometric analysis

using glass wool electrodes
doused in nitric acid.

That's enough
with the nerd talk, Xeno.

-Just cut to the chase.
-[chuckles]

♪

[ALL]
Hm?

What exactly are we looking at?

I believe there's
a very slight potential

deviation around the head.

They're brain waves.

[both gasp]

It's rather elegant,
don't you agree?

This statue is still alive.

With time,
the brain waves of those

affected begin to vanish,
one after another.

But this swallow is different.

It has somehow
remained conscious.

So if you get hit
by this new weapon,

you're saying there's
still a chance of survival

if you can somehow
force yourself to stay awake?

[sighs]

[CARLOS]
Miss Luna!

I brought you
a little gift that

I think would look
absolutely lovely on you!

It's a ring!
Please accept it!

[grunts] She's not the type
to be impressed

by a flashy display,
you filthy b*stard!

[BOTH]
Uh?

That light.

What could it be?

♪

[gasps]

It's coming.
Retreat!

Run for cover right now!

You can't escape
petrification,

but the real test comes after!

We must maintain consciousness!

We'll protect Miss Luna
if it's the last thing we do!

Right, Carlos?

That's right!

Oh, man, what about
this expensive ring?

This thing belongs to her now.

I can't just drop it,
but it doesn't fit me!

I'm sorry!
I'll wash it later!

♪

[MALE SOLDIER 407A]
sh*t.

Captain Stanley's orders.

I have to stay awake!

[MALE SOLDIER 407B]
Dammit.

I'm trapped and immobile.

No way!

But I'm a capable,
cool-headed woman!

It's my destiny
to find myself a capable man

and form the ultimate
power couple!

Dying single is so completely
out of the question!

That soldier said
to stay wake, so let's do this.

I'm so, so, so staying awake!

I'm Luna, a cool-headed gal!
I'm Luna, a capable woman!

I'm Luna, a cool-headed gal!
I'm Luna, a capable woman!

I'm Luna, a cool-headed gal!
I'm Luna, a capable woman!

[CARLOS]
I refuse to leave my precious--

[MAX]...single goddess
in her time of need!

[STANLEY]
Fine.

I'm used to staying awake

without moving for days on end.

This is no different than
the time I've spent sniping.

[rain splattering]

[XENO] We were all congregated
at Pinnacles National Park.

It's filled
with saltpeter caves.

That means nitric acid.

I don't know if that's
a good or a bad thing yet,

but it's better than
no denaturation at all.

[water splattering]

♪

[SENKU]
One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight, nine.

Nine billion, one hundred
fifty-seven million,

six hundred sixty-one thousand,
two hundred forty seconds.

As long as I can
remain conscious,

there's a chance for revival.

[XENO] If I eventually manage
to revive myself,

I know what I'll need.

Something for both
livestock feed

and to produce alcohol
for fuel.

Yellow dent corn.

There's a location
in the West Coast Corn Belt,

it will have hybridized there.

Or, better yet, if I'm lucky,

some kernels have been
preserved in a dormant state.

If there are any scientists
around at that time,

I'm certain
that's where they'll gather.

♪

[rock shatters]

[SENKU] It's not fate,
or even coincidence.

Rather, it's a consequence
of pure necessity.

[water splattering]

[XENO]
And it would be repeatable.

That is the essence.

[shatters]

-[SENKU] Of science!
-[XENO] Of science!

♪

NEXT EPISODE

THIS IS A
WORK OF FICTION.

THE PLANTS, ANIMALS,
AND PRODUCTION METHODS

DESCRIBED ARE REALITY
BASED.

PLEASE DO NOT IMITATE
WITHOUT EXPERTISE.