Orion Crest, Series_1

Chapter 196: Four or three

　　Germany, inside the classroom of crystal chemistry at the University of Munich.

　　Professor Gerhard Ertl, in a rare move, did not give teaching duties to his teaching assistants, but stood up in the classroom himself to explain the mysteries of crystal chemistry to these young students.

　　Indeed, many eminent scholars enjoyed themselves and were happy to share their knowledge with the young students. Professor Ertl was no different, especially when he got bogged down with a complex problem.

　　Engaging in basic education always inspired him at critical moments.

　　During the question period at the end of the class, a student suddenly raised his hand and asked.

　　"Professor, have you read the paper on theoretical models of electrochemical structural interfaces that recently published in JACS?"

　　Professor Ertl paused for about two seconds, pushed up his old glasses, and nodded.

　　" Yes, what's the problem?"

　　The student looked at him with expectant eyes and asked, "Is it right?"

　　Ertl thought for a moment and said in a casual tone, "My boy, out of scientific rigour, that's a question I can't answer for the moment."

　　The student, however, did not seem satisfied with this vague answer, and, changing his line of questioning, continued, "What if it is correct?"

　　"There are no ifs in science, but if you have to ask ......"

　　Professor Ertl frowned, seemingly reluctant to comment on the topic, but eventually he stretched his eyebrows and said in a light-hearted tone, "If it's right, then it means new chemistry."

　　The classroom resounded with incredulous gasps.

　　New chemistry!

　　What a shocking statement!

　　If someone else had said that, those in the room probably wouldn't have taken it seriously at all. But the one who said this was Professor Ertl, the 07 Nobel Prize winner and an expert in the field of solid surface chemistry!

　　In addition to his position as a professor at the University of Munich, he is also the director of the Fritz Haber Institute (Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry) of the German Max Planck Society.

　　In this field of electrochemistry, who could be more authoritative than him?

　　Watching the reaction of the students, Professor Ertl smiled.

　　"I am glad to see that you guys are optimistic about the birth of a new theory. You are right, only by constantly accepting new things can we make progress."

　　"But while being curious about new things, I hope that you will always remember to examine every conclusion we make with a rigorous attitude."

　　"This is responsible for science."

　　After leaving the classroom, Professor Ertl did not return directly to his office, but got into his car and rushed to the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin.

　　The recent paper published in JACS had caused widespread controversy in the chemistry community. As one of the world's leading academic research institutes, the Max Planck Society was obliged to take a stand on the paper.

　　Considering the importance of this theoretical model for the study of electrochemical interfacial structures, the Max Planck Society has set up a special interdisciplinary panel, gathering leading scholars in the fields of mathematics, chemistry, and condensed matter physics to discuss this theoretical model.