Chapter 273: The True Nature of Black Goo
Shortly after, a dark cylindrical jar 40 centimeters tall and 15 centimeters thick appeared before Chen Chen.
Chen Chen took several paces back when he saw this all-too-familiar object, he ordered, “X, send this item to the Spire Experimental Base, put it in the highest grade biosafety laboratory.”
“Understood, what do you plan to do with this object you instantiated?”
Little X asked curiously, “Based on what was seen in the movie, black goo seemed to only be able to create life forms like aliens.”
“Nothing major, it’s just that for someone dealing with biology research, a substance like black goo raises one’s interest.”
Shaking his head, Chen Chen expressed with a mild smile. “You won’t be able to understand such human emotions for now. Also, the primary usage of the black goo is certainly for the creation of aliens, however, this isn’t the only thing it’s capable of.”
“You mean to say ...” Little X asked with a mix of emotions.
“Based on what was seen in the movie, when the black goo infects its subject from the inside, it causes the cells to break down, which are then subst.i.tuted with newly-formed DNA. In contrast, when it infects its subjects from the outside, it will begin to mutate rapidly and aggressively.”
Chen Chen continued his explanation. “Later on in Alien: Covenant, David explained the usage of black goo again. The nature of the black goo is like an invasive AI, it disrupts substances and provokes unique reactions in each cell. From it, it reconstructs a new life form, its potential is immeasurable...
“Do you understand now? The terror of the black goo doesn’t lie in its ability to create aliens, but in its ability to create a new life form. If a new advanced life form able to reproduce and evolve independently, this is a wonder unable to be replicated by any current technology.”
It was only after Chen Chen finished when he unplugged the USB drive and disinfected himself thoroughly before exiting the isolation room.
An hour later, when Chen Chen returned the USB drive to the control center and returned to the Spire Experimental Base, the Black Knights had already taken the jar of black goo to a level-4 biosafety laboratory.
After going through the processes of disinfection again, Chen Chen put on the positive pressure protective suit properly. He then proceeded to step into the highest-grade biosafety laboratory that had been sealed till now.
Based on international standards, biosafety laboratories were divided into four grades. Level-one laboratory had a defined specialization and was proven not to cause disease such as measles virus and mumps virus.
A level-two laboratory researched microbial substances related to some common human diseases such as influenza virus, with a moderate degree of risk.
The three-level biosafety level laboratory researched high-risk microbial substances such as Yersinia pestis, rabies virus, and HIV. Biosafety laboratories of this level should already be equipped with advanced protective facilities.
The highest grading was the level-four biosafety laboratory. This cla.s.s specializes in extremely dangerous microorganisms such as Ebola. Even the slightest drop of water or puff of air produced from the laboratory had to be decontaminated thoroughly before allowed to be disposed of outside the laboratory.
Meanwhile, Chen Chen had trumped the list with an even higher, level-five biosafety laboratory. Protective features, rate of contamination, all of the related features of this laboratory were several times higher than that of a level-four biosafety lab. Raising aliens in this place should not be worrisome.
The reason that the level-five biosafety laboratory was never officially put into operation was that no substance had ever pa.s.sed the need for a biosafety laboratory above level-four. Even the BE-006 Blacklight virus that came close to wiping out the entirety of Africa was not subjected to a level-five biosafety laboratory.
Today marked the day for the very first time the level-five biosafety laboratory that had been vacant all this time was put into operation. There was no ceremony whatsoever. Not a single staff member of the Spire Experimental Base was informed of this, just like how it was with the T-virus which Chen Chen was modifying in the secret laboratory.
Entering the laboratory, Chen Chen first did a visual sweep of the environment. The level-five biosafety laboratory was not located on the top floor of the Spire, but on the unknown-to-public bottom floor.
Chen Chen had an isolated s.p.a.ce excavated deep below the Spire Experimental Base that could sever the connection with the Spire above at any time. Covering an area of 5,000 square meters, there were a total of 13 laboratories all with different functions, and two sets of living rooms with four rooms and a hall. The implemented security measures were dialed up to maximum.
At the present, only four Black Knights tasked with the research operation entered with Chen Chen. Each one of them carried an identical disinfected cage made for mice. There were four groups of mice in total that would soon become the first subject for the black goo.
There was no need for Chen Chen to micromanage as the Black Knights displayed discipline above that of professors and started the experiment following all standard protocols.
One of the Black Knights approached a biosafety cabinet. Beneath the thick gla.s.ses of the cabinet, the jar of black goo could be seen sitting idly.
The level-three biosafety cabinet was designed for usage in level-three and four biosafety laboratories. They were suitable for use in extremely high-risk biology research. The cabinet was completely enclosed. The only way for the researcher to interact with the substance was by using the pair of built-in gloves joined to the inside of the cabinet. This was the reason it was also named the glove box.
The black knights swiftly reached in with his hands padded with protective suit material and began fixing the jar of black goo inside the biosafety cabinet.
Based on an observation of David in the movie, it could be seen that the jar was easily opened. The Black Knight only barely twisted the lid before the jar opened.
“The jar seems to be made of silica, hard and brittle, but not dangerous.”
Little X provided a live narration of the angle of observation from the Black Knights’ eyes.
Chen Chen remained silent and stepped forward. He immediately met a jelly-like substance inside the jar. There were four popsicles in the clump of jelly.
“This jelly-like substance should be a buffer, helps buffer and shockproof its contents.”
Following Little X’s mention, the Black Knight promptly removed the four popsicles. The popsicles miraculously popped out immediately, their surface completely unstained.
“The buffer solution appears to consist of nanomaterial, they are very silky and don’t easily attach to the surface of objects.” Little X made further observations.
Chen Chen had a good look at the popsicle-like objects as well. It was referred to as popsicles because the shape of the object closely resembled a popsicle, with split sections in between. The popsicles took on a semi-transparent form with mild green liquid inside.
The only difference was that the outer sh.e.l.l of the popsicles was made of gla.s.s material. Apart from a large portion of its contents being the green liquid, there was a small residue of black substance at its bottom.
When the Black Knight gave it a gentle shake, the black substance immediately fused with the green liquid, transforming the popsicle into pure black color.
This was the true nature of the black goo.