Chapter 390: Chapter 210 History Took a Turn Here (Still 10,000 Words!!)_3

Upon seeing this part where Xu Yun praised him, Little Niu couldn’t help but let out a slightly smug smile at the corner of his mouth.

But soon.

This smile was replaced by seriousness.

Because he saw Xu Yun’s reply about his barrel experiment below.

The barrel experiment.

This was a clever composite experiment thought up by Little Niu three years ago (in this timeline), and with it, he created what he considered an incredibly robust concept of absolute space-time.

Little Niu even proudly believed. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The value of this space-time concept might even surpass that of the law of universal gravitation, becoming one of the theoretical cornerstones supporting this world.

But in a subsequent experiment.

Little Niu suddenly discovered a certain situation that directly impacted his understanding.

As the famous inventor of the Newtonian reflecting telescope, Little Niu was also experienced in making mirrors and was a standard DIY enthusiast.

However, during a mirror-polishing session a few months ago, Little Niu unexpectedly discovered:

If you prepare a light source and shine it through a lens with large curvature onto an optical flat glass plate.

Then at the contact point of the lens and the glass plate, a series of colorful concentric ring patterns will appear.

These patterns were like whips, lashing at Little Niu, causing him much agony.

Seeing this.

Some of you might have already figured it out.

That’s right!

This phenomenon was the famously known Newton’s rings of later generations.

Newton Rings are a standard optical interference phenomenon, one of the best proofs of the wave nature of light, and even recorded in future textbooks.

But according to normal logic.

Little Niu in local history did not accept the wave theory:

He adopted a complex theory of "one moment easy to reflect, another moment easy to transmit," somewhat forcibly explaining this phenomenon with the particle theory.

But in this history.

Although Little Niu also experienced an unhappy childhood, during that period in Woolsop, his mindset received a massive impact:

First.

Xu Yun brought him a lot of money through tomato sauce.

These funds made Little Niu financially comfortable, no longer like in the original timeline, where he had to move to Sir Humphrey’s house due to inability to pay for living expenses.

He could comfortably live in William’s home, gaining the kind of familial and romantic affection that was scarce in his previous life — let’s not forget, Little Niu was not a single dog.

More crucially.

Not only the Yang Hui’s Triangle that Xu Yun proposed, but also Han Li’s expansion.

These profound pieces of knowledge, unheard of by Little Niu, made him suddenly realize that his abilities were not unique in the world.

In some places unknown to him, long, long ago, there were pioneers who walked a part of the path before him.

So after achieving numerous results.

Little Niu did not, like in his past life, act arrogantly, thinking that besides theology, he was the all-knowing, all-powerful sole truth.

On the contrary, in fact.

His thoughts were no longer so extreme, with a faint respect for the world.

Thus, after discovering the phenomenon of Newton Rings.

Little Niu did not reluctantly, or one might even say with some foolishness, use some reason to cover up the phenomenon as he did on the original track.

Instead, he seriously considered any other possibilities.

But if light is indeed a wave.....

Then his absolute space-time concept would face an unavoidable loophole because wave fluctuations are obviously not an absolutely rigid state of motion.

He wondered if Xu Yun could provide an answer to his confusion?

Little Niu continued reading.

Xu Yun first addressed the issue of the barrel experiment.

"I can roughly understand your line of thinking, at first glance, it also seems quite ingenious, with these six gradually increasing trains of thought....."

"However, did you ever consider...that there might be a mistake in your thought process at step five?"

"Let us assume..."

"Then the experimental phenomenon you conducted would become like this..."

"As the relative movement between the water and the barrel decreases..."

Looking at this part of the content.

Little Niu seemed like a sculpture of a thinker, remaining motionless.

But inside him.

That strongest mind of the 17th century was rapidly simulating and pondering over what Xu Yun said.

Half an hour later.

Little Niu set the letter down, breathing out deeply.

Indeed.

As expected of the Fat Fish...

This mysterious man from the East indeed brought him some novel ideas.

Upon rationalizing, Little Niu had to admit.

Xu Yun’s explanation was much more convincing than the phenomenon he observed himself. There was no way to refute it without flipping the table and acting shamelessly.

Therefore it was obvious.

The absolute space-time concept he thought about was wrong, at least not applicable in any field.

Thinking of this.

A sudden mix of fear and gratitude appeared in Little Niu’s heart:

Thank goodness this letter arrived early!

He had just conceptualized the idea of absolute space-time, and although he had hopes for its future, he hadn’t yet regarded it as ’truth,’ nor had he made it public.

If he were to see this letter when he was forty or fifty, with deeply ingrained thoughts.

At that time, his entire belief system might have collapsed.....

Then Little Niu strongly adjusted his breathing and continued reading on.

In fact, he had some preparation for the problem of absolute space-time beforehand; otherwise, he wouldn’t have written to Xu Yun.

Thus, after discovering the error in his concept thoroughly.

Little Niu quickly adjusted his mindset, eager to see if Xu Yun had any insight regarding the nature of light.