Chapter 1316 Affecting Not Just Physics

There's an odd pairing at Princeton.

That is Paul Krugman and Professor Albert-Laszlo Barabasi.

The reason why this pair is very strange is not because of what happened between the two people, but because the subjects they study are difficult for ordinary people to understand. Even the avant-garde headmaster Isgrubb just gave an indescribable look after hearing it, without making any comments.

When it comes to the experience of the two getting acquainted, it is also full of many surprises.

At first, it was because of the exchange of business cards at the dinner party after an academic conference. Later, when they discussed the big proposition of where human beings will go in the future, the two agreed unexpectedly. Evolutionary process" brain hole.

It just so happens that one of them is an economist who is passionate about natural science, and the other is a physicist who is passionate about sociology, and they can complement each other in their respective fields of expertise.

Although when they were in St. Petersburg, they unfortunately failed to recruit Lu Zhou to study the mathematical model for predicting the future, but even without the help of the world's best mathematician, the two of them still did not give up. Continue to work hard in the direction.

Although there is no obvious progress in related research so far...

In the coffee shop near the teaching building.

As usual, the two sat opposite each other, enjoying the afternoon tea time, while chatting about some incomprehensible topics about some recent events.

"...For interstellar high-speed travel, the theory of relativity determines that there is a phenomenon of time dilation in different coordinate systems. If there is a pair of twin brothers, one day the elder brother takes a spaceship to travel to the α civilization for a long-distance space trip, while the younger brother He stayed on the earth. When the elder brother returns to the earth, we will find that he is younger than the younger brother who stayed on the earth... There is nothing wrong with my interpretation."

Listening to Professor Krugman's speech, Albert nodded with interest and said, "No problem...but what does it mean in economics?"

"Just saying that doesn't mean much, but if we replace the twin brothers with two opportunistic businessmen, the result is very different. You know, in business behavior, time is a very important cost, If the profit of a trade route is not as good as the regular interest of the bank on the parent planet, then the flight will be unprofitable."

"This involves a formula," Krugman scribbled a line of calculations on a sticky note, and pushed it in front of Professor Albert with his index finger. "It is the starting point of everything."

【pE*·qE·pα/pα*≥(C+pE·qE)·(1+r)2n. 】

Taking a closer look at the formula on the sticky note, Albert raised his eyebrows involuntarily.

"...a very strange formula."

"It's quite strange, but it contains a very important theory - that is my first theorem of interstellar trade," Krugman smiled boastfully, and continued, "The same inertial coordinate system When trading between planets, the calculation of interest should use the clock of the inertial system of the planet, not the clock of the spaceship system. At the same time, assuming that the interest rate of the earth bank is r, if and only if the inequality holds, this trip will not' at a loss'."

Albert: "A very interesting point of view... Speaking of which, since there is the first theorem, is there a second theorem?"

"Of course, due to the existence of trade competition, planets with the same inertial coordinate system will gradually tend to the same rate, this is the second theorem... However, they are all invalidated now probably," the old man let out a giggle, while saying The result is full of regrets, but his voice sounds quite happy, "These theories are all based on the fact that the theory of relativity is absolutely correct, that is, we have not found a standard beyond the speed of light."

"Now, while relativity is still true, we've found a shortcut to alien planets...at least in theory. When time doesn't dilate and travel times shorten, we don't have to think about the long Journeys could kill off simple arbitrage."

"Actually, what I'm really trying to say is... haven't you noticed? That hyperspace theory affects not just physics, but economics."

Hearing this sentence, Professor Albert fell into deep thought.

After a long time, he sighed lightly.

"You are right. The progress of science has brought great uncertainty to mathematical models. Even with the most perfect and rigorous calculations, it is difficult to predict this kind of nonlinear leap. Even if our mathematics The model has successfully predicted what might happen in the next hundred years, but as long as there is one 'Professor Lu' in this hundred years, all our predictions can be overturned."

Krugman nodded slightly.

"What I am worried about is exactly this. To study the overall change of civilization must weaken the role played by individuals in the process of civilization, but when the role of individuals cannot be ignored, this process will no longer be so in line with objective laws."

At this moment, a young man walked quickly outside the coffee shop.

He was wearing a gray suit and looked a little unusual, as if he had just seen or heard something incredible. I saw this man walked straight to the side of the two professors, and spoke in a dream-like tone.

"professor……"

"Good afternoon, Dr. Milson." Looking up at his assistant, Professor Krugman said with a friendly smile, "What makes you look so surprised."

"You asked me to collect information about the Tiancang Five Alien System Colonization Fund..."

"Any news?"

"Yes," Mumu nodded, the assistant hesitated for a while, and then said in a difficult tone, "That fund... seems to be managed by Xiaotong."

"...Xiao Tong?"

Krugman froze.

It took a long time before he came back to his senses. He sat upright on the chair, looked at his assistant in disbelief, and asked, "Wait, you mean... your junior sister? That Xiaotong ?”

The assistant said with a wry smile.

"Yes...it's already a public matter."

He opened his mouth blankly, and after a long silence, Krugman spoke.

"I see... let's do it for now."

The assistant nodded, turned and walked away.

Leaning back on the chair again, Krugman pinched the space between his brows with some nerve-wracking.

Originally, in his plan, he also planned to find a way to get in touch with the manager of this fund who has recently been in the limelight in the economics field, have a cup of afternoon tea together, and exchange academic issues, so as to complete the project he is conceiving. that subject.

But now...

He really didn't expect that this person would be his student.

"I can't believe it..." Albert, who was sitting across from him, opened his mouth and looked at Professor Krugman in a daze. "It's actually...that student of yours who is managing this fund."

That's 10 billion!

Not something as casual as a graduation thesis!

It's not that he doubts Xiaotong's ability, but would a normal person hand over so much money to a doctoral student who hasn't graduated yet?

"It does sound unbelievable..." Putting down his index finger and thumb on the center of his brow, Professor Krugman had a complicated expression on his face, "...But, it does seem like something he can do. "

In fact, Xiaotong's ability is good, and she usually works very hard.

The only thing that needs to be said is that it lacks practical experience.

In fact, according to his mentor's point of view, maybe it would be better for her to start as a small assistant. It would be too risky to directly start such a difficult job...

But how?

If you don't care about the gains and losses of hundreds of millions, you can ignore these problems.

Having such a brother who is not short of money is one of her advantages...

“…Unlike other students I’ve taught, she’s one of those rare people who, especially in a place like Princeton, can balance theory and applied economics, want to do both and do both. It’s not easy getting to the point of prominence.”

Albert took a sip of coffee and asked curiously.

"Is she talented?"

"Not the most talented," Krugman shook his head, "but she's probably the hardest working."

Moreover, the starting point is much higher than the average person.

With the halo of the Nobel Prize winner's sister, even if Lu Zhou does nothing, just relying on his prestige in the academic world and his relationship with many professors in Princeton, he can win the greatest resources for her.

It's like a letter of recommendation from a celebrity.

Her surname itself is a very, very awesome recommendation letter, and it is the kind that is commonly used in the academic world and does not need to be shown.

Under such circumstances, even if she doesn't work hard, she won't do badly, not to mention that she is a girl who is not inferior to her brother in terms of diligence...

"The future economic model is a very promising direction. Compared with other fields, we have very little research on this field. Now it happens to be in an era of rapid development, and it is difficult for old theories to adapt to new ones. Change, even if it seemed very advanced at the time ... like the "Interstellar Trade Theory" I said earlier."

After a pause, Professor Krugman continued.

"I learned about the topic of her recent thesis, which happens to be related to the recently popular 'Alien System Colonization Fund'. Whether it is applied economics or theoretical economics, this is an opportunity for her."

Professor Albert: "Opportunity?"

Krugman nodded.

"An opportunity to combine theory and application and to find some kind of balance between them."

"The entire economics circle is taking the 'Tiancang Five Alien System Colonization Fund' as a sample for studying the future social and economic activities of human civilization, and as the manager of this sample. I believe that with her insight, it should not be difficult to find out What... After all, she is the person closest to the 'truth', even if I can learn more information than her."

"If... I mean if, she can summarize the laws and discover something different about human social and economic activities after the hyperspace theory."

Facing Professor Albert's gradually surprised expression, Krugman said in a tone that didn't seem like he was joking.

"Perhaps in her lifetime, she really has the hope of winning the Nobel Prize..."