Chapter 1557: Fast-moving Foreign Media

A month later.

Inside the office, Chang Haonan was concentrating on the electronic cover of the latest issue of Nature in front of him.

Against the profound cosmic background, a cobalt atom is precisely anchored in a honeycomb lattice of hexagonal boron nitride, and an elegant beam of light symbolizing a programmed light field penetrates it.

The cover title is concise and powerful: "Light Field Programming: Anchoring the Future of the Atom."

It was the paper "Light-field programmed atomic arrays to achieve ultra-stable electrochemical interfaces" jointly published by him and Zhang Tao's team.

The results have already been achieved, and it’s time to sound the clarion call for counterattack.

He picked up the phone and dialed Zhou Zheng's number.

"Prosecutor Zhou, the results have been officially published. The most critical move on our side has been made."

"Don't worry, Academician Chang. We are almost done with the external investigation and evidence collection." Zhou Zheng said confidently on the other end of the line, "We are just waiting for your 'Dongfeng' to arrive. We will close the net immediately. Xiao Liming and Liming Technology will not be able to escape."

"Okay. I will immediately arrange for domestic official media to focus on reporting the achievements of the Lianhai Institute of Chemical Physics and Academician Zhang Tao's team. When public opinion heats up and forms natural pressure on those who "hinder technological progress," it will be the best time for you to take action." Chang Haonan had a clear mind, "Move quickly and secure the core evidence as soon as possible, especially the part involving overseas connections. I need to use this part to make my case."

Zhou Zheng’s reply was unusually straightforward: “I guarantee that I will complete the task!”

"Okay, hard work."

There was no personal relationship between the two, so after finishing the business, Chang Haonan put down the phone and began to think about the details of the subsequent publicity.

Especially the specific responsible units.

The News and Publicity Center of the Industrial and Construction Committee is undoubtedly the first choice. They have precise grasp of reports on industrial technology and cooperate well with me.

Most importantly, the position has been tested many times and is relatively reliable.

Having made his decision, he reached for the microphone again.

But at this moment, there was a gentle knock on the office door.

"Please come in."

Chang Haonan temporarily put his call plan on hold.

The door opened and Liu Chenchen walked in quickly, her face still showing shock, holding her laptop in her hand.

"Mr. Chang, please look at this!" She said hurriedly, with an air of disbelief, "In just this one hour, foreign media... especially those in the United States and Japan, have all been reporting crazily on that Nature paper, as if they had made an appointment!"

This sudden situation also caught Chang Haonan by surprise.

“The Nature paper?” he confirmed. “The one we published?”

"Yes, 'Light Field Programming of Atomic Arrays to Achieve Ultra-Stable Electrochemical Interfaces.'" Liu Chenchen answered affirmatively, and then quickly placed the laptop in front of Chang Haonan.

On the screen, the browser has opened a densely packed tab: Fox News, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, CNN, ABC, CBS, Los Angeles Times, Sankei Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun...even Al Jazeera.

All the world's well-known media, without exception, have been focusing on this scientific research achievement from China.

At least 20 or 30 media outlets all used Nature’s visually impactful cover as their most eye-catching title image.

Although the news headlines have different focuses, keywords such as "energy storage revolution", "lithium battery revolution", and "energy future" appear frequently as if copied and pasted.

Such uniform and massive positive reports even gave Chang Haonan the illusion of "all the world being one" for a moment.

Fortunately, reason quickly took over my brain.

Although it is not clear why the other party did this, it is definitely not out of kindness.

He casually clicked on two reports in the Wall Street Journal and the Asahi Shimbun and took a closer look, and was even more surprised.

The content of the report was not the expected open praise or veiled criticism or sarcasm, but rather it highly praised the disruptive application prospects of this new material in the field of battery electrodes.

"…This technology, called 'light field programming', has achieved the precise arrangement and anchoring of single metal atoms for the first time…The cobalt single atom array electrode material created by it has shown disruptive electrochemical properties…"

“The potential to increase energy density exceeds 100%… The cycle life is greatly extended… This is not only a leap forward in lithium battery technology, but it is also likely to completely rewrite the rules of the entire electrochemical energy storage field…”

"This is not an incremental improvement, but a tsunami. From smartphones to electric cars to grid energy storage, all devices that rely on batteries will usher in earth-shaking changes. Chinese scientists are standing at the forefront of the new industrial revolution..."

"..."

For a moment, Chang Haonan was left with only admiration.

If you want to see this ability to talk nonsense with open eyes, you have to look at the foreign media.

The words were so enthusiastic and the praise was so exaggerated that even the inventor himself felt embarrassed and his heart beat fast after reading them.

"This is too big a fuss..." Chang Haonan shook his head helplessly, his fingers unconsciously sliding on the mouse wheel, trying to clear his mind and sort out the turbulent undercurrent behind it.

At this moment, the landline phone on the table suddenly rang, and the shrill ringtone pulled him back from the center of the global public opinion storm.

"Hello, I'm Chang Haonan."

"Academician Chang, this is Zhang Tao!" Academician Zhang Tao's excited but bewildered voice came from the other end of the line, "Our Science and Technology Cooperation Office's phone has been bombarded with calls since this morning... They are all foreign media stationed in China! BBC, Reuters, AFP, NHK... There are at least 20 of them, all requesting to interview the researchers involved in the paper..."

Chang Haonan was also stunned.

The reaction speed and enthusiasm of overseas media far exceeded that of their domestic counterparts.

The script didn't go the way he expected at all.

But if you think about it carefully, it’s not a bad thing.

Instead, it saves the step of guiding public opinion in the early stages.

"Academician Zhang, since the attention is so high, it is better to take the initiative than to passively accept it." Chang Haonan made a quick decision, "Your institute should immediately prepare a formal press conference, and the standards can be higher."

"We think so too, and our superiors have agreed in principle. It is expected to be released within this week." Zhang Tao replied: "I called to confirm whether Academician Chang would like to send someone to attend the press conference? After all, the source of this achievement..."

"No, we won't show up." Chang Haonan refused decisively. "If Torch Laboratory or Candlelight Technology were present, it would be too instructive and would weaken the objectivity and credibility of the official statement, and easily lead to unnecessary speculation and backlash... As the direct completion unit of the results, it is most appropriate for your Institute of Chemistry to show up."

"I see." Zhang Tao expressed his understanding and then asked, "Then what should we say at the press conference? How do we strike a balance?"

"For the technical part, you should say what you want to say, be realistic, boldly display the data that should be displayed, and frankly acknowledge the limitations that should be acknowledged, and maintain the rigor of a scientist." Chang Haonan instructed, "The key is to point out at the right time, in a seemingly casual way, that because Candlelight Technology is currently mired in patent litigation, the industrial application and subsequent in-depth research of this technology have been seriously hindered..."

"I see! It's just like a casual complaint during a chat, right?" Zhang Tao understood.

"Yes, that's right. Know when to stop." Chang Haonan's mouth curled up.

As long as the news gets out, it won’t take long before FEI, or at least Conversant, becomes the target of public opinion around the world.

The other party’s reaction at that time will definitely be very exciting.

After hanging up the phone with Zhang Tao, he glanced at the time in the lower right corner of the computer.

To put it in perspective, it is now 9:15 a.m. Eastern Time.

There are only 15 minutes left before the U.S. stock market opens.

Chang Haonan's mind moved, and he quickly opened several financial websites and the real-time US stock market pages, and then adjusted the screen to the most conspicuous position -

He wanted to see what kind of huge waves this wave of public opinion sweeping the global media would stir up in the arena of capital.