Chapter 27: Artificial Womb Technology

Incidentally, Qin Yu was probably the person most knowledgeable about human growth, development, and aging mechanisms in human history.

Strictly speaking, even the very earliest developmental processes in the embryonic stage,

which are part of the entire human life cycle, had been subjects of Qin Yu’s contemplation earlier.

He had thought deeply about them in the past to unravel the secrets of the Lifespan Mechanism.

However, back then, the focus had been on finding ways to extend the entire life cycle.

This time, it was to ensure that the human body could complete the embryonic stage in an artificial environment, meeting the core needs of the earliest growth phases.

The emphasis had shifted.

Still,

the research for the artificial womb project took quite some time.

Even with Qin Yu, the person with the deepest and most comprehensive understanding of human biological mechanisms, overseeing everything,

the realization of Artificial Womb Technology still faced numerous practical challenges.

Many problems that didn’t even exist during natural growth in a mother’s womb became immense hurdles for the artificial womb.

One seemingly straightforward question – how to continuously provide nutrition to the fertilized egg in the early stages of embryonic development –

puzzled the Researchers in the project for quite a while.

Plants get nutrients through their roots. Ordinary people get nourishment and energy by eating and digesting through their digestive systems.

Even an unborn baby in the womb receives nutrients from the mother via the umbilical cord.

But what about this fertilized egg outside the maternal body? It didn’t have a digestive system yet, not even an umbilical cord.

And even if an umbilical cord developed, where would this embryonic cord be connected?

Some Researchers considered cultivating organoid-like biological tissues to assist with this process.

However, due to ethical concerns, the use of ‘wetware’ had to be minimized.

Finally, guided by Qin Yu, the Researchers designed a rather complex ‘Active Nutrient Supply System’ to solve this problem.

And within the entire Artificial Womb Technology, there were many other similar challenges.

Ultimately,

in December, Year 28 of the Common Era,

over a year after the Artificial Womb Technology research project began,

within Research Institute 011,

under Qin Yu’s direct involvement,

the first prototype device based on Artificial Womb Technology was created.

The Researchers gave it a name:

“Human Reproduction Device” or “Early Human Embryonic Development Device in Non-Natural Environments”.

They then prepared to conduct the first experiment based on this Artificial Womb Technology and device.

…

This development time certainly wasn’t considered fast by Qin Yu,

but for the other researchers at Research Institute 011 involved in this project, the research efficiency was practically soaring.

The birth of the Human Reproduction Device, the realization of Artificial Womb Technology, was undoubtedly another profoundly influential event in human history.

Remarkably, under the leadership of Professor Qin Yu, they had advanced it to this stage in just over a year.

When they saw the prototype Human Reproduction Device,

many Researchers within Research Institute 011 felt a bit dazed. Reflecting on the past year or so of research now seemed like a dream.

It was only with the tangible touch of the prototype’s shell beneath their fingers, confirming its existence, that this unreality shattered.

“Professor Qin, when you applied for the Artificial Womb Technology project, we all thought you might continue Life Extension Technology research after the 2611 Longevity Injection, or perhaps work on human genetics,”

said Academician Shen Yaoguo, head of the Chinese Academy of Sciences,

who had been specifically dispatched by higher authorities to Research Institute 011 shortly before the Human Reproduction Device’s first experiment.

He was there to witness this historic moment.

Now, changed into lab clothes and walking beside Qin Yu towards the Laboratory, Academician Shen Yaoguo spoke with a smile,

“At that time, I even wondered, Professor Qin Yu, whether you might use genetic tech to make future humans not need to eat at all. Photosynthesize, or even absorb nutrients directly in harsher environments. Humans like that would be much ‘hardier’ than ones like us now.”

Academician Shen Yaoguo’s remark stemmed from Qin Yu’s known “Apocalypse Anxiety”,

serving as a half-joking observation.

Qin Yu, upon hearing this, fell silent briefly. His quietness made the joking Academician Shen slow his pace slightly and turn to look at Qin Yu,

thinking Qin Yu had been provoked into pondering his words.

For Qin Yu,

Academician Shen’s idea actually did satisfy part of Qin Yu’s vision: to greatly increase humanity’s overall fault tolerance and survivability.

Humans engineered to survive on grass, soil, or sunlight would definitely be harder to wipe out.

But for Qin Yu, transforming humans into something unrecognizable raised a question: what difference would it be from him surviving within an alien civilization after human civilization perished?

When imagining an alien civilization he couldn’t adapt to, he had pictured one that didn’t eat at all, lacking even the habit of consumption.

How could he make humanity become that?

“Academician Shen, your idea is quite interesting. But personally, that’s not the future human society I desire for myself.”

“Then, Professor Qin, what is your envisioned future for Human Civilization like?”

It seemed like he was waiting for Qin Yu to say just that. As soon as Qin Yu spoke, Academician Shen pressed further,

adding with another smile the reason for his inquiry.

“Professor Qin Yu, you are an undeniable genius. In my life, I’ve never encountered anyone with such extraordinary talent in scientific research. Your work has already profoundly reshaped human society. I believe your thoughts, significantly, might influence the future direction of Human Civilization.”

Qin Yu turned and glanced at Shen Yaoguo. He didn’t obscure his thoughts and answered directly:

“The future world is unpredictable for anyone. Human Civilization itself is likely shaped by numerous contingencies. As for the future world I personally yearn for…”

“Perhaps it’s a world where, if Extraterrestrial Civilization exists, it poses no threat to humanity. A world where large-scale internal conflicts within Human Civilization have ended. A world abundant with material, resources, and energy – prosperous enough to enter a highly productive era. The total human population stabilizes within a certain magnitude. And the vast majority of threats in the natural environment can be predicted and avoided by humanity.”

Qin Yu outlined his requirements for the human world concisely.

To summarize further,

Human Civilization merely needed to survive.

“Such a future world you described, Professor Qin, sounds very beautiful… but I likely won’t live to see it. Unless you can achieve several more breakthroughs in Life Extension Technology.”

Hearing Qin Yu’s words, Academician Shen’s gaze seemed distant for a moment before he replied with a chuckle.

“However, Professor Qin Yu, each of the things you listed is exceptionally difficult to achieve.

We haven’t discovered Extraterrestrial Civilization yet, so its nature is unknown. But based on simple logic, even if humanity surpasses other civilizations within a certain scope, time passes. One peak is always exceeded by another; it’s unlikely Human Civilization could permanently hold the position of the universe’s strongest civilization. And even if humanity became the universe’s supreme power one day, decline is always possible.

Integration of Human Civilization might happen in the future, but separations could always follow. As for abundance of material, resources, energy… what degree truly counts as abundant? Meeting basic survival needs, or achieving self-actualization for every individual?

And to fully understand every natural threat would essentially require unraveling the universe’s greatest secrets. It’s hard to fathom what kind of society could accomplish that.”

Qin Yu listened to this but showed little visible reaction.

He was naturally aware of the things Academician Shen Yaoguo was pointing out.

“Being difficult to achieve might not be a bad thing. It means the civilization’s path of development still has a very long road ahead.”

Professor Qin Yu responded in this way,

“History is a spiral rise; our standards for the same goal and our hopes also change over time. We might never fully achieve it, but we always get closer step by step.”

“”Professor Qin, your words are reasonable, but sadly, we might not live to see such a world.” Academician Shen Yaoguo said this with a sigh.”

But after saying that, he ended the topic.

It was just casual chat and couldn’t decide anything at all.

To Academician Shen Yaoguo’s words, Qin Yu didn’t say any more.

“”Speaking of the ongoing development in life extension technology, I wonder if you’ve noticed, Professor Qin. Since your 2611 Longevity Injection was born, the academic world has seen a much bigger wave of research on life extension technology.”

“”It’s the same inside and outside the country. Any research institution or team even slightly related wants to start a life extension technology project. Under our Chinese Academy of Sciences alone, many research teams have applied.”

“”But most of them were rejected. After all, you’re not diving deeper into this yourself, Professor Qin, and many of those projects don’t really need to happen.”

“”However, the rush of research money from overseas and private groups into these projects is crazy. Some companies really throw in big money; it’s like they’re obsessed with pouring in cash.” Academician Shen Yaoguo changed the topic again and shook his head with emotion.”

Qin Yu hadn’t paid much attention to this matter, but he had heard a bit about it.

In truth, those rich people throwing crazy money at the life extension projects probably knew that most of the projects after the 2611 Longevity Injection were not reliable.

But just in case?

After all, Qin Yu is the Father of Longevity Technology.

Forget about investment gains – if some life extension tech better than the 2611 Longevity Injection came out, they could all live longer.

Originally, even before the 2611 Longevity Injection existed, Qin Yu’s two papers on longevity mechanisms were already often mentioned.

During this time, the number of times they were mentioned shot up like a rocket.

These papers were by the Father of Longevity Technology and were all about the actual mechanisms.

They became the ‘first papers’ to read for any researcher wanting to study in this area now.

At this moment, when Academician Shen Yaoguo brought up the matter, Qin Yu didn’t share many thoughts.

For Qin Yu himself, he definitely thought a research field getting too hot wasn’t a good thing.

All that money pouring into the same field could steal funds from other projects that were also helpful.

But he wasn’t bothered to deal with it at the time.

That kind of money was like both sides agreeing to it.

“”We’re here.” As he spoke, Qin Yu and Academician Shen Yaoguo reached the laboratory.”

… Unlike what most people think of high-tech things, this prototype device made by Research Institute 011 as an experimental stage really looked nothing like modern tech.

Although it wasn’t messy with loose wires everywhere, it was still not like sci-fi at all.

The whole device wasn’t small; at a quick look, it seemed big and clumsy.

It was over two meters tall, with a base diameter more than one meter.

It had a sort of box-like shape.

Inside, there was a sealed space shaped like a ball that the researchers named the Incubation Pod.

On the outside of the Human Reproduction Device, there was an observation window.

Through the window covered in a clear material, you could see inside the Incubation Pod.

At that time, the inside of the Incubation Pod was filled with a see-through liquid.

“”This is a nutrient solution developed under Professor Qin Yu’s direct lead. We call it the 011 Nutrient Solution or the Qin Nutrient Solution.”

In the laboratory, the researchers who would run the experiment had all arrived.

As Academician Shen Yaoguo peered with curiosity through the observation window to see the inside of the Human Reproduction Device, a middle-aged professor explained.

“”This nutrient solution effectively gives the growing embryo the right setting for nutrients. It also helps build the environment for the embryo’s development and growth.”

After hearing this, Academician Shen Yaoguo nodded.

Once he stood up straight again, he looked back at Qin Yu.

“”Professor Qin, honestly, your application for this experiment gave both us and the higher-ups a big problem.”

Qin Yu nodded but did not argue against what Academician Shen Yaoguo said.

Turning his head, Qin Yu took another look at the Human Reproduction Device prototype they had made.

With Qin Yu around and plenty of research resources put in, the Artificial Womb Technology and the Human Reproduction Device based on it had helped solve technical problems relatively easily.

Compared to Qin Yu’s earlier work on the 2611 Longevity Injection, the Human Reproduction Device brought up stickier moral issues.

Forget the problems that might come later; with this first use of the Human Reproduction Device for the real experiment, one key question arose.

Using the Human Reproduction Device meant that a baby would be grown fully inside it.

First, the ‘Doomsday Gene Bank’ inside Research Institute 011 did store many fertilized eggs.

Those could be used for training in this Human Reproduction Device.

That part wasn’t a problem.

But what if during the growing process in the Human Reproduction Device, the embryo died?

Even though Research Institute 011 had tested it on animals before.

This was the very first time the Human Reproduction Device was truly used to grow a human baby.

You could only say that early steps lowered the chance of failure, but no one could promise zero problems.

So if the embryo died while growing, should the researchers at Research Institute 011 who worked on the project be blamed?

Even normally, an embryo not yet born isn’t counted as a ‘person’ and doesn’t have rights like a real human.

But how could anyone just accept such an event?

Second, if everything went well and the baby was born successfully from the Human Reproduction Device, what then for this baby?

Genetically, this baby would have parents.

But in society, it would have no parents at all.

It wouldn’t have any natural family ties or place in the world.

Between these two cases, or even in a middle situation…

What if the embryo grew successfully in the Human Reproduction Device but ended up damaged or deformed due to a flaw?