It came as no surprise.
This issue of Science caused quite a stir in academic circles in the United States and across the world.
Especially when people discovered that the paper published in Science, one of the world's leading journals, was actually an undergraduate thesis.
It sparked heated discussion among countless people!
The paper even went viral beyond academia!
On Twitter, countless users expressed their astonishment.
"Good lord, how can the gap between people be this huge?"
"WTF?! A Science paper just to graduate from college? Where do you even go from there?!"
"Are undergraduates in Xia Country all this impressive now?!"
"Wait, why are you all focusing on such weird things? Shouldn't we be looking at what the paper actually says? Since being kicked out of ITER, Xia Country's controlled nuclear fusion technology has already surpassed that of the United States!"
"That's strange. I remember ITER saying Xia Country stole experimental data. Would Xia Country even want ITER's data?"
"@Albert, Mr. President, care to explain? Is Xia Country about to overtake the United States?"
"@Albert, tell me, where is all our taxpayer money going?!"
Unlike the online spectators who were always eager for more drama, a stifling atmosphere filled the president's office in the United States.
Bang!
Albert, his head crowned with blond hair, slammed his palm onto the desk and glared darkly at the man before him.
"Anthony, I need an explanation!"
"Why does Xia Country suddenly have such advanced controlled nuclear fusion technology?!"
"And what the hell is ITER doing? All those top scientists can't even beat one undergraduate from Xia Country?"
"Are you kidding me?!"
"Do you know what my followers on Twitter are saying about me?!"
Anthony's expression darkened. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Beside him, the white-haired Professor Collins stepped forward and said hoarsely, "Mr. President, this... was my mistake."
"Xia Country's progress in controlled nuclear fusion research has exceeded my expectations."
When Professor Collins spoke, Albert's expression softened a little. "Then... Professor, what do you think the United States should do next?"
At the president's question, a glint flickered in Collins's eyes.
After a moment's deliberation, Collins slowly said, "Mr. President, the United States must pick up the pace!"
"We absolutely cannot fall behind Xia Country in controlled nuclear fusion."
Albert nodded thoughtfully. Then his gaze shifted slightly, and he picked up a document from his desk and handed it to Professor Collins.
"Professor, Congress has approved your proposal. They've even given you an extra ten percent in funding."
Delight appeared in Professor Collins's eyes, and he reached out to take the document.
But Albert spoke again.
"There is one condition, though."
"Congress requires that the first controlled nuclear fusion experimental facility be completed within three years!"
Collins's expression changed drastically. "Mr. President, that's impossible!"
"Three years is far too short!"
Collins shook his head like a rattle drum!
What a joke!
Build a large Tokamak Device in three years?
That thing at ITER took more than a decade to build!
Three years?
They probably wouldn't even have the foundations finished!
"That's not my concern. Those are Congress's terms." Albert shrugged and said indifferently, "If you can't do it, someone else will take your place."
Professor Collins's expression darkened.
That was certainly true.
This was a lucrative job!
Who knew how many people in American academia were eagerly eyeing this prize?
At that thought, a bitter smile spread across Collins's face.
"In that case... I'll do my best."
Albert nodded in satisfaction and repeated pointedly, "Remember, you only have three years!"
Collins nodded bitterly.
That evening, a video was uploaded to Albert's Twitter account.
In the video, Albert sat behind the presidential desk with a solemn expression and said in all seriousness, "First, on behalf of the United States, I congratulate Xia Country on successfully achieving controlled nuclear fusion in the laboratory."
"Over the past two days, I've seen quite a few people asking me a question on Twitter."
"Is Xia Country about to overtake the United States? Or, to put it another way, how is the development of controlled nuclear fusion technology progressing in the United States?"
"I'd like to answer those questions here, for everyone."
"The United States has always been committed to researching controlled nuclear fusion technology!"
"Effective immediately, ITER will resume its controlled nuclear fusion experiments. At the same time, the United States will build a large controlled nuclear fusion experimental facility within three years!"
"Believe me, in three years, you'll be using electricity generated by nuclear fusion!"
At the very moment Albert posted his tweet, the official Xia Country News account on Weibo released an announcement.
Xia Country News: Effective immediately, Xia Country's controlled nuclear fusion demonstration reactor project has been officially approved.
Because of the time difference, it was precisely six in the morning in Capital City.
Even so, within just a few minutes, countless users eager to see the excitement flooded the comments beneath the Xia Country News post.
"Well, damn! That's all I can say!"
"A demonstration reactor already? Does that mean... controlled nuclear fusion technology is mature?"
"Holy shit? Why does it feel like the whole world changed while I was asleep?"
"Now this is interesting. The United States made an announcement at the same time. Albert uploaded a video about controlled nuclear fusion on Twitter. Anyone interested can go take a look."
"Please, someone repost it here!"
"Seconding the request!"
"+10086!"
"..."
There was no denying the incredible efficiency of internet users. Especially when it came to following drama, they could always unleash unprecedented potential!
Within ten minutes, a high-definition video with subtitles had been uploaded to Weibo.
Someone even condensed the video's contents into text and compared it with the announcement from Xia Country News.
Once someone put the two side by side, public discussion exploded!
"Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit?! It feels like Xia Country is taking the United States head-on!"
"You know what? It really does!"
"This reminds me of the arms race the United States started back in the day."
"..."
As the discussion continued, a new phrase shot straight onto Weibo's trending list!
"Technology Race"
At the direction of Xia Country's senior leadership, the Xia Country News account quietly published another Weibo post.
"We will never forget the humiliation Xia Country's researchers suffered during the ITER Project!"
"Controlled nuclear fusion technology is the key that will open the door to the future interstellar age."
"Xia Country will never hand over controlled nuclear fusion technology on a silver platter!"
Those few sentences set the already heated atmosphere on Weibo ablaze!
Countless users' eyes filled with tears!
After all these years!
Xia Country had finally stood its ground!
"No regrets being born in Xia Country in this life; in the next, may I return to the Flower Planting Country!"
Row after row of identical comments streamed beneath the Xia Country News post!