Chapter 185: A Megastructure?
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, several decades had passed.
“Good day, everyone! Welcome to the live broadcast of our daily science segment. Today, we have the renowned astrophysicist, Professor Staffin, here to address some of the public’s pressing questions.”
“Good day, Professor Staffin.”
“Good day to you, host.”
“Recently, we’ve received numerous letters from viewers intrigued by the shadow clusters around Planet A7. Many speculate that they might be artificial structures created by aliens. What are your thoughts on this matter?”
“Haha, this is a classic question. People have asked about this many times in the past. In truth, it’s a simple matter to explain. Those objects are natural formations that have existed there for ages. As you know, Planet A7 is a gas giant with an immense volume and equally immense gravity. Its gravitational pull captures numerous passing meteors, trapping them in its orbit over time. This accumulation forms what we call the meteor belt—what you’ve referred to as the shadow clusters.”
Professor Staffin, an elderly male Ratfolk with white and brown fur—a sign of his partial Kerrigan royal lineage—wore a tailored suit and black-framed glasses. His speech, combined with his refined appearance, exuded an air of credibility that naturally engendered trust in his words.
“Then why have we only recently discovered this meteor belt?” the host—a young female Ratfolk dressed in a floral dress—pressed further. Her tail, adorned with a decorative bow, peeked out from the folds of her skirt. Clearly unsatisfied with Staffin’s explanation, she continued probing.
“Well, we’ve known about it for quite some time. However, it was previously only of interest to specialists in certain circles. The claim that it was recently discovered arises from the broader public now having access to advanced observational tools. Many consumer-grade telescopes today are capable of spotting the meteor belt,” Staffin explained, pausing briefly before adding: