FILED UNDER PROJECT: EDEN
ALPHA-NAUGHT CLEARANCE REQUIRED
Research Report 07-01-53
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Capt. Keynes: It has been three days since we arrived at New Haven. After positioning the Nimbus in low orbit over our planned research site, we established our prefab base camp in the upper canopy, a process which lasted two days. In that time, we were unable to find any evidence of additional life forms other than the tree-like flora. After an additional six hours, the ambient radiation had dropped to human tolerance levels, and we were able to safely remove our exosuits. It was at this point that the Biology Department began its investigation of the flora while Chief Astrophysicist Doolan and I began running astrophysical and geological tests. C.AP. Doolan, please report on our findings.
C.AP. Doolan: *cough* After running some magnetoscopic and seismic tests, it was confirmed that the planet lacks a magnetosphere. Preliminary readings suggest that the core is composed primarily of dense heavy metals, which might account for the similarity to Earth’s gravity despite the significant difference in planetary size. We were also able to confirm the presence of liquid water, although nearly all that we have been able to detect is within the trees. We, uh, also confirmed that the atmosphere is an Earth-like Nitrogen-Oxygen mix, by, well, taking off our suits and not immediately dying.
Capt. Keynes: We had already established the chemical makeup of the atmosphere before arriving. This is an official report. Leave the sarcasm out.
C.AP. Doolan: Sorry, Captain.
Capt. Keynes: C.B. Belrose, will you please report on your findings regarding the ecosystem?
C.B. Belrose: Aye, Sir. After the background radiation dropped to safe levels, Associate Biologist Douglas and I began our investigation with the flora. Our initial guess was that the trees, if they might be called that, were all of the same species, as they were phenotypically identical. Judging from the images captured by the initial unmanned probes, it also seemed as though this single species was global. At first we thought that the trees might act as some kind of natural radiation shield for the planet, as we had already seen their impressive ability to absorb radiation, a process that we still do not fully understand. However, our investigation did not bear this hypothesis out. Despite the Nimbus acting as an artificial radiation shield for the upper canopy, our investigation revealed that the radiation levels farther down the trees were exceptionally high. It also appeared as though the radiation was not solar or cosmic in origin, a matter that C.AP. Doolan is investigating.
C.AP. Doolan: That investigation is still pending.
C.B. Belrose: As for the vegetation itself, A.B. Douglas and I were able to confirm through genetic testing that the trees are not only the same species, but are actually the same lifeform. Our current hypothesis is that the lifeform has a communal root system that covers the entire planet. We are codenaming this lifeform “Yggdrasil” for the time being. We have also thus far been unable to find any additional lifeforms whatsoever. There does not even seem to be any bacteria on the trees. We may discover something after further research and exploration, but at the moment, it seems that the only lifeform on New Haven is this tree. As to how it can survive and even absorb high levels of radiation, that research is still pending.
Capt. Keynes: That is all we have to report at this time. We will make a secondary report in 72 hours. Captain Keynes out.
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