The chapter title bears a close similarity to the one of chapter 190, which was ‘Science transcends life’. Back then, the stakes of the story were at an all time high. Our protagonists were collapsing all over the place, and the only thing that could save the day was Medusa. Which as we know it is futuristic science, but the point of that title is everyone would have died without it.
In this chapter, the stakes of the story are low. The story telling is relaxed, and we are amid computer building. Computers are a form of science that are well known around the world. The title here is more about human ability vs. technology, even though the technology was created by humans.
With Sai joining the party, the computer making process can gain complete and uninterrupted focus, and can reach incredible heights. Back in Corn City, Magma kicks up a fuss about the donut making process. He thinks that the work is tedious, pointless. He also kicked up a fuss back when they were making diamonds, telling Senku that he’d kill him for making them work on things that were so small.
To motivate Magma, Gen suggests a Mathlympics contest. Mathlympics contests are also quite common in real life, quite like Math contests.
The winning team will get a hundred million dragos. Another strategy used by Gen, which works well in motivating both Magma and Yo. He used a similar tactic back in the Age of Exploration arc, to get Magma and Yo to work on planting wheat. Back then, the prize was being crowned Food King.
Speaking of being food king, this chapter shows us Taiju planting corn. Something I have been waiting for a long time, the main reason he was sent back to the USA (Yuzuriha aside). We know Taiju is great at maintaining gardens, so him growing the corn field is a great character moment. The fact that the corn is already being harvested shows us that it is autumn. Some time has passed in story (again).
With Corn City being established, the next step on the roadmap to computers is ready to be set up. Computer memory. Sai says that he assumed semiconductors would be needed for that, which is a reference to semiconductor chips. These are used in modern day computers. Seeing how they are made, it's understandable why Senku says it could be 10 years before they're available.
Senku says that they will improvise and use magnets, which is a reference to magnetic core memory. Magnetic core memory was predominantly used in computers between 1955 and 1975.
FYI, magnetic core memory was replaced by semiconductor chips, which we still use to date. 😉
How does magnetic core memory work? Ukyo explained it this chapter. Each of the donuts was a bit, magnetized one way for zero, and the other way for one. The wires could both detect and change the magnetization. In 1953, MIT’S whirlwind became the first computer to use this technology.
In the past, the work of designing these magnetic core memories mostly fell to women using microscopes and steady hands to thread thin wires through holes about the diameter of pencil lead.
And we all know who our top craftswoman of the Kingdom of Science is, right? 😊
The diameter is also referenced in the chapter as well.
The revived Corn City residents work hard on developing the magnetic core memory, and we get another moment to see Joel’s expertise at being a craftsman. Though this time, he is not working or watches. Or the Medusa. He helps them develop Nixie tubes, which are like vacuum tubes (At least appearance wise). Vacuum tubes were developed in the story before.
There is a difference in how the two operate though. Vacuum tubes require the removal of air (Through mercury), while nixie tubes require gases to be inserted in the tube. The process of putting in gases into the tube makes the Nixie tube a cold-cathode tube. Vacuum tubes are referred to as hot-cathode tubes (For your information 😉)
Everyone combines their skills, and the first core memory of the Stone World is developed. It needs to be tested though. Put in practice. Which is where the previously mentioned Mathlympics contest comes into play. The contestant for the American city team is…. Magma. A surprising choice. But a choice that Xeno says is perfect, considering his lack of arithmetic ability.
We have some knowledge about the cast’s academic abilities, though at the time, Magma was not included. Could he be lower than Taiju?
Surprising everyone, he finds the correct answer. Even beating Sai and Senku, who Kohaku expected to win. And we know just how good Senku is at mental math, from him counting how many records Lilian sold. Or figuring out the current date from counting all the seconds up to 3,700 years.
Magma’s victory means that his side is due 100 million dragos, an amount that Francois is all too willing to send to them. Minami is the one in charge of the finances on the Corn City side, giving us a sweet character moment to conclude the chapter. Right before they set out for America, Ryusui and Minami had a conversation about money. Ryusui told her that it is not a tool meant to control people, but rather to motivate them to attain their goals. Such as the goal to complete a Stone World computer, as we have seen in this chapter.
This chapter had so many character moments, which was lovely to watch unfold. And we got to see more Corn City antics. Magma had a great defining moment since he is mostly known for his brawn. But he got a brainy moment this chapter, which may have surprised him as much as it surprised us. Yuzuriha continues to be more than just the queen of handicrafts as she acts as a knowledgeable leader, and even Minami had a moment this chapter.
Just feel-good vibes all around. Wonder how long it will be now before they have their computer.
Trivia:
-Gen was the one in charge of hosting the Mathlympics, which is quite like his role in the old world as a stage host.
-Kinro was shown handling the magnets this chapter. Which is not his first time working with magnets. He was there the first time Senku made magnets in the series, back in the village. He also helped operate the generator which relies on magnets.
-The statues being revived in the USA all have numbers on them, much like the ones in South America. To do with Dunbar’s number. They are making sure not to go over the number 150, in every new settlement they set up.
-Chelsea says on Page 12 that India has got loads of fuel they can use. Which is a fact, much like the olive oil in Spain. India produces 1,016,370.64 barrels per day of oil (as of 2016) ranking 20th in the world. India produces every year an amount equivalent to 7.8% of its total proven reserves (as of 2016).
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