APC News

A butterfly crosses a hundred years, one wing skimming a vast sea. A black swan rises with the wind; a falling feather brushes a gray rhinoceros’s hoof. This is a story spanning centuries, the universe, and chaos theory, and the third installment in our Scientist Cosplay series.
Text: Sirius King
On camera: Sirius King, Weilong
Makeup: Xunsheng
Props: San
Wigs: Chazi, Bai Lang (I was so busy that day I forgot to bring one. Sorry.)
Photography: Cold Moon Lone Star
Studio: Yaoxiao
Behind-the-scenes photography: Yuxuan, Zhonglin
Logistics: Zhonglin, Yuxuan, Xunsheng, plus two people I could not tag as friends: @TZ and an unnamed young woman
European history consultant: Herr von Schnelltenberg
Costume design team: Sirius King, Weilong, Feibao
Post-production: Song Ziming (our dedicated editor, whose good deeds are beyond measure and who is the loveliest person!)
Story discussion: Omshirogua, Cold Moon Lone Star
Special thanks: Weilong, Millisecond, and the official account. Thanks to the E.A.K. and APC platforms.
Assistance: Uncle Yu, Yaoxiao, Huhu, Linglan, Brother Gou, Baishui, Lu Qing, Su Chen, Lele, Fengge, Fan_GG, kviio
Also: I designed the T-shirt myself, and the pencil case came from Guokr.
~~~~~ Divider below ~~~~~
First, I owe everyone an apology. This set was produced in a rush even though the full process took a very long time. If I have left anyone out of the credits above, my memory simply failed me. I am truly sorry.
I am now in the first semester of my senior year. Last year, I planned to make one set a year, but when the pandemic began this year, I started with Wu Lien-teh. /crying with laughter Then, after more than six unsettled months of the domestic outbreak, much of my equipment remained at school while the campus would not let us return. There was still no word during online classes about reopening in September, so I decided sooner was better and hurriedly launched the project. As for when it began… the concept sheet was already hanging on my wall during the finished Darwin shoot. /crying with laughter The time-travel idea came from Season 5, Episode 10 of Doctor Who. Because Van Gogh’s clothing in that episode does not match his original period, I realized I could use a similar device for an outdoor shoot.
Despite all the preparation, major problems still arose. I especially want to thank Zhonglin, @Jiangling Juejue, who ran around helping throughout the entire production, made countless decisions with me, and taught me a great deal. His contribution was enormous!
Many things went wrong on the day of the shoot. I forgot the wig for young Linnaeus. Bai Lang worked so hard, and I am deeply sorry, @wBaiw. I had originally wanted Linnaeus to leave home as a young man, skip his Lapland expedition, and travel into the future. Instead, the older Linnaeus made the trip. /covers face Thank you to Huhu, @Huhu Makeup, Colored Contacts in Stock 0–800 Degrees, for solving the cravat problem, and to Uncle Yu, @Misty Rain, for tying it. @Yaoxiaoxiao Wants Something for Nothing, I am sorry for what I impulsively did to your door. /covers face/covers face/covers face I could have chosen a better outdoor location. Thank you all for making the long trip with me. I still lacked experience, and I will improve next time.
Now for the behind-the-scenes material. I did try to introduce the specimens in the style of Wuqiong Xiaoliang. I had even prepared carrots, rutabagas, and potatoes, but I had not memorized the script well enough and made too many errors in their families, genera, and species. I was too lazy to reshoot and rebuild the segment, but I could not publish misinformation, so I am sorry to disappoint you both: @Ember All-Purpose Oil (Super Freaking Cute Miku Edition) and @Jiangling Juejue. Yuxuan filmed some behind-the-scenes footage, and I included the Douyin code directly. Scan it if you are interested.
Over the past two days, I have been most grateful to my friends at Gewu Society, especially the official account @Gewu Society | General Science official and Millisecond @Physics Group—One Millisecond of Eternity. Even while handling serious work every day, you kept the spark alive. /covers face Thank you for accepting and supporting me despite how busy you were. Thank you, thank you.
Thank you, everyone! Much love, Lao K.

[Tonight at 9:00], Sirius King will host a conversation about scientist cosplay, covering the inspiration for this project, the production process, plans for the future, and more. If you are free tonight, come join us.
A European culture consultant will also give a brief introduction to daily life and culture in the 17th and 18th centuries. There will be a quiz with no prizes, and questions are welcome throughout. We will also share the latest news about the next scientist cosplay. Join us for all this and more!

•Interested in a future career in game development?
•What are the prospects for the game industry, and what difficulties and challenges will you face?
APC Science Union, Sihai Longshen, and Jiuyi Tiangong present a new lecture, “Game Technology and the Outlook for the Game Industry,” to answer your questions!
🌟At 20:00 on 10/3, an experienced industry expert will take the stage on the Gewu Society · Popular Science Platform. Anyone curious about game-development technology or the industry’s future should not miss this talk!
🌟The lecture will also be simulcast by Yaoxing Society, the United Organization of Science Enthusiasts, and APC Science Union’s main group.

Dear Union members,
First, happy Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day! To strengthen the culture of science communication within APC Science Union and celebrate our humanistic spirit, we will hold a special joint-holiday event tonight at 8.00. We invite both the public and Union members to submit promotional taglines and slogans for APC Science Union.
Requirements: Entries should be concise, meaningful, positive, creative, memorable, easy to promote, thoughtful, and readable.
They should reflect APC Science Union’s scientific ideals and character, presenting an optimistic culture of science communication.
Let us remember the years we have grown alongside the Union and share our stories.

Guest speaker: Liang Haisheng
Topic: 1.5-Dimensional Barcodes, Invention, and Innovation
Time: Saturday, 8/29 at 8:00 p.m.
Location: Tencent Meeting. We hope you will join us; the Gewu Society · Popular Science Platform will also carry a simulcast.

This talk will include some fairly technical material. See the event poster for more, and remember to tune in!

APC Science Union took first place in the team competition! /cheer/cheer/cheer
Thank you to every contestant for your hard work <(｀U´)>!

“A Conversation About Android,” the first APC Popular Science Platform lecture, begins at 8:00 p.m. on 7/31!
Interested in Android? Come listen!

@Everyone—friends and curious onlookers alike
[Online Live Lectures Are Here—Do Not Miss This Chance to Learn]
From 7.21 to 7.24, APC and the high-IQ society Zhenghui Association will host a major series of live online lectures. The program includes several kinds of science talks and opportunities to hear accomplished guests share their journeys in study and discovery.
[Time]: 7.21–7.24, 8:00–11:00 p.m. each evening
[Location]: QQ group 605923025
[Speaker Introductions]

1. Xiaofan, a director and producer of popular science documentaries for CCTV;
2. Liang Haisheng, inventor of the 1.5-dimensional barcode, inventor, and amateur mathematician;
3. C6H6Cl6, a chemistry creator on Bilibili, participant in Fudan University’s chemistry program under the Talent Program, and winner of numerous domestic and international awards;
4. Yu Guilong, known as the “human scanner,” who has appeared in the annual Strong Young China gala, Impossible Challenge, and several other reality programs;
5. CC, a hypnotist with a master’s degree in architecture from South China University of Technology;
6. Jiujiu, a member of both Zhenghui and Shenghan associations;
7. Wang Chengxu, who has managed Tmall stores with sales exceeding 100 million, worked as an e-commerce instructor, and trained a group of outstanding students;
8. DCleanMeow, a researcher at the Institute of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, with experience answering theoretical and computational chemistry questions for 2,000 student-visits.

With so many accomplished speakers on one stage, this is a genuine opportunity to learn. Share the event with classmates and friends, and come support us!
Location: QQ group 605923025
—APC Science Union
![Event poster](/images/apc-news/asset-545e8b890c.jpg)

Thank you to @Self-Control for proposing the name “Gewu Society”!

The exam passwords are in the recruitment group. If you would like to join the Union, scan the QR code pinned at the top of A-kun’s Qzone ԅ(¯ㅂ¯ԅ)
Read the instructions before taking an exam! Read the instructions! Read the instructions!

If you have any questions or concerns, send a private message to the official account ԅ(¯ㅂ¯ԅ)

Following an association vote, “Gewu Society” will be the Union’s Chinese name from now on.

“How can the Union’s name leave out biology and mathematics?”
“Exactly! And what about geography?”
——————
The Union has always been abbreviated APC, which originally stood for Astronomy, Physics, and Chemistry. As more organizations with similar English initials have appeared, however, “APC” has gradually become less distinctive.

For the fourth anniversary, A-kun would like to find the Union a memorable Chinese name. Do you have an idea?

Requirements: Names related to science are preferred, and you should be able to explain the meaning of your suggestion.
After an association vote, the entry with the most votes will become the Union’s Chinese name!

Your support for our science communication work has brought us all the way to today. Thank you!
For the fourth anniversary, the Union has prepared five anniversary surprises. Let us see what they are:

★ Surprise 1: APC’s 2020 summer recruitment event is about to begin
Feeling empty and bored after the college entrance exam? Want to learn something new over the break? Come to APC Science Union’s main group. Experts in many subjects can help answer your questions, and we share current news every day. Join us and let us learn and improve together!
Date: Mid-July. If you are interested, scan the recruitment-group QR code in the pinned post on the Union’s official account. We look forward to meeting you!

★ Surprise 2: A major live lecture series presented by APC Science Union & Zhenghui Association
Duration: 3–5 days
Time: 8:00–10:00 p.m. each evening during the event, after the recruitment exam ends
In addition to lectures, the event includes popular science quiz competitions, psychological strategy games, casual minigames, and mysterious expert guests. Don’t you want to challenge yourself?

★ Surprise 3: Scientist cosplay preview
If you have followed us for a while, you will know our Darwin and Wu Lien-teh cosplay projects. The third installment, Linnaeus, is coming soon!
Thank you to Sirius King for his passion and persistence in creating scientist cosplay.

★ Surprise 4: The official account now has VIP
What kind of surprise is that? It works both ways—literally! Because so many people added the account, some followers have only a one-way connection and cannot comment on our regular posts. Now that VIP is active, the official account has 86 mutual-friend slots available. Send me a private message if you would like one ww

★ Surprise 5: Union birthday event
Location: Union main group
Date: 2020/07/05
Games:
·Who’s the Undercover?
·Black and White
·Cops and Robbers
·Red and Black 2.0
Full rules will be posted in the main group.

Show A-kun a photo of your eclipse-observation setup or of the eclipse itself! The winner’s image will be published on our QQ and WeChat official accounts.

Event dates: 2020/6/21 to 2020/6/23
We look forward to seeing your work!
Image details appear in the watermark.

This is A-kun’s Bilibili account. All you lovely people are welcome to follow √

A handwritten message from an APC Science Union member:

United in purpose,
we will overcome this difficult time.
Stay strong, Wuhan!
We salute everyone fighting the outbreak on the front line.
Everything will get better.
Together, let us look forward to a brighter tomorrow!

We may not be in Wuhan, but our thoughts are with the city. We cannot help on the front line. What we can do is stay home to avoid infection and reduce the burden on hospitals; donate what we can; or simply lend our voices and encouragement. You are not alone. People across China are working together to win this fight. Let us raise our own voices in support of Wuhan and send the city our best wishes!

APC Science Union recruitment is officially underway!
You can choose from seven subjects this time: the usual six plus the mysticism paper everyone has been waiting for. The first recruitment round is now in progress. Pass it and you can become a full member before the Lunar New Year and take part in all our holiday activities!
The top performer in each subject may also receive a small prize mailed by the Union. If you have not joined us yet, what are you waiting for? The papers are only at the level of high school textbooks (well, competition-level textbooks—cross that out). Passing is secondary; enjoying the challenge is what really matters!
APC “Enjoy the Challenge” recruitment group: 1027526691. We look forward to welcoming every newcomer and expert alike.

Light still shines, but darkness is never far away. At Christmas, Santa Claus cannot save lives; modern medicine can.
Wu Lien-teh: Sirius King
Photography: @Dabing Images
Logistics: @Nainai @Xunsheng
Consultants: @Queen Kadula @Imperial Annals @Drache im Herzen @1Barbieee @Zhiai
CC: APC Science Union

At the end of 1910, plague broke out in Harbin. Countless people died, and the three northeastern provinces fell into terror. The Qing court sent Dr. Wu Lien-teh to Harbin. Defying taboos, he called for cremation and was the first to propose the concept of “pneumonic plague.” In four months, he completely ended a once-in-a-century epidemic and saved countless lives, earning the name “plague fighter.” It was the first successful large-scale containment of plague in human history. His work brought him prominence at the International Plague Conference, and in 1935 he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The accompanying image shows mortality statistics after the outbreak.
Note: Syringes of this kind did not exist at the time, and neither did streptomycin. Plague was incurable then. Today it remains a Class A infectious disease, but effective drugs can save patients. Two cases of plague were unexpectedly confirmed in Beijing this year, which is what brought Wu to mind. The plague virus has not been eradicated, so remain cautious.