TURN A GUNDAM: A SCIENTIFIC EXAMINATION

The setting of Turn A Gundam is said to be thousands to tens of thousands of years after the end of the Space Age, when humanity had advanced into space but faced catastrophic conditions in the Earth Sphere due to war and environmental destruction. What exactly would be the state of Earth and space in such an era? This backdrop is a crucial and fundamental element in establishing the work. In this regard, Turn A Gundam features incredibly meticulous background research in areas not immediately apparent on the surface. Here, we have Shigeru Morita from Studio Nue, who was in charge of the setting research, write about the state of civilization on Earth and the Moon throughout the series.

THE TRUTH BEHIND THE DARK HISTORY

In the world of the Correct Century, historical accounts of Earth’s past, handed down as the Dark History, have long been considered entirely unreliable fabrications and products of delusion. Narratives of humanity’s expansion into space and the repeated engagement in inconceivable wars utilizing super weapons are, admittedly, difficult to accept at face value. Consequently, the Dark History has been regarded as quasi-occult documents, occasionally proclaimed by a minority of fervent adherents, only to be dismissed or ridiculed by society at large.

However, this paradigm shifted dramatically following the Earth Return led by Diana Soreil and the Moonrace. The factual evidence of human habitation on the Moon, coupled with the existence of the Moonrace military force, the Diana Counter, operating massive humanoid combat machines known as mobile suits, incontrovertibly demonstrated that the concealed history, the Dark History, had indeed been conveying factual information.

According to the Dark History, humanity, having been driven to the brink of extinction multiple times, finally succeeded in putting an end to its history of conflict thousands of years ago. The means employed were the “erasure and falsification of history” and the “rejection of scientific and technological civilization”. People rewrote history, sealed away the true past, and renounced the scientific and technological civilization that had been a major factor in escalating warfare.

REBUILDING EARTH’S CIVILIZATION

Those who control historical narratives and education possess the capacity to mold the values of learners in any desired direction.

At the end of the old era, those who sought to construct the new world of the Correct Century averted potentially extinction-level conflicts over millennia by categorizing progress and curiosity as detrimental and rejecting “malevolent civilization.” Over this span of time, the organized activities controlling history and education transformed into an implicit consensus of humanity as a whole. The public’s aversion to researching the Dark History and attempts to advance scientific civilization intensified to a level approaching that of an instinctual response.

As of C.C.2345, the average level of civilization on Earth is close to that of the early 1900s in the Anno Domini calendar. However, this is merely a facade; vestiges of the former super-technological era persist in the background of civilization. While rejecting technological civilization, the people of that era did not intend to regress to a primitive, undeveloped state.

The most representative example of super-technology concealed within Earth’s civilization is its energy supply source. Additionally, the majority of mines scattered across Earth are, in fact, resource asteroids transported from space in the previous era, although this fact is unknown to the populace of the Correct Century.

DEPLETED RESOURCES

The prosperity of civilization over thousands of years in the past has completely exhausted Earth’s resources. In the world of the Correct Century, fossil fuels (coal, oil) have long been depleted, and there is no technology to extract methane hydrate (methane gas resources accumulated on the deep seabed), which remains as one of the few energy sources left. The utilization of nuclear energy has been intentionally abandoned, and due to past policies that were extremely averse to environmental pollution, the populace employs energy sources with minimal environmental impact. Currently, terrestrial energy sources are limited to electricity generated from hydropower, solar, wind, wave, and geothermal power, as well as motive power obtained from the combustion of hydrogen, which produces no harmful waste.

ELECTRIC-BASED CIVILIZATION

One of the two foundational elements of civilization in the Correct Century world is electric power. This is largely attributable to the proliferation of solar cells (commonly referred to as “solar power grass”) that possess extremely high conversion efficiency of light energy and self-replicating capabilities. This solar power grass is a product of nanotechnology from the previous era, but the inhabitants of the Correct Century world utilize it under the misconception that it is merely a slightly unusual naturally occurring plant species.

The power generation capacity of solar power grass is sufficient to meet the energy requirements of a single household. Additionally, most residences are typically equipped with fuel cells utilizing a hydrogen storage alloy called phlogi-stone, enabling minimal power supply even during periods of reduced solar generation, such as cloudy or rainy weather, or at night.

On the other hand, urban centers and industrial zones requiring substantial power are supplied with electricity from hybrid power plants that primarily employ hydrogen internal combustion engines in combination with wind and hydropower, thus maintaining the social infrastructure. The electric motors utilized in this system are relics from the previous era, used as exact replicas without any improvements or analytical understanding.

It is noteworthy that, for a period, energy was transmitted from power generation satellites in space. However, these were destroyed relatively early in conflicts, and no attempts at reconstruction were subsequently made. The terrestrial facilities that received these transmissions have all been rendered non-functional and lost. Some of these facilities are now known to the populace as Mountain Cycles.

PHLOGI-STONE AND INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES

Alongside electricity, the hydrogen internal combustion engine forms the second pillar supporting Correct Century civilization. This technology harnesses energy produced by the combustion reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The reaction yields only water vapor as a byproduct, thus avoiding environmental pollution.

Although highly advanced, the hydrogen internal combustion engine is a technological black box to Correct Century inhabitants. They assemble and use these engines without truly understanding them, and like electric motors, the engines see no improvements or modifications.

These engines run on a mineral called phlogi-stone, an incredibly efficient hydrogen storage alloy. Created by nanomachines in a bygone era, phlogi-stone is now treated as a naturally occurring resource, analogous to coal or gasoline, powering engines in automobiles, aircraft, and industrial machinery. Urban areas feature phlogi-stone stations, similar to old-era gas stations or charging points, consistently supplying fresh phlogi-stone for vehicles and household fuel cells.

Phlogi-stone is recyclable. Once depleted of hydrogen, it is collected through phlogi-stone stations and returned to specialized processors. These processors submerge the spent phlogi-stone in seawater, allowing it to slowly reabsorb hydrogen. Phlogi-stone miners and regenerators make annual coastal circuits, ensuring a steady supply of this clean energy source.

MINERAL RESOURCES

Humanity had exhausted the Earth’s mineral resources, essential for maintaining civilization, during its past prosperity. To compensate, several resource asteroids were towed into Earth’s vicinity in the previous era to supply various minerals. Some of these asteroids were decelerated and soft-landed on Earth.

In the current Correct Century, many mineral veins being mined on Earth are actually these resource asteroids brought from space in the old era. It is hypothesized that the Heim family’s mine in Vicinity might be one such asteroid mine.

Furthermore, some regional mines are suspected to be the remains of space colonies that crashed to Earth during ancient conflicts.

WHAT ARE NANOMACHINES?

Nanomachines, conceptualized by American scientist K. Eric Drexler in the early 1970s, refers to extremely tiny engineering devices measured in nanometers (1 billionth of a meter). Nanotechnology encompasses the broader engineering applications of nanomachines. To put it simply, it’s about creating molecular-sized robots and getting them to perform various tasks.

The construction of nanomachines relies on ultra-miniaturized components, including nanoscale motors, gears, and memory units. By integrating these elements, researchers aim to create molecular computers, medical devices, and autonomous tools capable of performing precise tasks at the nanoscale. Interestingly, biological entities such as cells and viruses can be viewed as natural nanomachines, suggesting that the development of artificial nanomachines parallels the creation of synthetic life forms.

THE POTENTIAL OF NANOMACHINES

Nanomachines represent one of the ultimate forms of engineering, harboring infinite possibilities. For example, a prime industrial application would be creating a seamless, ultra-lightweight, and super-tough rocket engine made entirely of diamond. It might also become possible to develop sci-fi-like super materials (like transparent metal) by combining atoms in ways never before imagined.

In medicine, programmable nanomachines injected into the body could perform targeted treatments, including precise surgical interventions, wound repair, and elimination of pathogens. More speculatively, some researchers envision nanomachine-mediated DNA manipulation for treating genetic disorders, extending lifespans, or even achieving biological rejuvenation or immortality. The far-reaching implications of this technology have led to discussions about the possibility of extensive body modifications by rewriting genes themselves, and perhaps even reviving the dead.

NANOSKIN

Nanoskin is a coined term abbreviated from Nano-Surface Kinetic Improvement Nervation, referring to a self-repairing exterior layer composed of nanomachines. This technology exemplifies intelligent or smart armor, as the protective layer itself exhibits a form of reactive intelligence.

In the context of mobile suit technology, nanoskin forms a highly resilient structure resembling a multi-layered chitin composed of pseudo-amino sugar polymers. This advanced armor system dynamically responds to external forces, mitigating, neutralizing, or dispersing impacts as needed. While individual sections of the nanoskin may sustain damage, the surrounding areas rapidly initiate reinforcement and repair processes, significantly reducing overall structural compromise.

THE RUNAWAY NANOMACHINE SCENARIO

Despite their immense potential, nanomachines pose significant risks if improperly managed or maliciously programmed. The concept of a “grey goo” scenario, where self-replicating nanomachines consume all available matter, or fanatical terrorists plunging the world into terror using viral nanomachines that transform all humans into rockhopper penguins, represents an extreme but theoretically possible outcome of nanomachine malfunction. Technology has no defense against intentional malice.

In the world of Turn A Gundam, a catastrophic event involving nanomachines is said to have occurred during the transition to the Correct Century era. This hypothetical disaster led to the implementation of strict regulations on nanomachine use, including mandatory apoptosis (programmed self-termination) functions to prevent uncontrolled replication. Consequently, nanomachine applications in this setting remain highly restricted.

MOUNTAIN CYCLES

In the Correct Century setting, Mountain Cycles are archaeological sites yielding artifacts that contradict the commonly accepted (though false) history. These sites are essentially repositories of out-of-place artifacts, objects that seem anachronistic or impossible for their time and location.

The Mountain Cycle in Vicinity, which enshrined the White Doll, was the first “living ruin” discovered by Dark History researcher Sid Munzer. Various devices unearthed here were preserved from temporal degradation by special soil layers formed through nanomachine activity. However, the battles near Vicinity revealed that this preservation effect isn’t perfect, as weapons presumed to be for the ∀ Gundam’s exclusive use deteriorated rapidly upon a single use or exposure to air.

It’s worth noting that Vicinity’s Mountain Cycle was originally established solely for the ∀ Gundam. However, the discovery of the Kapool mobile suit as a defensive unit alongside the ∀ Gundam seems to have obscured this unique circumstance. Given the Kapool’s characteristics, it’s believed that Vicinity’s Mountain Cycle was initially located near a coastline or similar large body of water.

Another type, known as Lost Mountain Cycles, is considered ominous among prospectors and treated as taboo. These are generally speculated to be final disposal sites for decommissioned weapons (primarily nuclear, biological, chemical, and psychological) or non-degradable toxic waste from previous eras.

MOUNTAIN CYCLE TERRAIN

Many facilities created by past civilizations remain as ruins in the Correct Century. While these ruins often serve as evidence for Dark History believers, most have been severely degraded by time or past destructive activities, barely recognizable as artificial constructs. Prospectors like Sid Munzer have developed an empirical ability to identify the terrain, soil, and vegetation patterns associated with less damaged ruins.

The terms Mountain Cycle stratum or Mountain Cycle terrain refer to this intuitive sense developed by experienced prospectors, rather than denoting specific, identifiable geological features.

GRAVITY AND NANOMACHINES

When Loran Cehack first descended to Earth, his body contained two types of nanomachines:

1. Machines monitoring his physical condition and relaying data to the moon (via the FLAT mobile suit).
2. Medical nanomachines adapting his body to Earth’s gravity.

The Moonrace had long prepared for a potential return to Earth, carefully managing their bodies’ adaptation to lunar gravity. Measures included metabolic deceleration through artificial hibernation. However, these precautions and constant strength training weren’t enough to counter all physiological changes. Gravity changes significantly impact skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, central nervous, endocrine systems, and psychological well-being.

The nanomachines in Moonrace bodies prevented physiological changes due to lunar gravity, maintaining their ability to function on Earth. Upon descent, these machines intensified their activity, supporting all bodily organs against the increased gravitational stress. However, this support had limits, and initial Moonrace “donors” suffered from various high-gravity disorders and side effects from nanomachine countermeasures.

These nanomachines, powered by excess ATP (adenosine triphosphate) from human metabolism, gradually decrease activity as anti-gravity stress compounds diminish. Eventually, they self-destruct, are absorbed into the bloodstream, and excreted as waste.

ARTIFICIAL HIBERNATION

The Moonrace, as they are called, were once driven from Earth and sought refuge on the Moon. However, at that time, the lunar environment was not sufficient to sustain their entire population of migrants. It was clear that the community would eventually face destruction due to the collapse of the life support and environmental maintenance cycles.

Moreover, at the end of the old era, the process of “re-terraforming” (nanomachine-based purification and soil improvement) had only just begun, necessitating a long wait before return was possible. To maintain the lunar system while waiting for Earth’s re-terraforming to progress, it was necessary to control the population and keep it at a scale that the Moon’s environment could sustain. The method adopted for this was to put the majority of the population into artificial hibernation on a rotational basis.

This would reduce the load on life support systems, allowing a small number of non-hibernating individuals to expand the system’s capacity and build a city capable of sustaining the entire population. This was the scenario envisioned by the Moonrace. The artificial hibernation solution also had the advantage of not allowing the bodies of lunar inhabitants to “adapt” to the low gravity of one-sixth that of Earth. Returning to their home planet, was the earnest wish of the Moonrace. The biggest obstacle to this return is the difference in gravity between the Moon and Earth. Especially for generations born and raised on the Moon, adaptation to 1/6 G becomes a decisive factor hindering their return to Earth. However, artificial hibernation had the effect of delaying adaptation to low gravity by suppressing metabolism during hibernation. For over 2000 years, the Moonrace fought for survival on the moon, cycling through periods of hibernation.

SPACE COLONIES: GONE

Space colonies, once humanity’s solution to overpopulation and pollution, have largely vanished from the solar system, leaving only a few abandoned ruins. As eras passed and technology evolved, the diverse forms of space colonies were mostly converted into interstellar migration ships, setting off towards other star systems. The vast majority of those who left the solar system never returned to their home star system, with only a handful of exceptions. Even these rare exceptions often led to unfortunate outcomes for both parties involved.

Those who remained made little attempt to communicate with those who had departed. The fate of the people who headed towards other star systems remained unknown thereafter. The technology for interstellar travel was subsequently lost due to technological discontinuity caused by repeated conflicts. Eventually, information about the existence of space colonies and their inhabitants faded into obscurity, becoming nothing more than an unsubstantiated “dark history” buried by the passage of time.