NEONOO, or PARADISE IN THE NOOSPHERE

«Is he a chemist also?» academician «brightened eyes».

«He is alchemist, to be exact. He is an accomplice in the manufacture of acids and stainless iron. It does not matter, that his name has not been preserved in history: it is important that what he preserved is preserved. As the saying goes: your name unknown, but your feat is immortal. Do not consider my words blasphemous: that’s just an analogy.»

«Academician Vernadsky!»

Introducing himself, Vladimir Ivanovich vigorously «despises» his age and «shakes the hand» of the alchemist.

«Pleased to meet you, colleague. For me, chemistry is a matter of life.»

«More precisely: geochemistry, biochemistry, radiology and much more.»

I also want to get my portion of a «respectful handshake» – and I get it: «ask, and it will be given to you». Academician «brightens the eyes» is in my address already.

«Are you familiar with my work?»

«Yes, of course!» I bravely lie. «I read your works on the theory of the biosphere and the noosphere. I know your work in the uranium project. Last your work, with which I… hmm… hm…»

I have a sore throat: artistically lying – not only without blinking an eye, but also on a «scientific basis» – it is not easy. I would even say: it’s responsible… with all the irresponsibility of lies. But «took up the tug»… lie to the last point, really!

«… I got acquainted, there was a work on the chemical structure of the Earth’s atmosphere. Well, the one, for which you were awarded the Stalin Prize of the first degree and one hundred thousand rubles, the ones that you gave to the Defense Fund.»

The «look» of the academician «warms up» and begins to «dampen»: old people are very sensitive to praise. I thank myself for only the relative laziness of my mind: in time I got acquainted with Vernadsky’s brief biography. That’s incredible, but fact: it happened on the eve of what happened to me!

«They remember the old man…» the academician «trembles with his voice» «Remember the grateful descendants…»

He cuts himself off and rushes at me with a «clarifying look».

«By the way, about descendants… What century are they from?»

«From the twenty-first, Vladimir Ivanovich, from the first quarter.»

I don’t know if I upset the academician with this confession, or vice versa. I would like to believe that’s the second. And I’m not mistaken: Vernadsky is «trembling» not only by «voice», but also by «nose».

«Thank you, young man.»

«Thank you too, Vladimir Ivanovich.»

«For what?»

«For the compliment.»

This time I am not lying: in my grandfathers’ years to win the «rank» of young men it’s not the latest insult.

«I hope I will have a reason to deserve your thanks not only for that.»

Well done, grandfather: from past sentiments – not a trace! A scientist, professing the principle of «for business – time, for fun – an hour», stands before me again.

«I hope also, Vladimir Ivanovich. Moreover: after that we are here with a friend and profits. And not alone: with questions. And we have a lot of them. For some we have already found the answer, but others are too tough for us, more precisely – not on the brain. And you, dear academician, is the only one, who can help us… and not us alone…»

«I am all attention!» Academician corresponds to the statement.

«Then let’s start in the spirit of the setting of Maupassant «Closer – to the body!»

I immediately «take the bull by the horns». In the sense of: academician – for the living.

«The first question, Vladimir Ivanovich, is: am I right, or wrong?»

«You are rights, of course, rights!»

Academician does not think for a moment.

«This is not heaven or hell. This is indeed the noosphere – mind and scope, the sphere of interaction between nature and society, in which intelligent human activity becomes the main factor of development. If you like, there are synonyms: the technosphere, the anthroposphere, the sociosphere… Do you understand me?

The latter is clearly addressed to the representative of the fifteenth century. But «comrade fits.»

«Yes, dear academician. But, all the same, what about the thinking shell?»

«Here’s for you – and the fifteenth century!»

To my gaze there is a view of the «beautifully arched academic eyebrow».

«Well, comrade: you are to me – „not in the eye“, and I am you – „in the eyebrow“! You have grasped the very essence. Indeed, the noosphere is a thinking envelope around the globe, the formation of which is associated with the emergence and development of human consciousness. This concept was introduced into science by Teilhard de Chardin and Leroy. But – without false modesty – I also participated in the definition.»

«Vladimir Ivanovich,» I resolutely argue for domestic science, «I protest: There is an obvious brute force of modesty! You did not „participate“: you made a decisive contribution. Moreover, if not the definition itself, then the theory of the noosphere is exclusively your merit! And there is nothing to be modest! After all, this is a question – not only of scientific priority: it is a question of national pride! A political question, one might say!»

Academician «shyly dives into the gray mustache».

«Thank you, dear compatriot: touched. I am touched genuinely. But I just wanted to mention the participation of other comrades.»

«This, of course, characterizes you properly,» I partially soften, «but in the interests of the cause, and beyond the time limit, we will assume, that you have already noted!»

I without further words… although, perhaps, that is not quite so – sentence the question.

«And now – to the point, Vladimir Ivanovich: how to live on?»

Academician suddenly loses all his academic greatness. The usual thing: a collision with the world simplifies and genius. Illustrative example: Jesus, whom, according to Renan, daily contact with reality not only relegated, but also humiliated – and even deprived of self-styled status.

«You can immediately see the Russian man, dear young man. The question is not only „not in the brow“, but right in the forehead! Everything is in Russian style…»

Vernadsky is «coughing embarrassedly».

«Well, therefore, the answer must be in Russian style also. That is – right, without philosophical quirks…»

The glance of the academician, which had just been absent in his mustache, returns to my «face».

«Since you are familiar with my works, you should know another definition of the noosphere, exclusively mine already, outside the context of de Chardin and Leroy.»

«Of course, I know it.»