Touhou and Modern Science

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The Touhou Project series – while being primarily based on the religion known as Shinto – it is not unusual to see many functions of the Touhou world to rely on modern science (現代科学, gendaikagaku).

As ironic as it is, the god, Kanako Yasaka states in Wild and Horned Hermit chapter 2, "Nothing as unscientific as that is going to appear", to Reimu Hakurei's supernatural theories.

Nuclear Fusion as a Source of Green Energy

Kanako Yasaka and others stated that "nuclear fusion is green energy". Nuclear fusion is different from nuclear fission, with key advantages such as having criticality accidents not occur, and not releasing products as radioactive waste.

There are several ways to achieve nuclear fusion. The most promising method being researched in the outside world is the deuterium-tritium reaction (or D-T reaction for short). While the easiest to achieve fusion with, it releases dangerous high-energy neutrons as its product. Neutrons produced this way induce radioactivity in the reactor structure, creating radioactive waste that must be disposed of.

Due to the problems of neutron radiation, the D-T reaction is not "perfectly green". Provided, its radioactive waste for that process become harmless after only a few decades to a few centuries, which is overwhelmingly short compared to the hundreds of millions years of dangerosity of nuclear waste produced by nuclear fission.

The sun produces energy from nuclear fusion, more precisely, from a nuclear reaction called the proton–proton chain reaction. Unlike the D-T reaction, neutron radiation is not produced. For this reason, it could be considered the "holy grail of green energy". While the reaction does produce gamma radiation, this is converted into heat and less energetic X-rays, UV rays, light and so on within the sun. As of now, it's impossible to reproduce this reaction on Earth.

In what way Yatagarasu performs nuclear fusion is unclear. In Touhou Hisoutensoku, Utsuho Reiuji states that that she uses hydrogen as fuel to make nuclear fusion occur . Both of the aforementioned reactions use hydrogen (the D-T reaction uses its isotopes).

Due to the nature of Utsuho's ability, mishandling the reaction carries the risk of widespread radioactive contamination.

Since, according to the spell cards, a chain reaction fundamentally does not occur^{[Ref. Needed]}, it's not possible to collapse into an uncontrollable nuclear meltdown accident. The criticality/loss of control problems of the present-day nuclear reactors are all fission reactors. Interestingly, Utsuho's third leg is reminiscent of a [[w:Control rod|control rod], a feature seen in fission reactors but not fusion reactors.

Parallel Evolution

In Curiosities of Lotus Asia Chapter 14, Rinnosuke Morichika mentions that the Kappa are often mistaken to be related to the Chinese river youkai/god known as Kahaku. He tells Sakuya Izayoi that while their names and other features are really similar to the point of almost being identical, they are two completely different creatures. He thinks that it's unreasonable to believe they are the same creatures just because they have a similar name in another country of the outside world.

This is known in science as parallel evolution. This may also be the case of why Oni and Vampires share portions of their name and have identical weaknesses, while they are clearly two different species of youkai. Because modern science is fairly new, similar supernatural creatures may easily be grouped up as the same thing.

While the subjects itself is far from being modern, it became well understood only recently after the discovery of genetics.

DNA

DNA is the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms (with the exception of RNA viruses).

It is first mentioned by Aya Shameimaru in Double Spoiler during Koishi Komeiji's spell card as some kind of swirly thing that controls humans. Not entirely wrong but far from right. Judging by Hatate Himekaidou's comments and Aya's knowledge of it, DNA is not well understood in Gensokyo.

Primate Spirit Garden

Keiki Haniyasushin turns the Primate Spirit Garden into a high-tech fortress during the events of Wily Beast and Weakest Creature