Red Coast Trivia Quiz

Answer: Nanofibers

Auggie Salazar (Eiza González), one of the "Oxford Five," is a nanotechnology researcher specializing in nanofiber technology. In this episode, she demonstrates an incredibly fine nanofiber lattice her team uses to successfully slice apart a synthetic diamond cube. Everybody but Auggie is elated at this display of the new technology. Auggie is more occupied with that whole countdown thing appearing in her vision. It's getting alarmingly closer and closer to zero. Remembering Tatiana's warning that nothing good ever happens when the countdown reaches zero, she uses her authority to order the project shut down, leaving everyone baffled. Outside, the countdown blessedly disappears.

And if you think an impossibly thin, incredibly strong fiber doesn't come in handy later in the series, think again.

Answer: The Sun

After reading a paper by an American scientist, Ye Wenjie discusses observations made by Dr. Peterson's team in California, who detected a burst of electromagnetic radiation from Jupiter. Dr. Peterson's team detected the same radio burst as the Chinese monitoring station, but their readings indicated that it originated from Jupiter. China's recordings showed the signal coming from the Sun. Ye Wenjie realizes that the Sun had amplified the original signal.

For science nerds:

As presented in the show, it's not scientifically feasible in quite the way they describe it. However, the underlying concept has some strong foundations in general relativity. The concept is called gravitational lensing, and it explains how massive bodies warp spacetime, bending the paths of electromagnetic radiation and potentially magnifying its intensity for an observer in the right position. The Sun could theoretically work as a gravitational lens, but there's a catch. The receiving equipment would have to be positioned at least 550 AU from the Sun, along the appropriate focal line.

And the signal would definitely not "bounce".

Answer: He was not invited

Jack Rooney's attempts at using the mysterious VR headset Ye Wenjie gave Jin don't go well at all. He's extremely impressed by the virtual world, going so far as to taste the dirt in wonder. That's about when a mysterious woman with a sword comes up behind him, tells him he wasn't invited, and promptly ends his experience in a decidedly unpleasant fashion.

He tries a few more times, only to find there are plenty of ways for an armed woman to slice and dice him. He also notes that the blood tastes just as real as the dirt. When he returns home later in the episode, he'll find a headset of his own mysteriously delivered there along with an official invitation.

Answer: Dehydrate themselves

It doesn't take long for Jin to learn the basic premise of the VR world. There are three suns whose gravitational interactions cause the planet's orbit to become unpredictable, resulting in extremely unpredictable and often deadly weather, especially during the "chaotic eras". What do the "people" of this world do to survive? They rapidly dehydrate, becoming dormant and shrinking into thin, rollable blobs of skin that can be stored during the "chaotic eras." It's a little weird, less a lifestyle choice, and more a means of survival. When a "stable era" arrives, they can be thrown in water and brought back to life as quickly as the dehydrated. Instant people!

If you're into science:

The three suns in this world illustrate the problem that gives the series its name. The three-body problem is an actual problem in physics. It involves predicting the gravitational interactions and movements of three celestial bodies. It's not easy. Depending on their masses, positions, and velocities, their movements can become chaotic and nearly impossible to predict.

Answer: China's continued shelling of Taiwan's outlying islands

Ye Wenjie's growing disgust with humanity comes from a number of disturbing experiences. During the Cultural Revolution, she sees her father beaten to death in front of cheering revolutionaries. Years later, she encounters his murderer, who spitefully refuses to express any remorse at all.

Meanwhile, she repeatedly encounters shocking environmental destruction in Inner Mongolia as forests are cleared and ecosystems destroyed. Reading Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring" solidifies her concerns about humanity's destruction of the environment.

And at the Red Coast Base, her colleague Yang presents her idea to use the Sun to amplify the transmission signal as his own. All these things reinforce her idea that humanity is not worth saving. It's hardly an original thought, but Ye will find herself in a rather unique position to do something about it.

Answer: Camera footage of her talking to nobody

The tough but endearing Da Shi speaks to Auggie and shows her CCTV footage of the steps where Auggie spoke to the mysterious Tatiana from episode 1. Auggie is alone in the footage, talking to nobody, but there is no doubt that something is off. Auggie's lighter was out of fluid at the time, and Tatiana lit her cigarette. Even if the video shows you by yourself, SOMEBODY clearly lit that cigarette.

There's no detectable evidence that the video was manipulated, despite the obvious signs that someone has tampered with it. So what is happening?

Answer: Stage-4 pancreatic cancer

Will Downing breaks the bad news for old friend Jack Rooney on a park bench. His diagnosis is stage-four pancreatic cancer, which has spread to his liver and lungs. His median survival time is estimated at just two to six months. Jack has been explaining his latest adventures in the VR world of the three-body problem, and his reaction is typical of his character.

It's emotional and laced with profanity but full of love and concern for his friend. He tells Will that he is not to give up, he is to fight this thing, he will see the best doctors, and so on. Keeping with the theme, he then gives Will a sandwich and insists that he eat something.

Answer: Do not answer

Years after secretly sending the Red Coast standard message toward the Sun to amplify it, she receives an extraordinary response. The sender identifies themself as a pacifist and repeatedly warns Ye Wenjie not to respond. They go on to explain that doing so would reveal Earth's location and lead to the planet's conquest.

It's the most consequential moment of the series. I wonder what she'll do?

Answer: Mike Evans

Da Shi is on the case, and he photographs a man at Vera Ye's funeral whose name is later revealed to be Mike Evans (Jonathan Pryce). He owns Evans Energy, the largest privately held oil company in the world. Da Shi reports this information to his boss, Thomas Wade. We later learn that Evans met Ye Wenjie in Inner Mongolia in the 1970s, where he was planting trees to restore the habitat of an endangered bird species.

They share an interest in environmentalism, which brings them together. Their relationship will become more complicated in future episodes.

Answer: Her help conquering Earth

Ye Wenjie, in an act that leaves no doubt about her views of humanity, responds to the pacifist's message, offering to help them conquer the Earth. Ye sees the aliens as a solution to humanity's biggest problem: humanity. She secretly points the antenna at the sun once more and sends her response: "Come. We cannot save ourselves. I will help you conquer this world."

And that's episode 2.