[This document is for the sole purpose of aiding the FBI, DHS, and other participating agencies into the investigations of Drs. Barbara Rodriguez and Anton Petkov. All text is taken from Dr. Petkov’s notebook unless otherwise indicated.]
02/04/2012
- My first meeting with Dr. Rodriguez at the private library of Henry Wentworth Akeley.
- She already has a space rented for our laboratory/offices and most of the materials we will need.
- Exchange of Portfolios.
- Dr. Barbara Rodriguez:
- Undergraduate @ UC Berkeley, 1999-2002
- Postgraduate and Doctoral Student at the California Institute of Technology, 2002-2010
- PhDs in Organic and Polymer Chemistry
- Published paper:
Pretorius, S., Rodriguez B., 2011, A theoretical framework for the replication of Precambrian abiogenesis, The Scientific Ruckmaker
- Dr. Barbara Rodriguez:
Rodriguez’ resume lists nothing beyond her education and an extended apprenticeship at Caltech. She hasn’t applied for any grants and dismissed my suggestion that we do so. Her proposed timetable is bold but feasible.
Her paper with Dr. Pretorius is obviously the precursor to our pending experiment – a groundwork for manufactured abiogenesis under controlled and observable conditions. I do not have words strong enough to describe the scope and ambition contained within its text.
02/06/2012
- On-site meeting with Dr. Rodriguez.
- The space is ample and, as promised, nearly completely set up.
- All equipment is well above minimum specs.
The centerpiece of the lab is the Preabiopuladarium – a massive glass tank that will house our experiment. Just an empty vessel, for now.
A few pleasant surprises include: Reserved parking. The finest decontamination/PPE station on the market. The larger of the two offices reserved for me. Rodriguez certainly wants me to feel welcome.
02/07/2012
- Outline of the paper completed.
- Dr. Rodriguez dictated.
- Laboratory setup completed.
[Included below are excerpts from the first draft of the unpublished paper from Drs. Barbara Rodriguez and Anton Petkov.]
Abstract
A recent paper [Pretorius & Rodriguez, 2011] on the environmental chemistry of Precambrian Earth has given essential insights into the conditions that existed at the time of Earth’s abiogenesis. Specifically, the presence of silane (SiH4) for a brief period throughout the biosphere. The wholly anomalous and unexplained presence of silane is the largest independent variable thus far proposed as a correlative with the emergence of organic compounds on Earth.
Hypothesis
If silane (SiH4) is atmospherically introduced to a recreation of Precambrian primordial soup, it will be possible to create – and cultivate – a completely independent and unique emergence of life.
Taking dictation from Rodriguez was an exercise in consummate professionalism. She spoke clearly, steadily, and completely from memory. She never hesitated, stumbled, or rephrased any portion of her dictation – not even when reciting the minutiae of each piece of lab equipment.
I was taken aback by the phrase, ‘and cultivate.’ She explained to me that it would naturally follow to foster any emergent life for observation and/or further experimentation.
02/08/2012
- Terrestrial gaseous, solid, and liquid components added to the Preabiopuladaruim Mark 1 (pbP1).
- Machine-simulated planetary conditions are active and performing correctly.
- As per the procedure outlined in [Pretorius & Rodriguez, 2011, 12-16], a period of eight weeks will be spent in ‘unencumbered gestation’ before SiH4 is introduced.
- Initial readings measured and recorded by Dr. Rodriguez.
- Measurements will continue to be recorded daily by Dr. Rodriguez.
The pbP1 (which Rodriuez has taken to calling the ‘Womb’) is now filled with all of the ingredients of Precambrian Earth. It is a sight to behold. The color palette alone evokes science fiction – yellows, oranges, dark blues, and violets are interwoven with the drab browns and greys. Due to the simulated hydrologic and meteorologic cycles, the animated state of the Womb is mesmerizing.
I asked Rodriguez to send me daily photos of the Womb. She refuses to send photos electronically, but will include photos in her daily notes that I will see when I resume my office hours in April.
02/17/2012
Yesterday I messaged Rodriguez that I would be stopping by to collect things from my office. In truth, I was overcome by curiosity; I had to see the Womb again. She did not respond.
This afternoon I decided to stop by at a time I assumed she would be there. I brought us some Chinese food. When I arrived the parking lot was completely empty, so I assumed that I had missed her. Inside, however, there she was. She slouched on her stool, clipboard slumped in her hand; her pen had fallen to the floor beneath it.
So as not to startle her, I made extra noise with my footfalls as I approached her. It worked, and she regained her posture and acknowledged me.
She praised my work up to this point, citing that no contaminants or anomalies were present in the Womb. As she briefed me on her daily readings (from memory!), she concluded each data set saying, ‘Precisely as Dr. Pretorius said it would be.’
I remembered the Chinese food and offered it to her. The urgency with which she began eating justified my visit. I forgot to ask about the empty parking lot.
04/02/2012
- Today I begin keeping daily office hours for the duration of the experiment.
- Dr. Rodriguez’ lab notes:
- The pbP1 maintained perfect environmental isolation.
- Photos show that the biospheric cycles have continued to keep the contents of the pbP1 in an animated state.
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
- Homogenization rate of the compounds adequately matches the conditions specified in [Pretorius & Rodriguez, 2011, 30-31] for the introduction of silane (SiH4).
04/03/2012
- Introduction of silane (SiH4) to the pbP1.
- Over a period of four hours SiH4 was steadily and evenly introduced to the pbP1.
- Only exterior monitors will be used henceforth to reduce Observer Effect.
Although today was not a difficult day per se, I was nonetheless nervous about it. Most of the day consisted of Rodriguez observing me as I performed my most active and crucial contribution to the project.
The procedure was a total success. I was able to completely monitor and control the SiH4 levels as I ‘fertilized’ the Womb. Rodriguez made it clear that she is satisfied with my work.
04/04/2012
- Commencement of Progressive Scanning of the pbP1.
- Each cubic centimeter will be scanned once every 5.5 hours. A readout will be automatically generated. Dr. Rodriguez will distill the readouts into her notes.
- My duties will be to monitor the scanning equipment and the environmental controls.
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
[Neither the readouts nor Dr. Rodriguez’ lab notes have been recovered by investigators.]
04/05/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
I have yet to see any other vehicle in the parking lot in front of our facility. It might be that Rodriguez is living in her office. She not only keeps our workspace in impeccable order, but is evidently cleaning every surface of the lab regularly. Her dedication to the project is laudable, if slightly obsessive.
04/06/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/07/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
Rodriguez hardly moves from her station in front of the Womb during my office hours. She treats our interactions (and maybe even my presence?) as an annoyance to be quickly dismissed.
04/08/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/09/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
Rodriguez seemed to break out of her passive nesting state this afternoon. She moved about the lab, pen either flickering in one hand or tapping against the clipboard in her other.
I asked if she expected the emergent life to be identical to the carbon-based life as it first appeared on Earth. She responded by reciting Heraclitus’, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” She added, “This isn’t abiogenesis; it’s a regenesis – a neogenesis.”
I suppose that she is correct: This is not Precambrian Earth. We are using modern equivalents of all primordial elements. Besides, Precambrian abiogenesis was certainly not managed by two homo sapiens.
04/10/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
I have decided to start bringing Rodriguez a daily ration of food and water; it continues to appear that she is not leaving the lab.
04/11/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/12/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/13/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/14/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/15/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/16/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/17/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/18/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/19/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/20/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/21/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
Rodriguez has ceased acknowledging my presence completely. She does, however, continue to catalog the readouts, which continue along the exact timeline that Dr. Pretorius established in (2011).
04/22/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/23/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/24/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/25/2012
- As the process nears its expected conclusion, Dr. Rodriguez has entered a semi-comatose state, wherein she retains the ability to eat, drink, and maintain fundamental muscular control. All other actions appear to have ceased entirely.
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/26/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/27/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/28/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/29/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
04/30/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
05/01/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
05/02/2012
- All equipment functioning within established parameters.
05/03/2012
Neogenesis has begun. I have liberated it from the Womb. It immediately appropriated Dr. Rodriguez. I expect it will not be long before I am likewise appropriated.
Soon it will consume all carbon life that it requires, just as did carbon life itself during its Precambrian emergence. Total neogenesis is imminent. May Dr. Pretorius deem my efforts satisfactory.
[Efforts to locate Drs. Rodriguez, Petkov, and Pretorius are to be considered TOP PRIORITY for all agencies involved.]