We are in the infirmary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli is the first to enter the nurse’s office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nurse: So, Ravioli, tell me: have you experienced any symptoms like fever, muscle pain, nasal congestion, or bone pain?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli (confused.): No, I haven\u2019t had any of those symptoms. Why are you asking? Are these symptoms related to our problem?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nurse: What kind of world do you live in, Ravioli? Haven\u2019t you ever heard that these are the main symptoms?(<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli (pretending to know.): Ah, of course! Obviously, who wouldn\u2019t know that? Come to think of it \u2026 last night I didn\u2019t sleep well, and this morning I have a bit of a headache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nurse (writing in a notebook.): Let\u2019s see \u2026 headache \u2026 insomnia \u2026 very well. Alright, let\u2019s proceed!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The nurse gets up and rummages through a cabinet. After retrieving a plastic-wrapped item, he turns back to Ravioli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nurse: Alright! Now look up and open your mouth!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli (confused.): What?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The nurse is holding a nasal swab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nurse: Sorry, Ravioli, but we only have the Extra Large swab left. It\u2019s slightly larger and more painful than the standard one \u2026 but don\u2019t worry: it\u2019ll be quick!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli: What does the swab have to do with the psychological test?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nurse (confused.): What psychological test? This is the infirmary for COVID testing! The psychologist\u2019s office is the room next door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli: Oh, alright, thanks! Sorry for the trouble. I\u2019ll leave right away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nurse: Oh, no! Now that I\u2019ve opened your file, I have to do the swab. I can\u2019t leave this incomplete, or I\u2019ll get in trouble!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli: Please, don\u2019t make me do the swab! I\u2019m not mentally prepared for this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nurse: No excuses. Stop acting like a baby! A quick pinch \u2026 and it\u2019s done!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli: No, no!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nurse (looking up.): Darn! They still haven\u2019t fixed that leak in the ceiling! It\u2019s right above your head\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instinctively, Ravioli looks up. Taking advantage of the distraction, the nurse swiftly inserts the Extra Large swab into Ravioli\u2019s nose and throat. Ravioli screams in pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, in the waiting room, Banani and Papaia continue their discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani: What do you think, Papaia? Does that mean the Big Bang is wrong?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia: I don\u2019t know, Banani! But apart from the numbers not adding up, there\u2019s also evidence that the universe can\u2019t possibly be as old as billions of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani: Evidence? What evidence?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia: There are various ones. One of them comes from comets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani: Comets? How so?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia: Aren\u2019t comets covered in ice?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani: Oh, yes, that\u2019s true! I saw it in a documentary once. The ice vaporizes when the comet gets close to the sun, and that\u2019s why we see the characteristic tail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia: Exactly. And the ice in the tail? Where does it go, have you ever wondered?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani: Honestly, no. Maybe it disperses into space?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia: Exactly! Every time a comet passes near the sun, it loses some ice. Now imagine comets that approach the sun every 70 years during their orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani: Like the famous Halley\u2019s Comet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia: Yes, like Halley\u2019s Comet. What do you think happens after this comet passes by the sun a thousand or a hundred thousand times?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani: I don\u2019t know. I guess it \u201cburns out,\u201d having no more ice for the tail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia: So, if the solar system were millions of years old, how many comets would have already \u201cburned out\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani: All of them, obviously!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani thinks about it for a while.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani: Maybe they recharge somewhere, like in the asteroid belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia (surprised.): Nice thought \u2026 I didn\u2019t expect that from you! Anyway, other researchers have thought the same thing, but so far, there\u2019s no evidence to support this hypothesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia and Banani are interrupted by Ravioli\u2019s screams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia: Did you hear those screams?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani: Yes, but what was that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The door opens, and Ravioli comes out with tears in his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli: Guys, I told you it was the wrong place! They just gave me a nasal swab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nurse: Next, please!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia: Your turn, Banani. I need to go to the bathroom for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Banani: Go ahead, Igor, I\u2019m giving you my spot\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia: But where\u2019s Igor?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without being noticed, Igor has already fled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nurse: Come on, Banani, over here \u2026 No, what are you doing? That\u2019s the exit! The swab is this way!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Banani runs down the hallway as fast as he can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia: Wait, I\u2019ll go tell him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Papaia vanishes, even faster than Banani.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ravioli: Hey, where are you going? Wait for me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Igor: These three are like comets: their brilliant minds flee at \u2026 astronomical speeds!<\/p>\n\n\n\n