to cherish / to begrudge / to pity / Taiwan pr. [xi2]
惜
=
忄
+
昔
:
NASA ordered Marie Curie (xi) to do an experiment for them in front of the space station (Ø1). They are spending 2000000000 bucks to see what happens when you crush a milk shake (昔) with a flail (忄) in outer space. Marie Curie thinks it is a pity (惜) and would rather drink her cherished (惜) milk shake rather than crush it.