Students rescue quantum computer from late-night disaster, but China’s extreme work culture raises questions
- At 2am on Sunday, PhD student Zhong Hansen noticed water leaking into a lab containing precious and unique computer components, then hurried to save them
- He and four others were given a reward for their actions, but the incident has drawn attention to an overwork culture among China’s researchers
The incident has brought attention to the fragility of the hi-tech machines, but also the vulnerability of the humans who design and operate them.
Around 2am on Sunday, 26-year-old doctoral student Zhong Hansen was working at the Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale in Anhui province when he noticed water spilling into his lab, according to an official investigation.
The lab was filled with expensive equipment, some of which was unique. More than 180 superconducting detectors cooled by liquid nitrogen alone cost more than 24 million yuan (US$3.7 million). They were part of Jiuzhang 3, China’s next world-leading quantum computer based on light, and Zhong was working late writing code for an experiment.
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He found the water was coming from a locked laboratory. After calling for help, other students also still at work joined him in the rescue bid. With the help of security guards they forced the door open and stemmed the leak.