Big brains win big fame

A science-quiz TV show ignites passion for knowledge and makes victors celebrities, Xu Fan reports.

When he spouts scientific jargon and displays his knowledge of various unconnected subjects, Chen Kunyu seems like a Chinese version of Sheldon Cooper, a fictional character in the CBS television series, The Big Bang Theory.

The 18-year-old student of physics from Tsinghua University is now an internet celebrity. And some of his fans even use his photo with his name on as an amulet hoping it will help them pass a challenging exam.

His popularity stems from Forward to the Future, a hit science-themed quiz show that ended its third season on China Central Television late last month.

In the latest season of the show, Chen beat 23 elite contestants - all selected from top schools - to win the top prize.

"He was the biggest surprise for us. He is the kind of person who thinks quickly and gives an answer confidently," says Zhang Yuanyuan, the show's chief director.

When Chen attended a selection test to pick contestants for the show, he took just five minutes to answer all the questions, much less than the 20 minutes on average for most other aspirants.

And his debut on the show stunned presenter Sa Beining, who co-hosted the program with his ethnic Uygur partner, Nigermaidi Zechman.

Chen, then a sophomore at Tsinghua's Department of Physics and now a junior, introduced himself, saying: "I've started scientific research on plasma and controlled nuclear fusion since this year. My goal is to replicate nuclear fusion reactions in the core of the sun to provide energy for humankind."