Lead scientist of China’s thorium reactor project died working on the computer

Xu Hongjie, a nuclear physicist and pioneer of China’s thorium reactor programme, remained engaged and involved in his field until his death at the age of 70, just weeks before a breakthrough in a project he had led.

The former director of the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) died in Shanghai on September 14, according to an obituary posted by the institute a day after his death; however, the details of his death were not known until the Science and Technology Daily published a memorial article on Monday.

Xu died after midnight while working from home, according to the official newspaper run by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

“Books were spread open on the desk and the mouse had fallen to the floor. On the computer screen, the lecture slides for ‘Introduction to Nuclear Science and Technology’ remained unfinished,” said the memorial.

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The official time of his death was recorded as 8.15am, according to the obituary posted by the institute. It said Xu had died of an illness but no exact cause of death has been made public.