One day last December, a student who calls himself Muqing at Tsinghua University was doing his physics homework. Suddenly, he discovered a problem on page 11 of a report on the 2022 Noble Prize in Physics. It seemed that two"-"signs there should be two"+"signs instead.
Muqing was not sure about his discovery at first. After all, he was just a newcomer to physics while the report was from the highest authority(权威)in the area. What's more, the problem was not very important since it might be just a clerical(书写的)error.
But the problem kept being on his mind. So Muqing asked his teacher Wang Xiangbin for help. Wang patiently worked on the problem with Muqing late into the night. After several rounds of calculations(计算), they made sure that there was really a fault.
Wang later emailed the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. The organization made the report and pointed out the problem. Soon Sara Gustavsson, a member of the organization, replied to Wang, thanking him and his student for telling them the error.
Muqing was very pleased, but after the story went around, he asked reporters not to show his real name. "When I get to achieve something really amazing,then please show my real name,"he said.
Through this event, Wang said his students should learn that in science, there is no absolute(绝对的)authority. "Everybody can raise a fair question. Such is the beauty of science." he said.
① Muqing and Wang Xiangbin worked on the problem.
② Wang Xiangbin emailed the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
③ Muqing discovered a problem in a report.
④ Muqing asked reporters not to show his real name.