Boy's science experiments make him a video star

A seven-year-old boy in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong province, has attracted more than 230,000 followers on a short video platform and gained the nickname "Little Sheldon" after The Big Bang Theory character, with more than 100 videos posted online of him doing scientific experiments.

The boy, who is called Pika on the internet, started to exhibit his enthusiasm in science at home when he eagerly showed his parents an experiment he had learned at a scientific event at school, according to reports from Nanfang Daily. His mother encouraged him to try more.

The first video was posted online in April, shot by his mother without his knowledge. It shows a balloon blown by carbon dioxide produced by vinegar and baking soda in a plastic bottle. His videos attracted more and more fans.

His mother has searched experiments online and in books for him and the boy is willing to appear in the videos.

When Pika sometimes does not want to do experiments, his mother encourages him not to leave things half done if he is still interested in them.

Encouragement from internet users has motivated Pika to continue. "I tell him the encouraging words from them. He is happy," his mother said.

Pika's mother hopes her child will learn persistence during the process and sometimes rewards him with new picture books he likes.

Pika learned the experiments instead of creating them, the mother noted. Instead of showing off "a little genius," the mother aims to record the learning process of the child and share interesting things with other people, she said.

Xie Jiamin contributed to this story.