Over the past 17 years, Zhang, 39, has produced more than 40 books on history of science, and several more are waiting to be published.

As a student, Zhang, who did his bachelor's degree in physics at the University of Science and Technology of China in 2000, was driven by questions like "Why do the world and humans including himself exist?"

So, he decided to move on from science to philosophy, and got his master's and PhD in the subject from Peking University.

He then worked at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences before taking up his current job as an associate professor at the department of the history of science in Tsinghua University.

During the winter break at the university, Zhang says he finds more free time to translate.

When he is translating, Zhang sits in front of a laptop with an open book next to it and keeps working except for taking short breaks.