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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Gloria Oladipo in New York

Cleaner accidentally ruins decades of US college’s research by turning off freezer

The lab freezer contained several cultures that were part of a research project on photosynthesis.
The lab freezer contained several cultures that were part of a research project on photosynthesis. Photograph: Randy Duchaine/Alamy

A cleaner at a college in New York state accidentally destroyed decades of research by turning off a freezer in order to mute “annoying alarm” sounds.

The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), in Troy, is suing the cleaner’s employer, alleging improper training. According to a lawsuit filed in the New York supreme court in Rensselaer county earlier this month, the university is seeking more than $1m in damages, the Times Union newspaper reported.

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