Swedish man caught trying to split atoms at home

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | August 3, 2011 | AP

[KingofZion]

A Swedish man who was arrested after trying to split atoms in his kitchen said Wednesday he was only doing it as a hobby.

Richard Handl told The Associated Press that he had the radioactive elements radium, americium and uranium in his apartment in southern Sweden when police showed up and arrested him on charges of unauthorized possession of nuclear material.

The 31-year-old Handl said he had tried for months to set up a nuclear reactor at home and kept a blog about his experiments, describing how he created a small meltdown on his stove.

Only later did he realize it might not be legal and sent a question to Sweden's Radiation Authority, which answered by sending the police.

"I have always been interested in physics and chemistry," Handl said, adding he just wanted to "see if it's possible to split atoms at home."

The police raid took place in late July, but police have refused to comment. If convicted, Handl could face fines or up to two years in prison.

Although he says police didn't detect dangerous levels of radiation in his apartment, he now acknowledges the project wasn't such a good idea.

"From now on, I will stick to the theory," he said.

[KingofZion]

No doubt Al Queda has a kitchen somewhere in Pakistan. On the plus side, they'll probably die of radiation sickness before they product anything toxic.

[struggle]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0194426/

[bwc2221]

Don't try this at home kids.

[dfwgator]

A Swedish man who was arrested after trying to split atoms in his kitchen said Wednesday he was only doing it as a hobby.

May I suggest, taking up knitting instead?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091472/

[wastedyears]

Nevermind he could give radiation poisoning to anyone he comes into contact with, or nuked his own apartment. Fines and a year in prison is just peachy.

[wrench]

Too late. Look up the Radioactive Boy Scout.

[GraceG]

Do it yourself IKEA Nuclear reactor, LOL

[Pharmboy]

Does Amazon sell radium? How did he geyt that stuff?

[6SJ7]

Sounds like the “Radioactive Boy Scout”

[dfwgator]

[VanDeKoik]

Photo of the perp?

[citizen]

I was invisioning a guy w/ an ax whacking at the atom on his table top...”Dam**t, just missed it that time!”

[JaguarXKE]

He should just order the “Smash-o-matic” from Ronco.

[MPJackal]

Great Scott!!!

[Lockbar]

“hold mu beer and watch this....”

[Professional]

“Kom out wit yer 4 handen upp!”

[dfwgator]

He should just order the “Smash-o-matic” from Ronco.

[Maceman]

Fines and a year in prison is just peachy.

Well he did turn himself in. So there has to be some consideration for that.

[swain_forkbeard]

Whatever stuff he had, I doubt he had enough of the right stuff to assemble a critical mass. Thankfully.