How odd that you would mention that, GSlob! There was a story about two years ago about a High-School kid who got his hands on an old bottle of Radium paint, found inside an old clock. The story would have ended there, with any ordinary kid just painting things that glowed in the dark.
But this 13 year old senior was building a replica of an enrichment device as a science project, and decided to see if he could actually do it!
The details I remember are sketchy, but when the Haz-Mat people were done, the kid had a full-boat college scholarship, and his parents needed a new car and garage! Seems the re-rod in the floor was radioactive too.
I'll see if I can find that story and reference it for you. I would have kept it ... and I now realize that it was more like five years ago. Bookmarked - see ya later. Stay well..................FRegards
I think that's the story in #23.
Note to self: Read all posts before responding!
Stay well............FRegards
That's the famous "Atomic Scout" incident. He built a neutron source with radium and beryllium and then assembled uranium and thorium with it.