Middle Schooler Becomes Youngest Person to Achieve Nuclear Fusion

https://interestingengineering.com ^ | October 08, 2020 | By Derya Ozdemir

[a fool in paradise]

Wasn’t there a story a year or two ago about federal investigators visiting someone’s house over this sort of thing?

[Kratos]

You are right on the money.. pun intended! The first thing I noticed was the equipment. Several thousand dollars.

[Red Badger]

Well, is his house still standing?..................

[gundog]

Still cooler than a tricked out Honda Accord.

[alabama_heart]

Yes in August 2011. Guy in Sweden trying to split atoms in his sink.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/man-arrested-after-trying-to-split-atoms-in-his-kitchen-2331180.html

[fidelis]

Here's an interesting story from about 50 years ago about a another kid who tried to do it on his own.

Jimmy Akins Mysterious World Podcast Episode #92: The Radioactive Boy Scout

[fidelis]

"Here's an interesting story from about 50 years ago about a another kid who tried to do this on his own."

Sorry, I was wrong about the date; it happened 1994. The kid's name was David Hahn and he lived near Detroit.

[MarkL]

Did he try buying yellowcake from Africa using his mother’s credit card, like Sheldon did?

Mark

[dfwgator]

Just hope he doesn't have a sister named "Dee Dee"

[RomanSoldier19]

[roadcat]

Sorry, I was wrong about the date; it happened 1994. The kid's name was David Hahn and he lived near Detroit.

You would think he would have died from radioactive poisoning. Nope.

"Hahn died on September 27, 2016. He was 39 years old. Hahn died in his hometown of Shelby Charter Township, Michigan. His death was accidental and due to intoxication from the combined effects of alcohol, diphenhydramine, and fentanyl."

[beethovenfan]

Another example of racism and white supremacy.

[SES1066]

Het Doc, where is our “Mr Fusion” and a flying car? (Not enough DeLoreans, I fly generic!)

[backwoods-engineer]

It's not that hard to build a Farnsworth fusor. And I think there was another, younger kid, that did it, IIRC.

And BTW, these reactors require MORE energy input, in electrical power, than the energy they release as neutrons. NOT an energy source. Sorry, Mr. Fusion this isn't.

[backwoods-engineer]

It’s a Farnsworth fusor. Plans on the Web, dude.

[backwoods-engineer]

It is possible to do it on the cheap. I used to work for a guy who built one.

[Rastus]

Jigawatts? Sounds pretty raciss.

[backwoods-engineer]

This is FUSION, not FISSION. Science isn’t even taught anymore in the public screwels.

[backwoods-engineer]

It’s not even really dangerous. You turn on a switch, and you get somewhat-fast neutrons. These reactors are used commercially.

[rightwingcrazy]

https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/how-to-build-a-usd1000-fusion-reactor-in-your-basement

The real challenge is getting more energy out than you put in to get it.