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Boy, 14, creates nuclear reactor in his bedroom

JonnyDBrit

JonnyDBrit

God and Anime
Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,022
https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/22/boy-14-creates-nuclear-reactor-bedroom-8715484/

A 14-year-old boy has managed to build a working nuclear reactor in his bedroom.

While most of his peers were playing video games, Jackson Oswalt managed to complete an impressive feat of physics. The teen, from Memphis, Tennessee, finished his reactor and achieved fusion at the tender age of 13. He is now regarded by experts as the youngest in the US – and maybe even the world – to accomplish it.
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'I got those parts off eBay primarily and then often times the parts that I managed to scrounge off eBay weren't exactly what I needed. 'So, I'd have to modify them to be able to do what I needed for my project.'
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Probably important to note:
Jackson was able to make his creation with the help of his parents, who spent between $8,000 and $10,000 on parts.
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On the one hand, it's still really impressive. On the other, imagine having parents able to just drop 8 or so grand on building your own nuclear reactor

Edit:
Some more technical aspects:

SwitchedOff said:
Instead of the trashy reporting from the MSM, let's look at some more accurate (and technical) info on the matter:

Firstly, this all actually originates from early 2018 -

http://www.fusor.net/board/viewtopic.php?t=12115

Hackaday only recently caught onto it:

https://hackaday.com/2019/02/22/12-year-old-builds-successful-fusor-at-home/

This has also been done before, in 2016 for example:

https://hackaday.com/2016/03/26/home-made-farnsworth-fusor/
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So for those curious: It is indeed meant to be fusion, namely of deuterium - a form of hydrogen
 
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starpower

starpower

The Fallen
Jan 23, 2018
3,998
Canada
reminds me of the dollop episode on another teen who built one in his mom's pottery shed except he did it from scratch
 
Gernau Morat Gurgeh

Gernau Morat Gurgeh

Member
Oct 31, 2017
10,055
This story is kind of weird. A nuclear reactor? Where did he get fissile material? What type of reaction are we talking about? I've seen it called a fusion reaction in one verson and some kind of collider in another

Edit- Answered below
 
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Amalthea

Amalthea

Member
Dec 22, 2017
5,683
When I was a child I wanted to create a form of anti-gravity propulsion with magnets, using Lego. I didn't have enough parts. I think it would have resulted in something like a railgun if I had ever managed it.
 
I Am Captain America

I Am Captain America

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
3,092
tumblr_muoo96uMPy1qcepzco2_250.gif
 
whytemyke

whytemyke

The Fallen
Oct 28, 2017
3,786
Great. Nuclear scientists that celebrate great achievement with a Fortnight dance. Can't wait.
 

SwitchedOff

Member
Oct 28, 2017
2,516
Gernau Morat Gurgeh

Gernau Morat Gurgeh

Member
Oct 31, 2017
10,055
SwitchedOff said:
Instead of the trashy reporting from the MSM, let's look at some more accurate (and technical) info on the matter:

Firstly, this all actually originates from early 2018 -

http://www.fusor.net/board/viewtopic.php?t=12115

Hackaday only recently caught onto it:

https://hackaday.com/2019/02/22/12-year-old-builds-successful-fusor-at-home/

This has also been done before, in 2016 for example:

https://hackaday.com/2016/03/26/home-made-farnsworth-fusor/
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Thanks for this, I couldn't tell what the hell he was supposed to have achieved . Science reporting in mass media remains trash.
 
OP
OP
JonnyDBrit

JonnyDBrit

God and Anime
Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,022
SwitchedOff said:
Instead of the trashy reporting from the MSM, let's look at some more accurate (and technical) info on the matter:

Firstly, this all actually originates from early 2018 -

http://www.fusor.net/board/viewtopic.php?t=12115

Hackaday only recently caught onto it:

https://hackaday.com/2019/02/22/12-year-old-builds-successful-fusor-at-home/

This has also been done before, in 2016 for example:

https://hackaday.com/2016/03/26/home-made-farnsworth-fusor/
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Thanks for the wider context. Will add to the OP.
 
BackwardCap

BackwardCap

One Winged Slayer
Avenger
Oct 28, 2017
2,472
I don't get this science stuff so just give it to me straight.

Are we all gonna die?
 

Deleted member 198

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
12,319
Parents dropping $10k for their child to casually build a nuclear reactor is a case for wealth redistribution if I've ever seen one.
 
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