Nuclear

Experimenting

Done Right

Youtube Video of a Successful, Safe Home Fusion Experiment

Picture below of Thiago Olson, as shown on the Laboratorio de Suenhos (Laboratory of Dreams) Website

Thiago Olson, another seventeen year old boy scout, also did nuclear experiments at home. In 2006, he successfully achieved fusion. As Discover Magazine put it, Thiago “built the business end of a hydrogen bomb in his basement.”

Unlike David Hahn, though, he took safety measures, and accessed materials legally. His experiments emitted safe levels of radioactivity. His school was kept informed of his activities. The Michigan Department of Health inspected his facilities and end result, and deemed it harmless.

Thiago started at nearly the same place David did. Almost literally, as both were from Michigan. David lives in Commerce Township, while Thiago lives in Rochester Hills. Both boy scouts, both sought to do some good in the world. Thiago shows there is a lot to be learned from David, if only what not to do in nuclear experimentation. Thiago maintained his GPA and worked to achieve the academic knowledge he needed to achieve his goal safely. He plans to work for the government someday, and is already researching nuclear applications in a variety of fields, using techniques such as Neutron Activation Analysis to solve a crime by positively identifying a chip of paint as coming from a specific car. David chose to let grades slide in pursuit of his hobby. Though he ended up working for the Navy, he was never allowed to work in the field of his choice, nuclear power. There are few things more dangerous than a talented amateur in a field such as nuclear development.

David Hahn undoubtedly helped to inspire a generation of daredevil scientists, but the publicity of his story has also helped those inspired make better choices as to how to pursue their interests in private nuclear research.