Meet the Boy Who Built a Nuclear Reactor in His Garden

In 1994, during the summer, there was a 17-year-old boy in Detroit who was really interested in science. He had a small device that made beeping sounds. This was a time when not many people had smartphones, so it was unusual to see someone so engrossed in a little gadget. What was that device, and why was he so fascinated by it? Well, it was actually a geiger counter, a tool to measure radiation. The beeps meant that something he built in his mom's potting shed was working, and that something was a homemade nuclear reactor.

But before we get into all of that, let's go back to the beginning. Most parents wish for their children to be curious and smart, but sometimes, it can lead to dangerous things. This story is about a boy named David Hahn, who became known as the "Radioactive Boy Scout." He was really interested in science and started doing experiments. It all began when he got a science book for kids, which had some dangerous experiments in it.

This book inspired David to do more experiments. He read lots of advanced science books and even made things that went boom in his bedroom. His experiments got so intense that he damaged his house, and his parents sent him to the basement. But even that wasn't enough to contain his scientific curiosity.

David's dad thought it might be a good idea for him to join the Boy Scouts, hoping it would channel his energy in a better way. David did join the Boy Scouts and even earned a merit badge in atomic energy. Yes, you heard that right, atomic energy!

David wanted to take his experiments to the next level and build a real nuclear reactor. But he had a problem. He didn't know how to do it, and he needed some radioactive material. So, he started writing to all kinds of nuclear organizations, pretending to be a science teacher. Surprisingly, they replied and gave him information on how to build a reactor.

Now, David had to find radioactive materials. He learned that you could find a tiny bit of radioactive stuff in household smoke detectors, and he started collecting them. He also tried to find uranium, which is used in nuclear reactors, but he couldn't find any. He even drove around with a Geiger counter in his car, hoping to find some uranium by the side of the road.

When that didn't work, he bought some uranium from overseas. But that also didn't go as planned. He couldn't get the uranium to work for his reactor. Instead, he used another material called thorium.

He built his homemade reactor in his mom's potting shed. It didn't work as a real nuclear reactor would, but it did emit some radiation. David realized this was dangerous and tried to dismantle the reactor. He even packed it up in his car to get rid of it far away from people.

However, someone saw him acting suspiciously and called the police. They discovered his radioactive experiments and all the dangerous materials he was using. The area around his shed was highly contaminated with radiation.

David's actions put many people at risk of radiation exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency estimated that around 40,000 people might have been affected by his experiments.

David's life took a dark turn after that. He struggled with mental health issues, his mother's suicide, and other problems. He joined the Navy but didn't get to work with nuclear technology like he wanted. Eventually, he got into more trouble with the law for trying to steal more radioactive materials.

Sadly, David's life took a tragic turn, and he passed away in 2016 from accidental intoxication. His story is a mix of scientific curiosity, danger, and tragedy. It's a reminder of how important it is to handle science and dangerous materials safely and responsibly.