Posted on 01/10/2008 10:16:34 PM PST by DogByte6RER
Rockwall man boasts of nuclear reactor, but no arrest made
Thursday, January 10, 2008
By JASON TRAHAN / The Dallas Morning News
A 22-year-old Rockwall man's Internet boasts that he had made a mini-nuclear reactor in his garage resulted in a visit recently by federal authorities.
Representatives with the FBI and the Texas Department of State Health Services' Radiation Control Program took away the man's science equipment on Friday – but not because he was doing anything dangerous or illegal.
Rather, the man's parents, with whom he is living, asked that the equipment be removed, officials said.
The man, who was not identified by authorities and who could not be reached, was experimenting with Americium-241, a man-made radioactive element common in smoke detectors, and natural radioactive ore that he had bought legally over eBay, said Victor Dricks, a regional spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Commission investigators discovered the homemade atomic lab on Dec. 29, when they found the man's boasts on an amateur science blog. He said on the blog that he had produced high amounts of radiation in his house while making Plutonium-239, a component in nuclear weapons. He made no mention of nefarious motives; he was just interested in the science, officials said.
Tests on the home did not show abnormal levels of radiation, officials said. The man's "claims that he had created a nuclear reactor that was producing high amounts of radiation were unfounded," Mr. Dricks said. Neighbors were not in danger, he added.
No charges will be filed because it is legal to possess the ore he had, Mr. Dricks said. "It's naturally occurring uranium, like you'd find in the ground. It's only when it's processed and the radioactive component is concentrated is where a license is required. He had not been doing that."
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
All right, what are you all up to now?
ping
Mom, dad, how much do you think the Iranians would pay me for my nuclear reactor?
Very interesting...
I was wondering about the green glow down the street
And still living with your mother?
No, Beaker! Not that one!
This is in Ron Paul’s district, isn’t it?
Apparently it wasn't a boast. What's the old saw?, "It ain't braggin' if you can do it."
“I can’t wait to see this on the Do It Yourself Network...
Or Mythbusters.”
Actually, you can construct one yourself. A basement reactor was built (and inspected and approved by relevant federal authorities) already. It produces miniscule amounts of electricity. But this is not a myth.
Hey, he was only a centrifuge away from getting it right!
He needs to make a short, quick trip to North Korea with a suitcase full of Burger King and a Keg.
I suppose there is a que these days, what with every Paki and Iranian Islamofascist International Trader getting in on the spin.
Hahn was certainly one of a kind. He came very close to creating a breeder reactor. His problem is he didn’t have enough shielding to contain the radioactivity. At least he was smart enough to dismantle the thing before he fried himself.
Nothing illegal, no high levels of radiation.
Seems his crime was spooking his parents and making audacious claims.
I’m on his side in this one.
NO
David Hahn
Have you seen pictures of him recently? I think he might have fried himself a little.
Yeah he fried himself a little but he isn’t dead yet. lol
I wasn’t saying that it was a myth, just stating that it would be amusing to see the guys on Mythbusters tackle such a project. By the time they finished with it, it would either provide power for the Bay Area or it would irradiate much of San Francisco.
Thanks for posting the photo, I thought this was about that particular IDIOT.
The boy has ‘issues’ to say the least.
Well maybe a smoke detector, but that's just cause I changed the battery!
The federales only OK’d the “small nuclear reactor” project in part because of its small scope (lights a 60 watt bulb). There are linear accelerators and other more powerful things of a similar nature that are out there too, so in reality it is not out of the range of the possible. Irradiating San Francisco? You maybe onto something.
I was at lunch when all this happened!
Nuthin.....all I have is a old coleman lantern mantle and a firecracker........what harm is that ?
Anybody at work come in looking like #19?
No way !!!!........is that really Hahn ????
Wonder how many rem that boy soaked up in his “experiment”....Whoa !
Excessive exposure to Thorium.
Not a pretty sight.
You overlooked a meltdown or the Mythbuster’s special...a big bang.
Only seen one person like that in my 35 years working with such and that was due an accident with a shotgun vs rad.
Is that REALLY Hahn ?????
I thought he was much older.....:o)
I have to go search this out.....David Hahn was Navy and that was a long time ago. He should be older unless the rad pickled him !
Maybe I better toss that old coleman lantern mantle.....:o)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hahn
Clinton Township Michigan.......lots of criminals up there Larry ....LOL !!
One mantle isn’t a problem, but a few thousand might be.
I guess my plan of grinding up old orange Fiestaware is off too.
And they ain’t letting us play with SPR anymore....
I feel your loss.....literally !
It’s not everyday a wayward philosophy major ends up working at both NTS and a fast burst reactor... is this a great country or what?
Wayward philosophy major ?...........Eaker ?:o)
I majored in Philosophy and Abstract Art.... I hate wrong answers and bad drawings !
Nah, Ol' Slim... career path... bicycle mechanic, prison warden, nuclear scientist....
Never take a job you're qualified for, it will bore you stiff.
Now ya tell me after I got here !.......:o)
I understand that more than ya know !
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.