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Young science prodigies often amaze the world, but some inventions can go too far. A 13-year-old boy decided to build a nuclear fusion reactor in his bedroom, drawing the attention of authorities and resulting in an unexpected visit from the FBI to investigate.
While many teenagers spend hours on social media or playing video games, Memphis resident Jackson Oswalt United States, dedicated his time to an unusual project: the construction of a nuclear fusion reactor.
At the age of 12, he managed to accomplish the Nuclear fusion in a laboratory set up inside his own home, becoming the youngest person to achieve this feat in the US. Oswalt joined the Guinness World Records as the youngest person to successfully achieve nuclear fusion.
The experiment concluded on January 19, 2018, just hours before his 13th birthday.
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The reactor, developed by the teenager, uses a complex system of vacuums, pumps and steel chambers to fuse atoms and generate energy.
The process mimics the functioning of the Sun and other stars, where the fusion of atomic nuclei releases large amounts of energy.
Unlike nuclear fission, a technology used in conventional nuclear power plants, fusion does not produce highly radioactive waste and is considered a promising alternative for generating clean energy in the future.
The beginning of the nuclear fusion reactor
The idea came to Jackson when he was 12. He decided he wanted to do something more productive than just playing Fortnite.
Fascinated by nuclear energy, he began researching the subject on the internet. During his search, he discovered the story of Taylor Wilson, a young man who, in 2008, built a nuclear fusion reactor at the age of 14.
Determined to beat this record, Jackson set about his project. He first studied what other enthusiasts had done and made a list of the parts he needed, purchasing most of them through eBay.
However, many of the parts were not exactly what he needed, requiring modifications. He spent months learning about the functionalities of each component and how to adapt the purchased parts.
The research phase was intense. Jackson watched videos, read academic articles and participated in specialized forums.
Each piece of information he learned was tested in practice, which made the process time-consuming and challenging. He did not have the help of teachers or scientists, only his determination and the knowledge shared on the internet.
The challenge of building a reactor
Transforming an old playroom into a laboratory, Jackson relied on financial support from his parents, spending between $8.000 and $10.000 on purchasing components.
Assembly was a process of trial and error.
Without a clear manual, he relied on his own research and the collaboration of amateur physicists on the forum Open Source Fuser Research Consortium.
Initially, understanding the mechanisms was challenging, but over time, each piece of the puzzle fell into place.
Precision was essential. Small errors could compromise the entire system. Jackson had to build vacuum chambers and test different materials until he found the best ones to withstand the high temperatures.
Controlling deuterium gas flows and plasma stability were some of the most complex challenges faced by the young scientist.
Security and risks
Jackson's father, Chris Oswalt, didn't fully understand what his son was doing. To ensure his safety, he asked experts to explain the risks involved, such as radiation exposure and the dangers of working with 50.000 volts of electricity.
Despite his concerns, Chris was impressed by his son’s dedication. For an entire year, Jackson studied daily, faced setbacks, and kept working until he reached his goal.
Safety was one of the most critical aspects of the project. Jackson had to learn how to measure radiation levels, create protective barriers, and ensure that all electrical connections were secure.
He invested time understanding the shielding mechanisms to prevent radiation leaks, minimizing risks.
The FBI visit
According to IndiatimesOne day, a van full of FBI agents pulled up to the entrance of the garage. A group of police officers, wearing tactical jackets, got out and knocked on the door.
The young man had certainly dreamed of people approaching him, but never, not even in the most unlikely scenarios, did he imagine that the FBI would appear at his door.
However, the agents did not raid the premises as in a search operation. Instead, they politely approached Jackson Oswalt's parents, asking permission to inspect his “project” and assess possible radiation levels.
Equipped with a Geiger counter, the agents detected no danger. With safety measures duly checked, Oswalt continued his journey to achieve nuclear fusion.
The achievement of fusion
Jackson documented the entire process on the research forum, until, on January 19, 2018, just hours before his 13th birthday, he managed to achieve nuclear fusion.
He combined two atoms of deuterium gas in the reactor core, generating a neutron that was detected, confirming the success of the experiment.
Richard Hull, administrator of the website Fusor.net and a retired electronics engineer, verified the results and confirmed Jackson as the youngest person to achieve this feat in the United States and possibly in the world.
Jackson's achievement has impressed scientists and nuclear physics enthusiasts alike. The experiment's success demonstrates how young people can explore scientific knowledge independently, driven by curiosity and access to information.
The future of nuclear fusion
Although Jackson succeeded in achieving nuclear fusion, humanity is still far from building a reactor that generates more energy than it consumes. Scientists are currently working to develop a viable system that can power homes and buildings.
Dr. Jingbiao Cui, a professor at the University of Memphis, highlights the complexity of the challenge. “Creating a fusion reactor that produces electricity is still a long way off, so Jackson's feat is incredible.".
Jackson's focus shifted to AI
In September 2024, Jackson announced on his Twitter account X (formerly known as Twitter) which was leaving the University of Southern California (USC) to join the hardware team at Midjourney, a company specializing in artificial intelligence.
According to his LinkedIn profile, at Midjourney, Jackson is involved in the design of a cloud-enabled hardware product. IA, designed to provide users with perfect memory and personalized assistant.
With information from FoxNews and IndiaTimes.
He will be our real John Connor of the future
In a country with so many talented Nobel Prize winners, it is no surprise that young people are occupied with more important things than trivial ones.
As everything good has its price; there is nature with tornadoes, hurricanes and heavy snows in which all these factors of nature and its psychopaths, have led to the deaths of many Americans. Everything has its price, each nation with its problems.