At just 12 years old, Jackson Oswalt, a teenager from Memphis, Tennessee, achieved a feat that earned him a Guinness World Record and attracted the attention of the FBI: he built a working nuclear fusion reactor in his bedroom. His story is a remarkable example of youthful curiosity and scientific ambition.
Oswalt’s foray into nuclear physics began when he grew tired of video games and sought a more meaningful challenge. Inspired by Taylor Wilson, another teenager who had constructed a nuclear reactor, Oswalt set a goal to achieve nuclear fusion before his 13th birthday. He immersed himself in the subject, gathering knowledge from online forums and educational videos.
Using parts sourced from eBay, Oswalt constructed a “fusor,” a device that uses an electric field to heat ions to fusion conditions. After months of dedicated work in his makeshift home laboratory, he successfully fused two deuterium atoms on January 18, 2018. The achievement was verified by the scientific community, confirming him as the youngest person to accomplish nuclear fusion.
The project’s ambitious nature soon drew the attention of federal authorities. Concerned about potential radiation risks in a residential neighborhood, FBI agents visited the Oswalt home with Geiger counters. Their inspection confirmed the experiment was conducted safely and posed no threat, allowing Oswalt to avoid any legal issues while highlighting the critical importance of safety in amateur science.
Oswalt’s early success has since propelled him into new scientific fields. He now works at Midjourney, an artificial intelligence research lab, where he focuses on developing innovative hardware interfaces. His journey from bedroom physicist to AI innovator demonstrates that age is no obstacle to significant achievement.
His work also underscores the promise of nuclear fusion as a clean and virtually limitless energy source. Unlike nuclear fission, which splits atoms, fusion combines them in a process that powers the sun. While Oswalt’s fusor was not designed to produce a net energy gain—the primary challenge facing fusion researchers today—his project serves as a powerful inspiration. It highlights how young innovators can contribute to solving global challenges like climate change and encourages a new generation to explore the frontiers of science.
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