13yo builds working nuclear fusion reactor

Run Silent · 02-19-2019, 07:14 PM

This absolutely blows my mind. What an intellect! I think it is so cool that someone that age has the mindset and drive to spend the hours it took to create it.

He began working on the fusion reactor at 12 years old, after concluding that he didn’t want to dedicate his leisure time solely to playing games like Fortnite. He began scouring the Internet for nuclear-related things because that’s what he says held his interest. Yes — at 12 years old. He converted an old playroom in his Memphis home into a functioning lab.

With the financial support of his parents – he spent between $8,000 and $10,000 over the course of a year collecting the parts he needed.

My only thought? Parents made a very sound financial decision. They essentially just paid 8-10 grand for a guaranteed free-ride at MIT.

Worthy read.

https://www.commercialappeal.com/sto...or/1977266002/

https://www.foxnews.com/science/teen...n-memphis-home

infinitekidM2C · 02-19-2019, 07:27 PM

Ok Sheldon

UncleWede · 02-19-2019, 07:35 PM

He turned me into a cat
Well I got bettah

Z K · 02-19-2019, 07:42 PM

Awesome intellect... but we're still a long way from building nuclear fusion reactors that work to produce energy for usage.

But nuclear fusion is the holy grail of nuclear energy. Clean fusion with no nuclear waste is what everyone in the world wants.

aBMWfan · 02-19-2019, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Run Silent

This absolutely blows my mind. What an intellect! I think it is so cool that someone that age has the mindset and drive to spend the hours it took to create it.

He began working on the fusion reactor at 12 years old, after concluding that he didn’t want to dedicate his leisure time solely to playing games like Fortnite. He began scouring the Internet for nuclear-related things because that’s what he says held his interest. Yes — at 12 years old. He converted an old playroom in his Memphis home into a functioning lab.

With the financial support of his parents – he spent between $8,000 and $10,000 over the course of a year collecting the parts he needed.

My only thought? Parents made a very sound financial decision. They essentially just paid 8-10 grand for a guaranteed free-ride at MIT.

Worthy read.

https://www.commercialappeal.com/sto...or/1977266002/

https://www.foxnews.com/science/teen...n-memphis-home

I love how your “only” thought is the parent’s financial decision. And that you don’t consider their choice of being exposed to radiation. Seems to be much more than a microwave!

WestRace · 02-19-2019, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z K

But nuclear fusion is the holy grail of nuclear energy. Clean fusion with no nuclear waste is what everyone in the world wants.

Good thing we have other means to produce clean energy without having to wait till then.

jimbobiggens · 02-19-2019, 07:54 PM

Man, when I was 13 I was studying girls and fishing.

Run Silent · 02-19-2019, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aBMWfan

I love how your “only” thought is the parent’s financial decision. And that you don’t consider their choice of being exposed to radiation. Seems to be much more than a microwave!

Z K · 02-19-2019, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug_328d

Well fusion will always have radioactive by products and fuel mixture, just less long lived. Activated metals in the blanket structure, tritium, etc.

Yes, but compared to fission, this is nothing. There's tons of nuclear waste buried in the ground from fission that will last thousands of years. Fusion is very clean by comparison.

Run Silent · 02-20-2019, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z K

Awesome intellect... but we're still a long way from building nuclear fusion reactors that work to produce energy for usage.

But nuclear fusion is the holy grail of nuclear energy. Clean fusion with no nuclear waste is what everyone in the world wants.

Very true, but that doesn't discount the ingenuity and drive it takes to accomplish something like this period, let alone as a child in a suburban home. The talent and drive shown here is so rare, that it should really be commended.

In addition, when someone has that intellect and ability and then is able to harness it to attempt to truly change the world for the better, one has to be amazed.

I really hope he goes on to do great things.

King Rudi · 02-20-2019, 10:06 AM

Meh....when I was 8 my bedroom was a training facility for ninja's....except there were no other

Seriously though, absolutely amazing. At 12 years old I felt successful if I was able to make it to bed-time without a life changing beating.

Chihuahua · 02-20-2019, 10:21 AM

Someone buy this kid a DeLorean STAT.

Darth One · 02-20-2019, 12:12 PM

Pssssh I'm sure there's a DIY somewhere on YouTube...

MKSixer · 02-20-2019, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aBMWfan

I love how your “only” thought is the parent’s financial decision. And that you don’t consider their choice of being exposed to radiation. Seems to be much more than a microwave!

In other news:

Man wins a gazillion dollars in lottery. Complains about having to pay so much in taxes.

MPBK · 02-20-2019, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C

Ok Sheldon

More like Dexter.

yco · 02-26-2019, 06:12 PM

well radiation is not cute thing to play for a 13yo kid..

N54Yankee · 02-26-2019, 07:16 PM

Guess I'm dating myself but I first thought of the little brother in the movie comedy, Better Off Dead.

Run Silent · 02-26-2019, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N54Yankee

Guess I'm dating myself but I first thought of the little brother in the movie comedy, Better Off Dead.

Loved that movie.

Where's my two dollars?

So what you wanna do is, ski down the mountain, really fast, and if something's in your way....turn.

N54Yankee · 02-26-2019, 09:30 PM

Used that skiing line on my wife's nephew two weeks ago when he went to the Poconos. One of those movies as I'm flippin through the channels and see it I'm watching it and it even has claymation Van Halen.

02-19-2019, 07:14 PM	#1
Run Silent Run Deep 15086 Rep 4,123 Posts Drives: Back and Forth To Work Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: The Mountains iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 Alfa Romeo Giu ... [0.00] 2022 Ford Bronco 2d ... [0.00] 2016 Alfa Romeo 4C [8.50] 2019 BMW i8 Roadster [10.00]	13yo builds working nuclear fusion reactor This absolutely blows my mind. What an intellect! I think it is so cool that someone that age has the mindset and drive to spend the hours it took to create it. He began working on the fusion reactor at 12 years old, after concluding that he didn’t want to dedicate his leisure time solely to playing games like Fortnite. He began scouring the Internet for nuclear-related things because that’s what he says held his interest. Yes — at 12 years old. He converted an old playroom in his Memphis home into a functioning lab. With the financial support of his parents – he spent between $8,000 and $10,000 over the course of a year collecting the parts he needed. My only thought? Parents made a very sound financial decision. They essentially just paid 8-10 grand for a guaranteed free-ride at MIT. Worthy read. https://www.commercialappeal.com/sto...or/1977266002/ https://www.foxnews.com/science/teen...n-memphis-home __________________ *Don't sweat petty things....or pet sweaty things.*
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02-19-2019, 07:42 PM	#4
Z K Major General 1929 Rep 5,520 Posts Drives: G20 M340i, S15 Silvia Spec R Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (3)	Awesome intellect... but we're still a long way from building nuclear fusion reactors that work to produce energy for usage. But nuclear fusion is the holy grail of nuclear energy. Clean fusion with no nuclear waste is what everyone in the world wants. __________________ Auto Detailing Enthusiast!
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02-19-2019, 07:54 PM	#7
jimbobiggens Lieutenant 837 Rep 440 Posts Drives: 2013 335i xDrive Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: jackson tn iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 335i xDrive [0.00]	Man, when I was 13 I was studying girls and fishing. __________________ I'm not completely useless, I can be used as a bad example.
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02-20-2019, 10:06 AM	#11
King Rudi Lieutenant Colonel 13066 Rep 1,965 Posts Drives: Meat Suit Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Planet Earth iTrader: (0)	Meh....when I was 8 my bedroom was a training facility for ninja's....except there were no other Seriously though, absolutely amazing. At 12 years old I felt successful if I was able to make it to bed-time without a life changing beating.
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02-20-2019, 10:21 AM	#12
Chihuahua Brigadier General 4615 Rep 3,422 Posts Drives: E30 329iS, E65 Alpina B7 Join Date: May 2012 Location: SE US iTrader: (0)	Someone buy this kid a DeLorean STAT.
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02-20-2019, 12:12 PM	#13
Darth One drunk poster 6463 Rep 3,648 Posts Drives: M4 GTS \| E46 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Pssssh I'm sure there's a DIY somewhere on YouTube...
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yco i'm just saying 6214 Rep 2,635 Posts Drives: E71 X6M '10 (sold) Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Istanbul & Kyiv iTrader: (0)	well radiation is not cute thing to play for a 13yo kid..
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N54Yankee Lieutenant Colonel 2705 Rep 1,916 Posts Drives: N54 135\|Cobb\|M3 control arms Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Guess I'm dating myself but I first thought of the little brother in the movie comedy, Better Off Dead. __________________ __________________ "The Constitution was never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms.” Samuel Adams
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02-26-2019, 09:30 PM	#19
N54Yankee Lieutenant Colonel 2705 Rep 1,916 Posts Drives: N54 135\|Cobb\|M3 control arms Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Used that skiing line on my wife's nephew two weeks ago when he went to the Poconos. One of those movies as I'm flippin through the channels and see it I'm watching it and it even has claymation Van Halen. __________________ __________________ "The Constitution was never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms.” Samuel Adams
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