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This 17 Y.O. Boy Scout Built A Nuclear Reactor In His Mom’s Backyard 20 Years Ago That Made The Neighborhood Radioactive
If you think that boy scouts only occupy themselves by tying knots, carving wooden figurines and collecting various achievement patches to add on to their vests, then this true story of a boy scout turned into nuclear scientist will blow you away.
The story of David Charles Hahn (1976-2016) is not an ordinary one. The boy, since his early years, was always fascinated with chemistry and science and conducted numerous chemistry projects just for fun. However, no one really expected that one day he would actually build a fully functioning nuclear reactor in his own backyard as a result of one of his science projects.
Back in 1994, in a shed next to his mother’s house, the then 17-year-old David Hahn made a nuclear reactor from batteries, old clocks, lanterns, uranium from Czechoslovakia and duct tape. The science experiment attracted media attention and David was named the ‘Radioactive boy scout.’ Scroll down to read the full incredible story of David Hahn, which was shared by one internet user.
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David Hahn was a boy scout from a small town who was always fascinated with science and chemistry
Image credits: Weird History
David’s passion grew even further when he acquired ‘The Golden Book Of Chemistry Experiments,’ as a gift from his grandfather
Image credits: Amazon
David converted his mother’s basement into a lab where he could conduct chemical experiments
Image credits: Weird History
During one accident, the family home was set on fire and Hahn’s mother decided that he should move his ‘lab’ into the shed in the backyard
Image credits: Sam Beebe
As a boy scout, David earned an Atomic Energy Merit Badge, which gave him the idea to build his own nuclear reactor
He got in touch with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and started corresponding with them, pretending to be a physics teacher
Image credits: Drew Olanoff
After the project was finished, the radiation levels in the area had risen dramatically, so David decided to dismantle the reactor
Image credits: Andrew Back
While trying to get rid of it, David was stopped by the police and arrested. The authorities had cleared the shed off all nuclear materials
Image credits: Weird History
David never agreed to do any tests to determine any possible damage done by his experiments, due to fear of what he might find
Sadly, Hahn passed away in 2016 aged just 39, due to alcohol poisoning
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What do you think ?
Night Owl 7 years ago
A really smart kid, maybe too smart. The parens seem a bit neglectful, even for that time.
Light 7 years ago (edited)
What a shame. If he had a mentor who guided him, he could have discovered something to help humanity.
Load More Replies...
Sian Edwards 7 years ago
That's actually a side effect of long term radiation poisoning, skin conditions caused by exposure to radiation.
Load More Replies...
Misterscooter 7 years ago
He didn't "accidentally" build a reactor, it was pretty intentional.
MonsterMash 7 years ago (edited)
Yes, after the first explosion and fire in my house I think I would have done something to direct his inquisitive energy toward a safe and supervised lab. He obviously belonged in an accelerated program, like those really young lads that go to university when they’re children. I’m sad to hear he passed away under such gritty circumstances he obviously was a genius.
minerva15 7 years ago
It's all fun and cool to play and do science, but I'm surprised how easily he got the materials!
Karen Klinck 7 years ago
The government wasn't quite so--paranoid--back then. And don't forget, he posed as a teacher. Had he been himself I doubt he'd have got so far so easily.
Load More Replies...
Carol Emory 7 years ago
Sad that, with a little guidance, he could have come up with a new clean energy source that's better than the rest. A very gifted person whose talents were wasted.
Margaret Althea Elvenshadow 7 years ago
That's terrible. Not the fact that he passed away, but the fact that he put the entire street in danger to build a nuclear reactor. The parents are at fault too, but seriously - a 14 year old kid who knew as much about radiation as he did should know that it's bad to expose people to radiation!!
Scott Haapala 7 years ago
I grew up about 4 miles from his neighborhood. I remember the story well of when they busted him and dismantled the shed. At the time the officials pretty much said there was no real harm to the community and that he only had a few smoke detectors, which I'm sure was to avoid any public panic. How many people were actually exposed to those high levels of radioactivity will never be known, but shame on the officials for kinda "sweeping it under the rug"
Load More Replies...
Johnny Reb 4 years ago
There are many extremely intelligent people doing very ordinary jobs. There are also extremely stupid people. They become politicians.
Alex K 7 years ago
i had seen the mini documentary called the nuclear boy scout and i actually feel sad that he passed away. too bad. but obviously if he was clever enough to do all these things there must have been some psychological reasons that he wasnt accepted to do a job relevant to science.
Matthew Barclay 2 years ago
They left out the bit where he tried again as an adult after leaving the USMC (which he got discharged from on honorable "medical' grounds), and had STOLEN fire detectors. Unfortunately, the guy was a little mentally unstable.
Boreedout of my mind 2 years ago
They should have done those tests on all the people that have been exposed to radiation by this dumbass, cancer is no joke
MsNooneinparticular 4 years ago
His face looks like a leukemia rash. He probably would've gone on to develop cancer if he lived long enough and was smart enough to know that, hence the alcohol OD. Oh well, he did what he wanted with his life unlike many of us. Too bad it couldn't have been put towards a career but I guess not everything has to be.
MsNooneinparticular 4 years ago
His face looks like leukemia rash. He probably would've gone on to develop cancer if he'd lived much longer & he was smart enough to know that, hence the alcohol OD.
Maria Bhatti 4 years ago
He didn’t actually build the reactor. This article is false in that. He didn’t nearly have enough radiation to make it work. Later when he came back from the marines he tried to steal smoke alarms again from his own apartment but got caught and arrested again.
Paul Cohen 5 years ago
Fantasy story. I do not believe that it was a real nuclear reactor. But it's a nice story to attract readers.
Elizabeth Molloy 7 years ago
Looks like he was on Crack too, judging by all the tiny scabs on his face. What a waste of a fine mind.
Kim Lorton 7 years ago
Wow. The government should have kept eyes on him, and when he graduated from high school, given him a scholarship to a college full ride, for chemistry, and then hired him. He might even be alive today, if they had.
Maggie Collins 7 years ago
"Seems the parents were a bit neglectful"??? Sarcasm, right? I hope. Seriously, once he caught the house on fire the should have "carefully" studied this guy. ;Yes mentor! Glad he didn't have a thing for guns.
Renae Hislop 7 years ago
This boy was spectacular and at such Young age. He could have had great potential if taught right nd helped the world.
Deb Shaffer 7 years ago
Check out the 80's film The Manhattan Project. Almost a prediction of this kid's life.
KT Trondsen 7 years ago
Hes like a total kid genius, and with the right help he could have become quite the physicist. What a shame he was never encouraged to go to university and pursue his love of chemistry.
Molly Block 7 years ago
This was one brilliant kid, a genius! It's a shame he couldn't figure out how to take the toxins out of alcohol and still get the 'high' from drinking. What a waste of an eager and progressive intellectual mind....
Reilly Beryll 7 years ago
This is incredibly impressive. However, it could have been very dangerous. Mixed feelings. Interesting read.
Dave “DodgyMerchant” Thompson 7 years ago
He really ought have read a few more books on the subject
Revital Shapira 7 years ago
I'm having a hard time believing something like this could actually happen. And if it did, the person who was responsible would not just go on with his life as if he did nothing wrong.
Abinico Arts 7 years ago
Pure unadulterated bull poop. Nothing but a fantasy - an urban legend in the making,
Jaded Queen 7 years ago
I really don't understand why people have kids when they r neither willing nor capable of taking care of them. Nd then we have anti-abortion capaigns nd people who just want to make others life miserable. Stupid humans.
Night Owl 7 years ago
A really smart kid, maybe too smart. The parens seem a bit neglectful, even for that time.
Light 7 years ago (edited)
What a shame. If he had a mentor who guided him, he could have discovered something to help humanity.
Load More Replies... Sian Edwards 7 years ago
That's actually a side effect of long term radiation poisoning, skin conditions caused by exposure to radiation.
Load More Replies... Misterscooter 7 years ago
He didn't "accidentally" build a reactor, it was pretty intentional.
MonsterMash 7 years ago (edited)
Yes, after the first explosion and fire in my house I think I would have done something to direct his inquisitive energy toward a safe and supervised lab. He obviously belonged in an accelerated program, like those really young lads that go to university when they’re children. I’m sad to hear he passed away under such gritty circumstances he obviously was a genius.
minerva15 7 years ago
It's all fun and cool to play and do science, but I'm surprised how easily he got the materials!
Karen Klinck 7 years ago
The government wasn't quite so--paranoid--back then. And don't forget, he posed as a teacher. Had he been himself I doubt he'd have got so far so easily.
Load More Replies... Carol Emory 7 years ago
Sad that, with a little guidance, he could have come up with a new clean energy source that's better than the rest. A very gifted person whose talents were wasted.
Margaret Althea Elvenshadow 7 years ago
That's terrible. Not the fact that he passed away, but the fact that he put the entire street in danger to build a nuclear reactor. The parents are at fault too, but seriously - a 14 year old kid who knew as much about radiation as he did should know that it's bad to expose people to radiation!!
Scott Haapala 7 years ago
I grew up about 4 miles from his neighborhood. I remember the story well of when they busted him and dismantled the shed. At the time the officials pretty much said there was no real harm to the community and that he only had a few smoke detectors, which I'm sure was to avoid any public panic. How many people were actually exposed to those high levels of radioactivity will never be known, but shame on the officials for kinda "sweeping it under the rug"
Load More Replies... Johnny Reb 4 years ago
There are many extremely intelligent people doing very ordinary jobs. There are also extremely stupid people. They become politicians.
Alex K 7 years ago
i had seen the mini documentary called the nuclear boy scout and i actually feel sad that he passed away. too bad. but obviously if he was clever enough to do all these things there must have been some psychological reasons that he wasnt accepted to do a job relevant to science.
Matthew Barclay 2 years ago
They left out the bit where he tried again as an adult after leaving the USMC (which he got discharged from on honorable "medical' grounds), and had STOLEN fire detectors. Unfortunately, the guy was a little mentally unstable.
Boreedout of my mind 2 years ago
They should have done those tests on all the people that have been exposed to radiation by this dumbass, cancer is no joke
MsNooneinparticular 4 years ago
His face looks like a leukemia rash. He probably would've gone on to develop cancer if he lived long enough and was smart enough to know that, hence the alcohol OD. Oh well, he did what he wanted with his life unlike many of us. Too bad it couldn't have been put towards a career but I guess not everything has to be.
MsNooneinparticular 4 years ago
His face looks like leukemia rash. He probably would've gone on to develop cancer if he'd lived much longer & he was smart enough to know that, hence the alcohol OD.
Maria Bhatti 4 years ago
He didn’t actually build the reactor. This article is false in that. He didn’t nearly have enough radiation to make it work. Later when he came back from the marines he tried to steal smoke alarms again from his own apartment but got caught and arrested again.
Paul Cohen 5 years ago
Fantasy story. I do not believe that it was a real nuclear reactor. But it's a nice story to attract readers.
Elizabeth Molloy 7 years ago
Looks like he was on Crack too, judging by all the tiny scabs on his face. What a waste of a fine mind.
Kim Lorton 7 years ago
Wow. The government should have kept eyes on him, and when he graduated from high school, given him a scholarship to a college full ride, for chemistry, and then hired him. He might even be alive today, if they had.
Maggie Collins 7 years ago
"Seems the parents were a bit neglectful"??? Sarcasm, right? I hope. Seriously, once he caught the house on fire the should have "carefully" studied this guy. ;Yes mentor! Glad he didn't have a thing for guns.
Renae Hislop 7 years ago
This boy was spectacular and at such Young age. He could have had great potential if taught right nd helped the world.
Deb Shaffer 7 years ago
Check out the 80's film The Manhattan Project. Almost a prediction of this kid's life.
KT Trondsen 7 years ago
Hes like a total kid genius, and with the right help he could have become quite the physicist. What a shame he was never encouraged to go to university and pursue his love of chemistry.
Molly Block 7 years ago
This was one brilliant kid, a genius! It's a shame he couldn't figure out how to take the toxins out of alcohol and still get the 'high' from drinking. What a waste of an eager and progressive intellectual mind....
Reilly Beryll 7 years ago
This is incredibly impressive. However, it could have been very dangerous. Mixed feelings. Interesting read.
Dave “DodgyMerchant” Thompson 7 years ago
He really ought have read a few more books on the subject
Revital Shapira 7 years ago
I'm having a hard time believing something like this could actually happen. And if it did, the person who was responsible would not just go on with his life as if he did nothing wrong.
Abinico Arts 7 years ago
Pure unadulterated bull poop. Nothing but a fantasy - an urban legend in the making,
Jaded Queen 7 years ago
I really don't understand why people have kids when they r neither willing nor capable of taking care of them. Nd then we have anti-abortion capaigns nd people who just want to make others life miserable. Stupid humans.
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