Splitting Atoms in Kitchen

[boom_box]

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Swedish man caught trying to split atom

A Swedish man who was arrested after trying to split atoms in his kitchen says he was only doing it as a hobby.

Richard Handl on Wednesday said that he had the radioactive elements radium, americium and uranium in his apartment in southern Sweden when police showed up and arrested him on charges of unauthorised possession of nuclear material.

The 31-year-old Handl said he had tried for months to set up a nuclear reactor at home and kept a blog about his experiments, describing how he created a small meltdown on his stove.

Only later did he realise it might not be legal and sent a question to Sweden's Radiation Authority, which answered by sending the police.

"I have always been interested in physics and chemistry," Handl said, adding he just wanted to "see if it's possible to split atoms at home."

The police raid took place in late July, but police have refused to comment. If convicted, Handl could face fines or up to two years in prison.

Although he says police didn't detect dangerous levels of radiation in his apartment, he now acknowledges the project wasn't such a good idea.

"From now on, I will stick to the theory," he said.

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Well at least, his doing it for science hobby. Rather than home base uranium enrichment but making a small nuclear reactor and watching its meltdown is nice.

[cptn_star]

kuyaw makaamong sa silingan dah.

[Blackbeard]

talk about overreaction. hope he doesn't go to jail.

[emailroy2002]

hahaha ****ing cool!!!! this man is awesome...

=)

[ingkiang]

kuyaw makaamong sa silingan dah.

mao, gamay ra man cguro kaau na needed na substance, then grabe kaau ug power....so kuyaw jud xa...
not sure though...

[moy1moy1]

mahemu ni syang x-men puhon haha

[fritzd]

talk about overreaction. hope he doesn't go to jail.

Well, Nuclear energy, at least Fission is very dangerous. Even if a person holds a degree on Nuclear Physics, Nuclear Engineering or any other related degrees, it would be very difficult if not impossible to do this in your kitchen on your OWN. The consequences are dangerous (We know that very well from recent events.). With our current technology, you need lots of manpower and equipment to run a reactor. In fact, your fissionable material will cost just as much as the equipment and manpower that you need. The fact that he was able to posses Fissionable material is enough for him to be prosecuted to go to jail. So, I don't think its overreaction.

If he was really interested in physics and chemistry, he should understand that experiments of this magnitude have terrible consequences if not done properly. Then he should have studied Sciences are become a real scientist. Otherwise, he is just plain stupid.

[rodsky]

If he was really interested in physics and chemistry, he should understand that experiments of this magnitude have terrible consequences if not done properly.

Reminds me of David Hahn David Hahn - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

-RODION

[Visual C#]

There are still things you can do in the kitchen (or in the home basically) that are just as dangerous but doesn't involve splitting atoms. TATP for example can be made with common household chemicals, except for the sulfuric acid.

[_hizuka_]

Klaro ang title sa iyang blog kay "Making a nuclear reactor for dummies in the comfort of your home"