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Michigan Teen Creates Fusion Device

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the fire-in-the-hole dept.

Josh Lindenmuth writes "The Detroit Free Press is reporting that Thiago Olson, a 17 year old Michigan teen, was able to create a small fusion device in his parents' basement. The machine uses a 40,000 volt charge and deuterium gas to create the small reaction, which he says looks like a 'small intense ball of energy.' The teen's fusion device is obviously not a self-sustaining reactor, but it still shows how fusion technology is becoming more accessible. Hopefully this points to a future where large scale fusion reactors are both economical and widely used."

2 of 460 comments (clear)

  1. How do we know it's fusion? by UnHolier+than+ever · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Personally, if I put a dilute gas in a vacuum chamber, apply a voltage and see a small ball of fire, I think plasma. Why is this not just a plasma? How do we know it's fusion?

    And what is a "hyperbolic chamber"???????

    Note: creating a plasma at 17 years old in a garage would still be very cool. Maybe not slashdot-front-page cool, but still cool.

  2. Points for technical ability, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Uh, let's write a story that make it look like he "creates" a standard Fanrnsworth-Hirsch Fusor (built for science fair projects, low level neutron sources, and just shits & grins for 50 years) and make the kid look like a genius.

    Technical skill? Yes. Advanced knowledge? Yes.

    But primarily, ability to follow directions available everywhere? Yes.

    He may very well be a genius, but it is as likely that he's a genius at self-promotion as anything. There are many high-quality science projects he could have done, but add the words "nuclear" and "fusion" and you attract a lot of media attention. He'll make a good string theorist...

    JD