Mr. Jackson, a 12-year-old boy living in the US city of Memphis, successfully built a nuclear fusion reactor in his room, which not only made him the center of a new discussion in the world of science, but he also got an unexpected visit from the FBI. Jackson shared this amazing achievement on X (formerly Twitter) and told how he followed his determination to prove himself and broke this record just before the age of 13. Mr. Jackson’s inspiration came from the story given by 14-year-old Taylor Wilson in a TED Talk in 2008, in which Wilson told about his efforts to achieve controlled nuclear fusion. This inspired Jackson to work towards nuclear fusion, and he started his journey.
The Journey to Build a Fusion Reactor
Mr. Jackson began his project by constructing a “demo fusor,” which marked the first step toward creating a functional nuclear fusion reactor.With financial support from his parents, he immersed himself in this complex scientific field.However, he recognized that the initial demo fusor was far from a fully operational nuclear fusion reactor. “If I ran it for more than a few minutes, the ‘grid’ at the center would melt and destroy itself,” he confessed. But I redesigned the vacuum chamber and bought a turbomolecular pump from eBay to improve the setup,” he wrote on X.
Success and Guinness World Record
Jackson worked on the project for a year and finally achieved success a few days before his 13th birthday. He successfully achieved nuclear fusion and obtained proof of it in the form of neutrons. His achievement earned him a Guinness World Record and he became the youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion.
FBI investigation
When Jackson’s achievement garnered media attention, the FBI visited his home to investigate the nuclear fusion reactor. The agents used a Geiger counter to check for radiation, but found none. After their inspection, they gave Jackson the green light to continue his scientific experiments without any limitations. “I earned the Guinness World Record for the youngest person to achieve fusion, and also received some less pleasant attention. One Saturday, two FBI agents woke me up and walked around my house with a Geiger counter. Thankfully, everything was fine,” Jackson shared.
Further Direction and Opportunities
After this great success, Jackson got the opportunity to visit various scientific startups and facilities across the country. His story is not only a testament to his efforts, but also shows that young scientists have limitless potential.
