Using parts he found on eBay and at his local hardware store, high school senior Thiago Olson managed to achieve nuclear fusion from his home in Michigan.

For all you non-science nerds (myself included), nuclear fusion occurs when two hydrogen nuclei crash together and form a helium nucleus. It requires very high temperatures (over 100 million Kelvin). It's the process that keeps the sun burning. And to think this kid did this as his weekend project. Just for kicks. To all the bullies out there—unless you wanna get nuked, quit picking on the science kids. – Louis Ramirez

Radioactive Boy Scout [Discover Mag]

Contact information for this author is not available.