At just 12 years old, Jackson Oswalt from Memphis, Tennessee, successfully built a nuclear fusion reactor in his family’s playroom. He managed to achieve nuclear fusion mere hours before turning 13 in 2018.
Inspired by young physicist Taylor Wilson, Oswalt gathered components mainly from eBay and independently learned the physics required for the project. His achievement was verified by Fusor.net and fusion expert Richard Hull, ultimately earning him a Guinness World Record as the youngest person to accomplish nuclear fusion.
Following widespread media attention, FBI agents visited Oswalt’s home to check for radiation. After finding none, they allowed him to continue his scientific experiments without any restrictions.