The True Story of The Radioactive Boy Scout

"This article is being reprinted here as an example of what NOT to do with radioactive materials. Please
do NOT attempt to recreate any part of these experiments for the following reasons: You will most
likely poison yourself and/or others. Nobody really needs an unsafe homemade reactor (especially one
made of duct tape and foil)"

This is the warning posted on the website Dangerous Laboratories, a firm who "specializes in
do-it-yourself scientific, industrial, and alternative energy projects". It goes on to recount the story of
David Hahn, the subject of a book by Ken Silverstein called "The Radioactive Boy Scout", nicknamed
for attempting to build a nuclear breeder reactor in his mother's backyard shed.

Inspired by The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments, David sought his merit badge in atomic energy
by collecting samples of each element on the periodic table. His fascination with science and
experiments began at an early age, as the book begins with David's first memory conducting an
experiment.

Trying to get "a magical reaction" mixing numerous ingredients in a metal bowl while his
father was working and "his unmindful mother listening to music in the living room", Silverstein sets up
the background of David's life. Neglected by his parents, David's scientific fascination gave way to
obsession, and thus led to his homemade nuclear reactor. His project eventually led to the United
States Environmental Protection Agency taking apart the shed and burying the radioactive contents in
Utah.

In chapters two through six, Silverstein explains the history of the atomic craze, the periodic table, and
the breeder reactor. Exact occurences in laboratories as well as intricities of isotopes, protons, neutrons,
and the like can make a reader's eyes glaze over. These were all vital to the story, however, as
Silverstein was always sure to remind the reader that the glossy-eyed optimism of scientists in the early
developments of radium (along with the supporters of nuclear energy) mirrored those of David's
unrelenting optimism.

When Silverstein first interviewed David for an article in Harper's Magazine, David admitted that his
experiments were a way to explore his fascinations and were also an escape from a tulmultous family
life. "I was very emotional as a kid...and those experiments gave me a way to get away from that.
They gave me some respect."(1)

As David began building his reactor, he found assistance from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
writing to them and posing as an adult scientist. His obsession became so powerful that in a memorable
section of the book, David openly pleads with God to let him finish his project. It's such a harrowing
passage that the reader is both appalled and sympathetic.

Silverstein does a remarkable job in showcasing David's psychology and analyzes his odd upbringing
from his parents and stepparents, and successfully portrays David as both an immensely brilliant
scientist and a zealous, isolated young man. As Tim Rauschenberger noted in his review of the book for
the Christian Science Monitor, "The personal tragedy here sounds as disturbing as the potential public
disaster." (2) The Radioactive Boy Scout is a fascinating and unforgettable read.

(1) - Ken Silverstein, "The Radioactive Boy Scout" November 1998. Harper's Magazine
(http://web.archive.org/web/20001215100600/www.findarticles.com/cf_0/m1111/n1782_v297/2128140
7/print.jhtml)

(2) - Tim Rauschenberger, "The Nuclear Merit Badge" March 16, 2004. The Christian Science Monitor
(http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0316/p16s03-bogn.html)

Further reading:

Dangerous Laboratories (http://www.dangerouslaboratories.org/radscout.html)

"David Hahn" - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hahn)