Richard Handl

Richard Handl (born 23 May 1980) is a Swedish man who experimented with building a breeder reactor in his apartment in Ängelholm, Sweden for six months in 2011 with the intention to create a nuclear reaction.[1][2]

Richard Handl
Born (1980-05-23) May 23, 1980
Known forNuclear experimentation at home

After working in a factory for four years,[3][4] Handl became unemployed and decided to start a collection of the elements on the periodic table.[5] Out of curiosity he began experimenting with his collected elements to see if he could create a nuclear reaction.[6]

Handl's experiment included the acquisition of fissile material from outside the country,[7] a radiator suitable for transmutation, and instruments to measure the reaction, including a Geiger counter.[8] He spent about 5,000 to 6,000 Swedish kronor in materials and equipment.[9] Experiments were done with tritium, americium, aluminium, beryllium, thorium, radium, and uranium, most of which he acquired from foreign companies.[10] One step involved cooking americium, radium and beryllium in 96% sulfuric acid on a stove in order to more easily mix the ingredients; this resulted in an explosion.[11] He kept a blog called "Richard's Reactor" in which he documented the progress of the reactor.[9][12]

On 22 July 2011 he was detained by the police[13] after having contacted the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) to inquire as to whether his project was legal or not.[14][15] His apartment was searched, and the radioactive materials as well as his computer were taken by the police.[6] He was released,[16][17][18] then convicted in July 2014 on the violation of the radiation safety act and the violation of Swedish Environmental Code. A fine of 13,600 kronor was imposed.[19]

See also

References
  1. "Man tries to build nuke reactor in kitchen". ABC News.
  2. Johan Nylander. "Swede tried to build nuke reactor in kitchen".
  3. Jon Ronson (30 October 2012). Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries. Penguin Group US. pp. 205–. ISBN 978-1-101-61242-2.
  4. "Swedish man arrested after trying to split atoms in his kitchen". Telegraph.co.uk. 3 August 2011.
  5. Jon Ronson. "DIY science: should you try this at home?". the Guardian.
  6. "BBC News - Swede admits home-made atom experiment was 'crazy'". BBC News.
  7. "Science News Daily".
  8. "Swedish man detained for building nuclear reactor in kitchen,". The Australian News.
  9. "The Weird Story Of The Swedish Man Who Tried To Build A Nuclear Reactor In His Kitchen". Business Insider. 2 August 2011.
  10. "Tänkte bygga kärnreaktor i köket". DN.SE.
  11. "Swedish man arrested over kitchen nuclear 'reactor'". USATODAY.COM.
  12. "Swede detained for building nuclear reactor in kitchen". Wired UK.
  13. "Richard Handl arrested for home-made nuclear reactor | Daily Mail Online". Mail Online.
  14. Chuck Shepherd (18 December 2012). News of the Weird: Ironies. Andrews McMeel Publishing. pp. 16–. ISBN 978-1-4494-3779-4.
  15. "Atom splitting in my kitchen was a hobby, man tells Swedish police". the Guardian.
  16. "Kitchen nuclear reactor leaves Swede handcuffed". RT News.
  17. Charles Wilson. "Hobbies from Hell | Nuclear Reactor in Kitchen".
  18. "Swede speaks out about kitchen nuclear reactor ". The Local.
  19. "Court decision". Retrieved May 23, 2015.
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