What the FBI said when they knocked on the door of 12-year-old who achieved nuclear fusion in his room
Published on Oct 28, 2025 at 5:08 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Oct 28, 2025 at 5:09 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Jackson Oswalt, a 12-year-old from Memphis, built a working nuclear fusion reactor inside his bedroom using parts he found online.
He spent over a year testing, rewiring, and perfecting the machine until it finally fused atoms together.
Then one morning, FBI agents arrived at his house with radiation scanners.
After discovering what he had been working on in his bedroom, the FBI had some words for the youngster.
EXPLORE SBX CARS – Supercar auctions starting soon powered by Supercar Blondie
How this 12-year-old achieved nuclear fusion in his room
Jackson Oswalt started experimenting with nuclear physics after getting curious about how the universe worked.
He watched countless science videos and read everything he could about atomic energy before deciding to try fusion for himself.
With parts sourced online, Jackson built a vacuum chamber and a fusor that could create plasma.
After months of testing and adjusting, he reached nuclear fusion at just 12 years old, which the Guinness World Records confirmed as a world record.
He’s the youngest person in the world to accomplish the reaction that powers the sun, all from a bedroom setup in Tennessee.
What was the FBI’s reaction?
When FBI agents showed up at his house carrying radiation detectors, they were shocked to say the least.
They checked the room for any signs of leaks or contamination and confirmed the project was safe, with Jackson later joking that ‘fortunately, I remained a free man’.
The agents reportedly told the family there were no violations and that the experiment, while surprising, was under control.
The visit made his record even more legendary, proof that his homemade reactor was powerful enough to get the government’s attention without breaking any laws.
Jackson’s story continues to inspire a generation of young scientists and shows us that scientific discoveries can happen even in the most unexpected places.
What is nuclear fusion?
Nuclear fusion is the process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a huge amount of energy in the process.
It’s the same reaction that powers the Sun and other stars.
It doesn’t produce greenhouse gases or radioactive waste like current nuclear plants do.
And it’s exciting because it could provide nearly limitless clean energy.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Daisy Edwards is a Content Writer at supercarblondie.com. Daisy has more than five years’ experience as a qualified journalist, having graduated with a History and Journalism degree from Goldsmiths, University of London and a dissertation in vintage electric vehicles. Daisy specializes in writing about cars, EVs, tech and luxury lifestyle. When she's not writing, she's at a country music concert or working on one of her many unfinished craft projects.
