[Cogebrego]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14403432

Apparently he got the nuclear material on eBay......

[Blaxastij]

well more power to him,
if it would have worked he wouldn´t have to be worrying about the power bill

[darieBarexish]

My goodness, if a regular guy from Sweden can do this imagine what someone with an actual agenda can do.

[curcercanty]

Is splitting the atom equivalent to building a bomb? I'm no atomic physicist.

[UrUROFlS]

Well atoms do split when a nuclear bomb is detonated, but they all split in an extremely short period of time which requires both highly enriched fissile material (which is very difficult and expensive to create) arranged into a sub critical configuration, as well as a properly designed charge around it to make the fissile material reach criticality and start the explosive chain reaction when detonated. You can't accidentally make a nuclear bomb just by screwing around with some radioactive material.

Atoms also split in a nuclear reactor, but they do so in a controlled manner and they're harnessed in such a way as to heat water which then turns to steam which then turns a generator which then creates electricity.

That article doesn't really give much information as to what he was trying to do or what his capabilities were.

[UrUROFlS]

http://news.yahoo.com/swedish-man-ca...153341057.html

There's a slightly more detailed article.

The cream of the crop from the comments section...

U.S. has home made meth labs...Sweden has home made nuclear labs. I'm guessing their public schools may be a bit better than ours. I wish I had a link to his blog, though. I'm sure it's very interesting.

[citicroego]

Well atoms do split when a nuclear bomb is detonated, but they all split in an extremely short period of time which requires both highly enriched fissile material (which is very difficult and expensive to create) arranged into a sub critical configuration, as well as a properly designed charge around it to make the fissile material reach criticality and start the explosive chain reaction when detonated. You can't accidentally make a nuclear bomb just by screwing around with some radioactive material.

Atoms also split in a nuclear reactor, but they do so in a controlled manner and they're harnessed in such a way as to heat water which then turns to steam which then turns a generator which then creates electricity.

That article doesn't really give much information as to what he was trying to do or what his capabilities were.

Hmm, I'm pretty sure they don't use fission (splitting) in nuclear reactors but fusion (combining).

Also, Nuclear bombs based upon fusion are also MULTITUDES more powerful than any fission type bombs.

But yes, the facilities to enrich the plutonium/uranium to a certain level are absolutely gigantic and require a ton of energy.

But I am sure Neeyik can explain!

[UrUROFlS]

Hmm, I'm pretty sure they don't use fission (splitting) in nuclear reactors but fusion (combining).

Nah they all use fission power. Fusion power isn't a reality yet.

[citicroego]

Nah they all use fission power. Fusion power isn't a reality yet.

Oops. Balls, looked it up. You are correct.

[seawolferr]

Unfortunately, the only effectively 'useful' fusion has been in "H" bombs.
They're making huge progress, though, and I'd expect the first commercial fusion power stations in around 20-25 years, at the latest.

There's a neat photograph of the magnetic flux taken by one of the lab's that's quite impresive - it was on one of the doco's on the development of fusion power. If one of you guys find it, I'd be grateful.

[xresultsearch]

Fusion power was great in Sim City 2, they gave you practically infinite power!