The Radioactive Boy Scout

Summary:

David Hahn is an American boy scout born on October 30, 1976.

In order to get a scout’s badge in atomic energy reactor as a source of limitless amounts of energy.

At the age of 17, he tried to create a homemade breeder nuclear reactor.

He made secret experiments in the backyard of his mother’s house in Michigan.

He made this radioactive material by collecting several household products especially from camping lanterns, smoke detectors, docks…

Hahn hoped to create a breeder reactor by transforming thorium and uranium into fissionable isotopes.

His homework reactor didn’t reach the critical mass but it emitted dangerous levels of radioactivity.

He felt anxious and started to take apart his experiments.

By mistake the police discovered his activities, which made the FBI and the Nuclear Regulatory commission dismantle the shed and its content and buried them in Utah.

Hahn refused any medical tests for radiation exposure. 

It takes place in October 30, 1976 were he does many things and goes to places and it talks about how he is trying to create a nuclear reactor.

It influenced David Hahn because he went through many things like after the FBI found out about everything that he is doing he had to run away from them and they tried looking for him everywhere and especially that David Hahn had to go somewhere he had to disappear from the police.

Vocabulary:

1)   Tended: regularly or frequently behave in a particular way or have a certain characteristic.

2)   Astonishing: surprise or impress (someone) greatly.

3)   Optimism: Hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something.

4)    Barium: The chemical element of atomic number 56, a soft white reactive metal of the alkaline earth group.

5)   Sealed: Fasten or close securely.

Reflection:

I think that this book matters because it tells you about people a long time ago and how they created things and did amazing experiments.

An example is that he tried creating a nuclear reactor and did experiments in the backyard of his mom’s house and especially that he was young, he was 17 years old.

Then the police discover things about him, and what he is trying to do.

I rate this book a 7 out of 10 because sometimes I would read things that were really boring and I didn’t like the book a lot, I only liked the part were he would try to create things and then the FBI would find out about what he is doing. So that’s why I rate it a 7 out of 10.