David Hahn, known as the ‘Radioactive Boy Scout,’ made headlines in the mid-1990s when he attempted to build a nuclear reactor in his Michigan backyard shed. Despite his successful creation of a homemade neutron source and near irradiation of his neighborhood, Hahn refused medical evaluation and faced difficulties post-experiment. Following his experiment’s dismantling, he served in the Navy and Marines, with authorities later apprehending him for stealing detectors, leading to a short prison sentence. Sadly, Hahn passed away at 39 due to a lethal combination of alcohol and other substances. His life and experiments remain a cautionary tale of the dangers of amateur nuclear science.
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