Tinkering with chemicals as a kid was one thing, but when David Hahn joined the Boy Scouts, things really became … irradiated (via IFL Science). Encouraged by his success obtaining field badges, Hahn conducted more and more elaborate experiments. In his quest to procure elements off the periodic chart, Hahn became very clever about where to find his samples. In the smoke detectors throughout his mother’s house, he found the radioactive element americium (via Chemeurope). Being a scout, Hahn knew how camping lanterns work. In fact, the Radioactive Boy Scout would eventually learn that the radioactive element, thorium, was used in the making of some types of camping lanterns (via Orau). Interestingly enough, the Coleman Corporation — the manufacturer of camping lanterns — decided in 1990 to replace thorium with yttrium. While not burning nearly as bright as thorium, yttrium does last a lot longer than thorium.
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Hahn also managed to procure some radium for himself from clocks. From all these radioactive elements, Hahn was able to construct a type of nuclear reactor known as a breeder reactor by taking a large block of lead and drilling a large hole in it, per Chemeurope. From there, he needed to obtain enough lithium to power the thing, which he got out of a bunch of batteries. Then he fired up the old Bunsen burner and began purifying the thorium. In doing so, he released uranium, a highly radioactive element, and created his very own homemade breeder reactor (via IFLScience).
