Swede who created home reactor arrested

A Swedish man has been arrested after trying to set up a nuclear reactor and split atoms in his home.

Richard Handl said that he had the radioactive elements radium, americium and uranium in his apartment in southern Sweden for nuclear experiments.

The 31 year-old had no idea such experiments were illegal and said he was surprised when police showed up and arrested him on charges of unauthorized possession of nuclear material.

“I have always been interested in physics and chemistry,” Handl said, adding he just wanted to “see if it’s possible to split atoms at home”.

Handl said he had tried for months to set up a nuclear reactor at home and blogged about his experiments including how he created a small meltdown on his stove.

He appraoched Sweden’s Radiation Authority about the experiments which sent the police to the man’s apartment.

Handl could face fines or up to two years in prison. According to the Telegraph, the police didn’t detect dangerous levels of radiation in his apartment but
Handl now acknowledges the project wasn’t such a good idea.

“From now on, I will stick to the theory,” he said.