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'{{short description|American boy scout}} {{Hatnote|For other people with this name, see [[David Hahn (disambiguation)]]}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2015}} {{Infobox person | name = David Hahn | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|1976|10|30}} | birth_place = [[Royal Oak, Michigan]], U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2016|09|27|1976|10|30}} | death_place = [[Shelby Charter Township, Michigan]], U.S. | known_for = Building a [[neutron source]] in his mother's backyard | nickname = Nuclear Boy Scout<br>Radioactive Boy Scout }} '''David Charles Hahn''' (October 30, 1976 – September 27, 2016), sometimes called the '''"Radioactive Boy Scout"''' or the '''"Nuclear Boy Scout"''', was an American man who built a homemade [[neutron source]] at the age of seventeen. A [[Scout (Scout Movement)|scout]] in the [[Boy Scouts of America]], Hahn conducted his experiments in secret in a backyard shed at his mother's house in [[Commerce Township, Michigan]]. Hahn's goal was to build and demonstrate a homemade [[breeder reactor]]. While he never actually managed to build a reactor, Hahn's progress attracted the attention of local police when they found material in his vehicle that troubled them during a stop for a separate matter. When Hahn warned them that the material was radioactive, the police contacted federal authorities. His mother's property was cleaned up by the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) ten months later as a [[Superfund]] cleanup site. Hahn attained [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]] rank shortly after his lab was dismantled.<ref name=silversteinbook>{{cite book|last1=Silverstein|first1=Ken|title=The Radioactive Boy Scout: The Frightening True Story of a Whiz Kid and His Homemade Nuclear Reactor|url=https://archive.org/details/radioactiveboysc0000silv|url-access=registration|date=2004|publisher=Villard|isbn=978-0812966602}}</ref> While the incident was not widely publicized initially, it became better known following a 1998 ''[[Harper's Magazine|Harper's]]'' article by journalist [[Ken Silverstein]]. Hahn was also the subject of Silverstein's 2004 book ''The Radioactive Boy Scout''.<ref name="silversteinbook" /> As an adult, Hahn served in the [[U.S. Navy]] and [[U.S. Marine Corps|Marines]]. He was subsequently treated for mental illness, and his death at age 39 was related to drug and alcohol use. ==Background== {{expand section|date=May 2020}} Hahn was born in [[Royal Oak, Michigan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wasikfuneralhome.com/obituaries/David-Hahn-2/|title=David Charles Hahn - View Obituary & Service Information|website=David Charles Hahn Obituary}}</ref> ==Creation of the neutron source== Hahn was a [[Boy Scouts of America|Boy Scout]] fascinated by chemistry, and spent years conducting amateur chemistry experiments, which sometimes caused small explosions and other mishaps. He was inspired in part by reading ''[[The Golden Book of Chemistry Experiments]]'', and tried to [[element collecting|collect samples of every element in the periodic table]], including the radioactive ones. He later received a [[Merit badge (Boy Scouts of America)|merit badge]] in Atomic Energy and became fascinated with the idea of creating a [[breeder reactor]] in his home. Hahn diligently amassed [[radioactive]] material by collecting small amounts from household products, such as [[americium]] from [[smoke detector]]s, [[thorium]] from camping lantern [[gas mantle|mantles]], [[radium]] from clocks, and [[tritium]] from gunsights. His "reactor" was a bored-out block of [[lead]], and he used [[lithium]] from $1,000 worth of purchased batteries to purify the thorium ash using a [[Bunsen burner]].<ref name=silversteinharpers>{{cite news|last1=Silverstein|first1=Ken|title=The Radioactive Boy Scout|url=http://harpers.org/archive/1998/11/the-radioactive-boy-scout/?single=1|access-date=September 10, 2014|work=Harper's Magazine|date= November 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0316/p16s03-bogn.html |journal=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |first=Tim |last=Rauschenberger |date=2004-03-16 |access-date=2016-02-03 |title=The Nuclear Merit Badge}}</ref> Hahn posed as an adult scientist or high school teacher to gain the trust of many professionals in letters—and succeeded, despite misspellings and obvious errors.{{Citation needed|date=March 2018}} Hahn ultimately hoped to create a [[breeder reactor]], using low-level [[isotope]]s to transform samples of thorium and [[uranium]] into [[Nuclear fission|fissionable]] isotopes.<ref name="spoon">{{cite book |first= Sam |last= Kean |title= The Disappearing Spoon |url= https://archive.org/details/disappearingspoo0000kean |url-access= registration |publisher= Little, Brown and Co |year= 2010}}</ref> His homemade neutron source was often incorrectly referred to as a reactor, but it did end up emitting dangerous levels of radiation, likely well over 1,000 times normal [[background radiation]]. Alarmed, Hahn began to dismantle his experiments—but in a chance encounter, police discovered his activities, which triggered a Federal Radiological Emergency Response involving the [[FBI]] and the [[Nuclear Regulatory Commission]]. On June 26, 1995 the EPA, having designated Hahn's mother's property a [[Superfund]] hazardous materials cleanup site, dismantled the shed and its contents and buried them as low-level [[radioactive waste]] in [[Utah]]. Unknown to officials, his mother, fearful that she would lose her house if the full extent of the radiation were known, had already collected the majority of the radioactive material and thrown it away in the conventional garbage. Hahn refused medical evaluation for [[Ionizing radiation|radiation exposure]]. EPA scientists believe that Hahn's life expectancy may have been greatly shortened by his exposure to radioactivity, particularly since he spent long periods in the small, enclosed shed with large amounts of radioactive material and only minimal safety precautions, but he refused their recommendation that he be examined at the [[Enrico Fermi Nuclear Generating Station]].<ref name=silversteinharpers/> ==Neutron source vs breeder reactor== While Hahn was often said to have made a [[breeder reactor]], his actual work was on a [[neutron source]]. The confusion is because his device did create new radioactive materials through [[neutron activation]]. None of the materials used or created were fissile, so it was not a reactor. ==Career== Hahn became depressed after the scandal, a problem exacerbated by the breakup with his then girlfriend and the suicide of his mother in early 1996.<ref name="silversteinbook"/>{{rp|189}} While he did graduate from high school, he lacked any direction or plans thereafter. His father and stepmother first encouraged him to attend [[Macomb Community College]]. He enrolled in a metallurgy program there but frequently skipped classes.<ref name="silversteinbook"/>{{rp|190}} He was then encouraged to join the military, so he enlisted in the [[United States Navy|Navy]], assigned to the nuclear-powered [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} as an undesignated [[Seaman (rank)|seaman]].<ref name=silversteinharpers/> After a four-year tour, he achieved interior communications specialist with a rank of petty officer, third class.<ref name="silversteinbook"/>{{rp|196}} After his time on USS ''Enterprise,'' Hahn enlisted in the [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]] and was stationed in North Carolina. After a few years, Hahn achieved the rank of Lance Corporal. Shortly after returning from a rotation in Japan, he was [[honorably discharged]] on medical grounds and returned to Michigan. ==FBI investigation== On April 23, 2007, the FBI received a lead regarding Hahn's alleged possession of a second neutron source in his freezer.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vault.fbi.gov/david-hahn/David%20Hahn%20Part%2001%20of%2001/view |title=David Hahn Part 01 of 01 |work=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] |date=2010-02-26 |access-date=2018-10-15 |page=2}}</ref> Contacted via telephone, Hahn insisted that he was not in possession of radioactive material. The FBI decided no imminent terrorist threat was present but decided to attempt a personal interview.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vault.fbi.gov/david-hahn/David%20Hahn%20Part%2001%20of%2001/view |title=David Hahn Part 01 of 01 |work=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] |date=2010-02-26 |access-date=2018-10-15 |page=5}}</ref> During an interview at an FBI office on May 16, 2007, investigators asked Hahn about flyers that he had distributed promoting his book and upcoming film; theft of tires and rims from a vehicle prior to his Navy service; a diagnosis of [[paranoid schizophrenia]]; and, a few less significant topics.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vault.fbi.gov/david-hahn/David%20Hahn%20Part%2001%20of%2001/view |title=David Hahn Part 01 of 01 |work=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] |date=2010-02-26 |access-date=2018-10-15 |page=9}}</ref> FBI agents then interviewed an individual (whose identity was not released) who stated that Hahn was using [[cocaine]] heavily, was not taking his prescribed medication, was paranoid of people that he claimed "had the ability to 'shock' his genitals with their minds", and had possibly been visited by prostitutes.<ref name=fbi13>{{cite web |url=https://vault.fbi.gov/david-hahn/David%20Hahn%20Part%2001%20of%2001/view |title=David Hahn Part 01 of 01 |work=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] |date=2010-02-26 |access-date=2018-10-15 |page=13}}</ref> The individual also stated that he believed that Hahn was still trying to build a reactor and was collecting [[radium]]. He stated that he did not believe Hahn had any intentions of hurting anyone, but was concerned for his mental state.<ref name=fbi13 /> This investigation is likely what led to Hahn's arrest regarding larceny of smoke alarms. ==Larceny of smoke detectors== On August 1, 2007, Hahn was charged with [[larceny]] in [[Clinton Township, Macomb County, Michigan|Clinton Township, Michigan]] for allegedly removing a number of [[smoke detector]]s from the halls of his apartment building.<ref>{{cite web|first=Adam |last=Taylor |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/sweden-nuclear-reactor-angelholm-2011-8?IR=T |title=The Weird Story Of The Swedish Man Who Tried To Build A Nuclear Reactor In His Kitchen |work=[[Business Insider]] |date=2011-08-02 |access-date=2016-02-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070827/BUSINESS05/70827091 |title=Man dubbed 'Radioactive Boy Scout' pleads guilty |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=2007-08-27 |access-date=2016-02-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095926/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070827%2FBUSINESS05%2F70827091 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> His intention was to obtain [[americium]] from them. In his [[mug shot]], his face is covered with sores, which investigators believe could be from exposure to radioactive materials, [[psoriasis]], or possible drug use.<ref>{{cite news|publisher = [[Fox News]] |url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292111,00.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071106084020/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,292111,00.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = November 6, 2007 |title='Radioactive Boy Scout' Charged in Smoke Detector Theft|date=August 4, 2007|access-date=November 28, 2007}}</ref> During a Circuit Court hearing, Hahn pleaded guilty to attempted larceny of a building. The court’s online docket said prosecutors recommended that he be sentenced to time served and enter an inpatient treatment facility. Under terms of the plea, the original charge of larceny of a building would be dismissed at sentencing, scheduled for October 4.<ref>{{cite news |work=Detroit Free Press |url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070827/BUSINESS05/70827091 |title=Man dubbed 'Radioactive Boy Scout' pleads guilty |date=August 27, 2007 |agency=Associated Press |access-date=August 27, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929095926/http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20070827%2FBUSINESS05%2F70827091 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> He was sentenced to 90 days in jail for attempted larceny. Court records stated that his sentence would be delayed by six months while Hahn underwent medical treatment in the psychiatric unit of Macomb County Jail.<ref>{{cite news |publisher= [[Fox News]] |url= http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299362,00.html |title= 'Radioactive Boy Scout' Sentenced to 90 Days for Stealing Smoke Detectors |date= October 4, 2007 |access-date= November 28, 2007 }}</ref> ==Death== On September 27, 2016, at the age of 39,<ref name="tribute">{{cite web|title=David Charles Hahn|url=http://www.tributes.com/obituary/show/David-Charles-Hahn-103989982|website=Tributes.com|publisher=Tributes, Inc.|date=26 September 2016|access-date=4 Oct 2016}}</ref> Hahn died in his hometown of [[Shelby Charter Township, Michigan]].<ref name="tribute" /><ref name="legacy.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/david-hahn-obituary?pid=1000000181698524 |title=David Hahn Obituary - Shelby Township, Michigan |website=www.legacy.com|date=2016-10-02 }}</ref> His death was accidental and due to intoxication from the combined effects of alcohol, [[diphenhydramine]], and [[fentanyl]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3517279-1-Page-Fax-From-15616828151.html|title=County Coroner Findings|access-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref> == In popular culture == The incident received scant media attention at the time, but was widely disseminated after writer [[Ken Silverstein]] published an article about the incident in ''[[Harper's Magazine]]'' in 1998.<ref name=silversteinharpers/> In 2004 he expanded it into a book, ''The Radioactive Boy Scout'', which was optioned for a feature film in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewrap.com/radioactive-boy-scout-movie-about-real-teen-nuke-builder-in-the-works-exclusive/ |title='Radioactive Boy Scout' Movie About Real Teen Nuke Builder in the Works |publisher=The Wrap |date=2016-09-28 |first=Matt |last=Pressburg |access-date=2016-10-06}}</ref> In 1999, [[University of Chicago]] physics majors Justin Kasper and Fred Niell, as part of a [[University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt|scavenger hunt]] that had as one of its items "a breeder reactor built in a shed," successfully built a similar nuclear reactor that produced trace amounts of [[plutonium]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uchicago.edu/features/20110501_scav |title=Ready, set... Scav Hunt! |publisher=[[Uchicago.edu]] |date=2011-05-01 |first=Sara |last=Olkon |access-date=2016-02-03}}</ref> In the ''[[CSI: NY]]'' episode "[[CSI: NY (season 5)|Page Turner]]", the character Lawrence Wagner is based on Hahn.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gail|first=Nancy|title=TV Review: CSI: NY, 'Page Turner'|url=http://blogcritics.org/video/article/tv-review-csi-ny-page-turner/|publisher=Blog Critics|access-date=January 29, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020232028/http://blogcritics.org/video/article/tv-review-csi-ny-page-turner/|archive-date=October 20, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> A television documentary, ''The Nuclear Boy Scout'',<ref>http://www.eagletv.co.uk/projects/the-nuclear-boy-scout.html</ref> aired on [[Channel 4]] in the United Kingdom in 2003. In it, Hahn reenacted some of his methods for the camera. Hahn's experiments inspired others to attempt similar feats, particularly [[Taylor Wilson]], who at age 14 became the youngest person to produce [[nuclear fusion]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-02/boy-who-played-fusion|title=The Boy Who Played With Fusion|website=Popular Science|access-date=2016-04-20}}</ref> [[Michael Stevens (educator)|Michael Stevens]] featured Hahn's story in his [[Vsauce]] [[YouTube]] video "Cruel Bombs".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHZAaGidUbg|title=Cruel Bombs}}</ref> An episode of the CBS series ''[[Young Sheldon]]'' features the protagonist attempting to build a nuclear reactor by extracting americium from smoke detectors. [[Duncan Jones]] claimed that the villain in his sci-fi film ''[[Source Code]]'' was inspired by the documentary ''The Nuclear Boy Scout''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/duncan-jones-tells-us-what-really-happened-at-the-end-o-5788795|title=Duncan Jones tells us what really happened at the end of Source Code|website=io9}}</ref> Hahn appeared as the subject of the second story in episode 191 of Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities. Hahn was the subject of episode 20 of The Dollop podcast. ==See also== *[[Richard Handl]] *[[Taylor Wilson]] ==References== {{Reflist}} ==Further reading== *{{cite journal|last=Ghiorso|first=Albert|author-link=Albert Ghiorso|url=http://pubs.acs.org/cen/books/8232/8232books.html |title= Book Review of 'The Radioactive Boy Scout: The Frightening True Story of a Whiz Kid and His Homemade Nuclear Reactor'|journal= Chemical and Engineering News |access-date=June 21, 2011|date=August 9, 2004|volume=82|number=32|pp=36–37}} An analysis is given of some of Hahn's work by Ghiorso, who has been involved in the discovery of about a dozen [[transuranium element]]s. ==External links== *{{Find a Grave|171937685}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Hahn, David}} [[Category:1976 births]] [[Category:2016 deaths]] [[Category:People from Clinton, Macomb County, Michigan]] [[Category:People from Commerce, Michigan]] [[Category:Military personnel from Michigan]] [[Category:United States Navy sailors]] [[Category:People from Royal Oak, Michigan]] [[Category:Macomb Community College alumni]]'