At 12 years old, most kids are busy playing video games, hanging out with friends, or maybe stressing over school assignments. But Jackson Oswalt had a completely different focus—one that would soon capture national attention and even get a visit from the FBI.
Jackson, a young boy from Memphis, Tennessee, had a sudden realization one day. Like many kids his age, he had spent hours playing video games, but then it hit him—no matter how good he became, no matter how many levels he mastered or high scores he achieved, it wouldn’t really mean much in the grand scheme of things. That moment of clarity set him on a path few could have predicted. Instead of diving into a new hobby like sports or art, Jackson decided to explore what he saw as the closest thing to video games in real life: science.
Fascinated by nuclear fusion, Jackson began consuming every bit of information he could find. He scoured YouTube videos, read articles, and researched materials, all with the goal of achieving something that very few even attempt—creating nuclear fusion on his own. For most people, the concept of nuclear fusion is incredibly complex. It involves fusing atomic nuclei under extreme heat and pressure, which in turn releases a massive amount of energy. This is the same process that powers the sun and is being explored as a potential clean energy source. But for Jackson, it wasn’t just theory—it was a challenge he wanted to take on himself.
His journey into nuclear fusion started with building a ‘demo fusor,’ a device that could create plasma but not quite reach fusion. Constructing this required specialized materials, including a vacuum chamber, a vacuum pump, and a homemade AC-DC converter connected to a neon sign transformer. Even at this early stage, Jackson’s experiment was impressive enough to be featured at his school’s science fair—though he only managed to get it working the night before.
Determined to go further, Jackson spent over a year acquiring materials and refining his experiment. He encountered numerous setbacks but remained focused on his goal. Finally, in early 2018—just one day before his 13th birthday—Jackson successfully achieved nuclear fusion. His accomplishment was verified by Fusor.net, The Open Source Fusor Research Consortium, officially making him the youngest person in history to achieve nuclear fusion.
This extraordinary feat could have been the highlight of his story, but things took another unexpected turn. One Saturday morning, Jackson was greeted at his home by two FBI agents. The federal investigators had caught wind of his success and wanted to ensure that his work hadn’t resulted in any hazardous radiation. Armed with a Geiger counter, they thoroughly checked his house, scanning for any potential radioactive threats.
For a 12-year-old, an unannounced visit from federal agents would be intimidating, but Jackson took it all in stride. After their inspection, the agents determined there was no cause for concern. As Jackson later humorously put it, “Fortunately, I remained a free man.”
Fast forward seven years, and Jackson is no longer the child prodigy making headlines for backyard nuclear fusion. Now in his early twenties, he has taken his passion for science and innovation to new heights. Currently, he works at high-level research labs such as Midjourney, focusing on artificial intelligence hardware and research. What started as an ambitious project in his bedroom turned into a life-changing experience, setting him on a career path far beyond what most people accomplish in a lifetime.