Richard Handl (born May 23, 1980) is a Swedish man who experimented with tritium, americium, aluminium, beryllium, thorium, radium, and uranium, with the intention to create a nuclear reaction.
[2][3] Handl became unemployed after working in a factory for four years,[4][5] and decided to start a collection of the elements in the periodic table.
[6] Out of curiosity Handl began experimenting with the elements in his collection, to see if he could create a nuclear reaction.
[10] One stage of the process involved cooking americium, radium, and beryllium in 96% sulfuric acid on a stove, in order to more easily mix the ingredients; doing so resulted in an explosion.
[10][12] Handl was detained by the police on 22 July 2011,[citation needed] after having contacted the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) to inquire as to whether his project was legal or not.