Ditto - there's quite a bit here that suggests it's a fabrication, as had someone done this they'd want to talk about the gritty technical challenges they overc

Ditto - there's quite a bit here that suggests it's a fabrication, as had someone done this they'd want to talk about the gritty technical challenges they overcame, not gloss over them. That said, if you want to play nuclear physicist, there are plenty of fun home projects. Farnsworth fusors can be built cheaply by a dedicated amateur, and you can build your own particle accelerator (cyclotron or synchrotron, take your pick) if the fancy takes you. Easier yet is making a cloud or bubble chamber, and you can use all sorts as a particle source.