It almost looked like a scene from Netflix’s latest series ‘Adolescence’, but with a twist. Jackson Oswalt, a 12-year-old boy from Memphis, Tennessee, was working on his ‘project’. The Saturday started just like any other. A few hours in, a van full of FBI officers pulled up near their driveway. A squad of officers, dressed in raid jackets, stepped out and knocked on the door.
The preteen had certainly dreamt of people approaching him, but never, even in his wildest dreams, did he think the FBI would come knocking. But the officers didn’t barge in like the agents searching for Jamie in ‘Adolescence’, instead politely asked Jackson Oswalt’s parents if they could take a look at his ‘project’ and check for any radiation. They came equipped with a Geiger counter and found none. With safety measures double-checked, Oswalt went ahead with his project of achieving nuclear fusion in his home lab, which was earlier in his playroom.
Meet Jackson Oswalt, the youngest person to achieve nuclear fusion

(Pic courtesy: X/ Jackson Oswalt)

Jackson Oswalt, a native of Memphis has always wanted to do something unique with his life. When he was in the 6th grade, he became ‘obsessed’ with proving himself. In the then 11-year-old’s words, he “wanted to show that even though I was young, I could do serious things.” That’s when the lad came across Taylor Wilson’s TED talk. Wilson was able to achieve controlled nuclear fusion in 2008 at the age of 14 years old. Jackson Oswalt was blown away by Wilson’s talent. So, he thought, ‘Why can’t I?’
“Seeing this opened my mind to the possibility that somebody so young could do something so crazy. And so at 11 years old, I decided I was going to do the same,” the boy said in a note on X.
Oswalt learned the science behind creating nuclear fusion. Now the next part was assembling a reactor. He sought financial help from his parents to build one. “I rebuilt the vacuum chamber, got a turbomolecular pump from eBay, sourced some Deuterium for fuel (somewhat legally), and rebuilt the inner grid from Tantalum. Almost every single part came from eBay,” Oswalt recalled.

(Pic courtesy: X/ Jackson Oswalt)

A year into building the reactor, and after multiple attempts, he was able to create nuclear fusion, “After a handful of stressful tests just days before my 13th birthday, I successfully achieved fusion and detected these neutrons as proof!” The word spread quickly, and soon enough, he won the Guinness World record for the youngest person to achieve fusion!

(Pic courtesy: X/ Jackson Oswalt)

What can we learn from Jackson Oswalt’s extraordinary life? A lot actually, his incredible brilliance, sheer determination, and passion for science. But how can we nurture such gifted young minds for a brighter future? Parenting plays a crucial role. Here are 5 takeaways from Jackson Oswalt’s parents, who shaped him into a brilliant young man.
Let your kids pursue their dreams, not yours
Jackson Oswalt’s parents are the cornerstone of his successful life. His parents believed in his dream. At an age where most kids spend their time playing video games and are glued to their gadgets, Jackson decided to do something worthy. His dream was to follow his enthusiasm for science. And what did his parents do? They encouraged him. His father Chris Oswalt, who at a medical equipment company, had no real understanding of what his son wanted. But he made an effort to understand it with the help of experts and decided to support his son. Rather than imposing his aspirations on his son, he encouraged Jackson to chase his dreams.
Provide the right resources
Providing your kids with the right resources is equally important as encouraging them to dream. A dream could only turn into reality with the right resources. In Jackson’s case, his parents recognized his passion and ensured he had access to books, online forums, and scientific communities so that he could learn from experts.
Invest in their passion
Investment does not only mean, you throw money at everything. It also means being there for them. When Jackson told his parents about his dream of building a nuclear reactor, they couldn’t fully understand it. But they were determined to learn. Upon receiving an expert opinion, they told their son to go ahead. Building a nuclear fusion reactor wasn’t a cheap endeavor. Jackson’s parents financially supported his project. They didn’t see it as just an expensive hobby but as an investment for their child’s future.

Understand the risks
For any parent, it is important to look at the downsides of their dream. Weigh the pros and cons, based on professional and logical understanding. In Jackson’s case, the challenge meant, ensuring the child was safe. To ensure this, the parents spoke to experts about the dangers involved with working on a potentially deadly fusion reactor. They learned about the potential exposure to high levels of radiation and the electricity he uses to warm the fusion reactor’s plasma core. They installed safety in place before their child went ahead with the project.

Trust in your child’s potential
Perhaps the most significant factor in encouraging your child’s dream is to trust in them. Jackson’s parents never underestimated his abilities. They didn’t see it as an expensive hobby, rather believed in the vision their son had. “Being a parent of someone that was as driven as he was for 12 months was really impressive to see. I mean it was everyday grinding; every day learning something different; every day failing and watching him work through all those things,” Jackson’s father told Fox News.