When Taylor Wilson was 13, he built his first nuclear fusion reactor.

Wilson, a teenage nuclear scientist, will show off his innovations in the first Saturday Morning Science lecture Feb. 2 at 9:30 a.m. in Wolfe Hall Room 1205.

Saturday Morning Science is presented by The University of Toledo College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. The annual, free public lecture series is open to students, faculty, staff and curious science lovers of all ages.

“This will provide an opportunity for the UT community and area residents to experience the excitement of scientific discoveries from the individuals who make them and write about them,” said Dr. John Bellizzi, UT assistant professor of chemistry.

During the first lecture, Wilson will present “The Boy Who Played With Fusion.” He built his first nuclear fusion reactor in the garage of his parent’s Arkansas home.

Currently 19, he lives in suburban Reno, Nev., with his parents and carries out research in applied nuclear physics at the University of Nevada-Reno.

During his presentation at UT, Wilson will delve into the technical aspects of nuclear physics and specific applications in nuclear medicine and anti-terrorism.

He is the youngest person to ever create nuclear fusion and the 31st person in the world to do it outside of government or industry.

Since doing so, Wilson has been offered federal funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Energy to further his work regarding an inexpensive new way to build Cherenkov radiation detectors.

Saturday Morning Science lectures will continue Feb. 16, March 16, March 23, April 20 and April 27. Other topics the series will cover include genetics, the psychology of handedness and Antarctic meteorites. The series is directed by Bellizzi and Dr. Joe Schmidt, UT associate professor of chemistry.

To learn more about Saturday Morning Science, contact Bellizzi at 419.530.5926 or john.bellizzi@utoledo.edu or contact Schmidt at joseph.schmidt@utoledo.edu.

Tags: College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics