[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:20.29,0:00:21.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nuclear power.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.81,0:00:25.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I guess this is what most people think of \Nwhen it comes to nuclear power.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.54,0:00:31.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, for me, this is what I think of;\Nor more specifically, this.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.13,0:00:36.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But before I tell you about that,\Nlet me tell you how all this started.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.96,0:00:39.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even as a young kid, I was\Nalways asking questions.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.56,0:00:41.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Questions to my mom, my dad, my teachers,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:41.91,0:00:44.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but eventually, they weren't able\Nto answer my questions anymore.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.96,0:00:47.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I turned to the Internet\Nto find some answers.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.81,0:00:50.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was on the Internet\Nthat I came across this guy,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.50,0:00:54.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Taylor Wilson, who'd created\Nnuclear fusion at 14.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.28,0:00:57.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was like, "Wow! Fusion!\NIn the back garden!"
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.59,0:00:59.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had to find out more.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.17,0:01:02.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, while searching online,\NI came across fusor.net,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.61,0:01:06.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a group of amateur scientists\Nwho were building these Farnsworth fusors.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.28,0:01:07.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It was there that I worked out
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.70,0:01:11.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it was actually possible\Nfor me to build one of these.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.21,0:01:13.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I figured it'd cost around 2,000 pounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.69,0:01:16.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Slight problem,\NI didn't have 2,000 pounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.31,0:01:18.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was going to have to raise\Nthe money myself,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.48,0:01:21.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I started writing\Nto some local nuclear labs,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.37,0:01:23.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,big engineering companies, universities.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.37,0:01:24.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But you know what?
Dialogue: 0,0:01:24.37,0:01:26.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For some reason, they didn't want \Nto give 2,000 pounds
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.93,0:01:29.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to a 13-year-old trying to build \Na nuclear reactor.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:29.36,0:01:30.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.36,0:01:31.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No idea why.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.92,0:01:34.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So instead, I asked\Nmy school science teacher
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.02,0:01:35.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if she could help with my project.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.81,0:01:38.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She suggested we tried the head teacher.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.02,0:01:40.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So after a "Dragons’ Den"\Nstyle pitch to Mr. Hourigan,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.74,0:01:44.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I managed to persuade him\Nto part with 2,000 pounds.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.03,0:01:47.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, armed with the school\Ncredit card, I turned to eBay.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:47.59,0:01:51.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I bought parts from all over the world:\Npower supplies from the USA,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:51.63,0:01:54.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,resistance from Hong Kong\Nand vacuum pumps from Lithuania.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:54.86,0:01:58.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I built this. My fusion reactor.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.16,0:02:02.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, I couldn't get\Neverything from eBay.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.76,0:02:06.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Their terms and conditions\Nwere a little restrictive,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.02,0:02:08.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,even the specialist gas supply\Nseemed concerned.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.72,0:02:10.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They wanted to know why exactly
Dialogue: 0,0:02:10.29,0:02:15.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a 13-year-old schoolboy from Lancashire\Nwanted ten liters of deuterium gas.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.85,0:02:17.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,- Anyway...\N- (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:02:17.09,0:02:20.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is the neutron detector,\Nit's a key part of the reactor.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.79,0:02:23.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I use it to tell me if the reaction\Nhas actually happened or not.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.84,0:02:25.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,However, they are not easy to get hold of.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.85,0:02:29.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had to call everyone I knew\Nto find someone who might know someone
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.04,0:02:32.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who might just happen to know someone else\Nwho actually has one of these.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.47,0:02:35.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the end, a local university\Nlent me this one.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.05,0:02:38.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The high-voltage power supply\Nwas one of the most expensive parts,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.88,0:02:42.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but when it arrived\Nfrom the USA, it didn't work.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.29,0:02:44.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Even to this day, \NI haven't figured out why.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:44.97,0:02:47.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But luckily, a local switchgear company
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.02,0:02:51.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not only lent me the kit to use it,\Nthey also taught me how to use it safely.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.10,0:02:52.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was so much about safety.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.98,0:02:56.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Apparently, there was some concern\Nabout letting a 13-year-old loose
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.17,0:02:57.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a nuclear reactor in school.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:57.86,0:02:59.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not sure why.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.47,0:03:00.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of the conditions was
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.66,0:03:04.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I had to be over two meters away\Nfrom the reactor while in operation.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.21,0:03:06.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Slight problem, you see these arms?
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.35,0:03:08.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was no way I could reach.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:09.64,0:03:11.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But thanks to the school's tech department
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.65,0:03:13.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and some complex engineering,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:13.25,0:03:14.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we made these.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.38,0:03:20.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,[They designed] broom handles with bits\Nof plastic, superglued to the end,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.38,0:03:22.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so I could operate\Nthe controls from a distance.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.77,0:03:24.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:24.54,0:03:25.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was also the problem
Dialogue: 0,0:03:25.78,0:03:28.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that I might touch the reactor\Nwhile it was in operation.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.56,0:03:30.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So we made a high-tech chicken wire cage,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.52,0:03:33.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and put it around the reactor\Nso I couldn't touch it.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.05,0:03:35.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There was also the problem\Nof a high-energy neutron radiation
Dialogue: 0,0:03:35.90,0:03:37.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,coming out of the reactor.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:37.43,0:03:40.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this was my solution:\Nmy sister's fish tanks.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.62,0:03:42.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Minus the fish, of course.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.70,0:03:44.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We filled them with a boron solution
Dialogue: 0,0:03:44.42,0:03:47.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to act as moderator\Nand absorber of the neutrons.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.54,0:03:51.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And finally, just in case\NI managed to electrocute myself,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.87,0:03:53.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we made this.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.59,0:03:57.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is indeed a hook\Nmade of old bike inner tubes
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.20,0:04:00.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in case I managed to electrocute myself\Nand needed rescuing.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:02.44,0:04:04.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, the big day had come.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.75,0:04:07.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was feeling calm\Nuntil the press started turning up.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.77,0:04:10.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I might have mentioned \Nsomething to Mr. Hourigan,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.26,0:04:12.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about the possibility \Nof some PR from the school.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.87,0:04:15.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was only thinking the local paper.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.01,0:04:17.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But press from all over\Nthe place turned up.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.57,0:04:20.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I had everything set up,\Nthe cameras were ready,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.80,0:04:24.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,my hook was at the ready,\Nand then we switched on the reactor.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.16,0:04:26.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The first thing I did\Nwas pump down the chamber
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.35,0:04:27.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and apply the high voltage.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.96,0:04:32.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's when I achieved this: plasma,\Na key step in producing fusion.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:32.52,0:04:35.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I played with this for a while,\Nuntil I was confident
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.00,0:04:38.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I was getting the balance right\Nbetween power and vacuum,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.42,0:04:40.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and then all that I had to do\Nwas up the voltage,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.76,0:04:43.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and add in a tiny bit of deuterium gas.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.08,0:04:45.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I achieved this:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.62,0:04:48.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a reading on the neutron detector.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.68,0:04:50.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'd done it. It was amazing.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.68,0:04:52.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All my hard work had paid off.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.84,0:04:54.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But now, as a young scientist,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:54.60,0:04:57.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I now need to go back\Nto the experiment and do it again
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.40,0:04:59.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because as you all know, in science,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.64,0:05:02.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we need to repeat our experiments\Nand duplicate our results,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.52,0:05:04.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's my current focus.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.24,0:05:05.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But none of this would have happened
Dialogue: 0,0:05:05.98,0:05:10.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if it weren't for a science teacher\Nwho believed in the dreams of her pupils,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:10.22,0:05:14.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a head teacher who was willing\Nto take a risk to give me the opportunity.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.62,0:05:17.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, to any young scientist out there,\Nno matter how young:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.64,0:05:19.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,nothing is ever too big for you to try.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:19.100,0:05:23.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All you need is curiosity,\Ndetermination, and an open mind.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.69,0:05:24.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.97,0:05:27.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)