Reno teen shows anti-terrorism device to president
By Erin Kelly, Gannett
WASHINGTON — At the White House Science Fair on Tuesday, President Barack Obama joked that 17-year-old Taylor Wilson of Reno must have one of the most radioactive garages in the nation.
Taylor, a senior at the prestigious Davidson Academy of Reno, has been studying nuclear science since he was 10 years old and got a chance to show Obama his patented invention to help detect highly enriched uranium and weapons grade plutonium.
“He asked what my parents thought about the nuclear material in my garage,” Taylor said after meeting the president.
But, all joking aside, Obama also told Taylor that his invention could help protect the United States from terrorists. In a roomful with a marshmallow-shooting air cannon and robots, Taylor’s invention stood out for its seriousness.
The teenager said his detection system could be used as a monitor at U.S. ports to scan cargo containers for dangerous radioactive materials that terrorists may try to smuggle into the country. He said his device would cost less than $100.
