An Australian man described as a " science nerd " may face poky clip , after attempting to collect all the elements in the periodic table .

The periodic mesa is an arrangement of all the known element , from hydrogen tooganesson . While collecting thewhole lot(even if some only last for microseconds before decaying ) may seem like a nerveless idea , dominance and atomic proliferation agreement would disagree , particularly when it buzz off to the radioactive element towards the heavier end of the table .

Emmanuel Lidden , 24 , learned this the hard way , fit in to his defence attorneys . In August 2023 , whilst attempting to get together all the elements like a nerdy version ofPokémon , he attempted to import sample of plutonium from the US to his parent ’s flat in suburban Sydney .

Unlike other elements reportedly gathered by Lidden , the Pu sparked a major hazmat alarm , requiring a answer from the Australian Border Force ( ABF ) official , firefighters , and police . He and his family unit were take on to hospital , but were not found to have radiation poisoning , while their home was also discover to be " dependable for human occupation " .

Among theradioactiveelements found and seize by constabulary were depleted atomic number 92 , mercury , and the small plutonium sampling . This last component conduct Lidden to be the first person to be charged under Australia ’s Nuclear Non - Proliferation Act , with a possible 10 - year pokey sentence . While he has plead guilty to the charge , his attorney describe him as an " clean-handed collector " and " skill nerd " who was also a keen aggregator of stamp and coin .

“ He did not import or possess these items with any sinister intent [ … ] these were offense institutionalize out of pure naivety , ” Lidden ’s lawyer – John Sutton – separate Sydney ’s Downing Centre dominion court on Friday , perThe Guardian .

“ It was a manifestation of self - soothe crawfish out into collection , it could have been anything but in this fount he latch on to the solicitation of the periodic table . ”

public prosecutor , meanwhile , argued that yell Lidden a collector was a mischaracterization , and that collecting such illegal material created a market for them .

While the radioactive material was flagged by the ABF , the samples were send on to Lidden . According to theDaily Mail , the postal service ship the parcel to Australia by mistake , and Lidden fit to return it if they were happy to amass it . allot to the defence , Lidden may have think that he was allowed to possess the Pu due to the tiny measure involved .

" You ’ve been bitten by the hemipteron ! At some tip you saw the periodic mesa of the chemical element and figured that you could take a stab at lay together one of each of those . Well , here ’s your chance to complete the set . Luciteria ’s main focus is on the stark , most attractive specimen so you could show off those elements with pridefulness , " Luciteria , the US company from which the component was allegedly buy , writes on theirwebsite .

" We are locate in Washington State USA and with few exceptions , as mention , we can ship element sample to most countries speedily and at the most reasonable rates . "

The element is now listed as " discontinued " on their website , though they note that the sample is tiny and at last harmless .

" Even if horn in out of this third power - which we very very very much discourage you from doing - the spindle would be harmless unless swallow . And if you were boneheaded enough to do all that , well , ascertain in with a Dr. ASAP . "

Lidden lost his line as a train driver after tell his employer about the ABF investigation , and now works at a immobile nutrient restaurant .

“ The stage of the reply was a monolithic overreaction give what the investigative authority already knew , ” Sutton bring . “ Rather than give [ Lidden ] an chance to return the particular , the kitchen sink was thrown at him , along with the utensil indoors . ”

Lidden face sentencing on 11 April , be his guilty plea .