US bans sale of chemicals to hobbyists without $1K license

Amateur science tinkering — another casualty of the war on terror? Boing Boing reader Josh says,

Popular science and chemistry supplier United Nuclear (known by many for their amazing neodymium magnets) is faced with legal action from the United States CPSC. The CPSC proposes that all people attempting to purchase a slew of common chemicals, some of which are in children's chemistry sets, must have a current license to manufacture explosives issued by the ATF. This would extend to people who do not and will not have anything to do with explosives.

The list of controlled substances includes aluminum, titanium, zinc, zirconium, and sulfur. Link to petition for help from United Nuclear.

Previously on BoingBoing:
Dangerously strong magnets

Image: via theodoregray.