Is the Homemade Nuclear Reactor ‘Enron Egg’ More Than a Laughable Hoax?
Do I have a deal for you. The future of energy production can be yours in the comfort of your own home. Meet The Egg, a homemade nuclear reactor from Enron, a trusted name in American energy. If you buy The Egg, I’ll also throw a bridge in Brooklyn for free.
None of this is real, but Enron.com is now a website detailing The Egg, a fictional product positioned as an “energy revolution.” It is an egg-shaped tabletop device with a heat-resistant housing, a heavy water pump, a monitoring system and a uranium-zirconium hydride reactor. There’s even a product reveal video that perfectly mimics a real tech demo.
Fake Egg, Real Enron?
The egg may be fake, but the Enron name lives on and may be part of a marketing push for something bigger.
Enron was responsible for an infamous corporate scandal. The energy giant filed for bankruptcy in 2001, marking a sharp fall from grace. CNET’s coverage noted at the time that Enron was “among the most successful companies in the world” and that its collapse was “one of the most dramatic corporate busts in history.”
Enron’s historic failure makes The Egg and its promise of energy independence for homeowners all the more ridiculous. The product is supposed to be launched on January 6, as announced on social media.
The website doesn’t list a price for The Egg, but suggests it’s significantly more affordable than the $19,000 to $50,000 cost of a traditional power system. There is no “buy it now” option, but you can sign up for a newsletter. The company sends out updates that perpetuate the idea of ​​The Egg as a real product. An online store full of Enron logo shirts and related merchandise actually works.
Enron Papers
Connor Gaydos, one of the men behind the “Birds Aren’t Real” parody movement, is CEO of the new Enron.
The egg appears to be part parody and part art project, but there may be something else stirring beneath the surface.
Connor Gaydos is listed as Enron’s CEO in the company’s Delaware articles of incorporation, as shared with CNET by Enron spokesman Will Chabot of Stu Loeser & Co. Gaidos co-authored a book on Birds Aren’t Real, a movement designed as a a parody of conspiracy theories. Birds Aren’t Real pushes the idea that birds are government spy drones.
Enron is also incorporated in Texas at the end of December 2024. as Enron Energy Texas LLC, according to documents shared by Chabot. The company followed that by filing to become a retail electricity supplier in the state. This file lists Gregory Forero – Co-Founder and CEO of HGP storage — as vice president of the LLC. HGP Storage is an energy storage company in Texas. HGP managing partner Evan Caron is also listed as vice president. This means that real professionals in the energy industry are connected to Enron’s moves.
The egg can be a harbinger of something else – a joke that attracts attention and attracts publicity before a more serious business launch. We’ll have to see what develops. The only thing that is certain is that you cannot order a mini nuclear reactor for your coffee table.
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