Below is a YouTube video about applying open source science to the problem of creating nuclear fusion as an alternative energy source.
The talk is by Mark Suppes at a conference held in 2012. Suppes had no formal background in nuclear physics but decided to experiment with fusor reactors and then moved on to designing a polywell fusion reactor. Some of the equipment Suppes used was 3D printed as shown in the video.
There was initial success in 2011 with a Kickstarter project to build Suppes' open source fusion reactor but in a 2013 blog post it was announced that the project was closed due to lack of funding.
Many amateurs still experiment with open source nuclear fusion and information is openly shared on sites such as fusor.net.