Up First from NPR The Sunday Story: Startups want to cool Earth by reflecting sunlight
Apr 28, 2024
Julia Simon, NPR's climate solutions reporter, dives into the emerging and controversial world of solar geoengineering. She discusses innovative techniques from startups, including weather balloons to release sulfur dioxide for cooling the planet. While these methods could significantly lower global temperatures, Simon highlights major risks and the need for regulatory oversight. The conversation emphasizes the fine balance between technological solutions and the necessity of reducing fossil fuel emissions, urging a collective responsibility in addressing climate change.
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Make Sunsets Experiment
- Julia Simon met Andrew Song and Luke Eisman, who are testing solar geoengineering with sulfur dioxide.
- They released weather balloons filled with sulfur dioxide, aiming to reflect sunlight and cool the planet.
Stratospheric Aerosol Injection
- Releasing sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere can reflect sunlight and cool the planet, similar to volcanic eruptions.
- This method, called stratospheric aerosol injection, is gaining interest as a potential climate solution.
Inspiration from Science Fiction
- Luke Eisman, inspired by Neal Stephenson's novel "Termination Shock," co-founded Make Sunsets.
- The novel depicts a billionaire using sulfur injections to cool Earth, prompting Eisman to explore this concept.
