MIT Technology Review Narrated Why it’s so hard to bust the weather control conspiracy theory
Dec 31, 2025
The podcast dives into the intriguing world of weather control conspiracy theories. It discusses the role of figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene in amplifying these claims after hurricanes. Listeners learn about cloud seeding, its limited impacts, and how misinformation thrives in the climate crisis. The history of failed weather manipulation efforts reveals the complexities behind them. Experts clarify that while some technologies exist, they can't significantly alter weather. Ultimately, conspiracies distract from the real, complicated issues of climate change.
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Scale Matters In Weather Modification
- Cloud seeding can modestly increase precipitation but cannot create floods or steer major storms.
- The conspiracy's plausibility rests on confusing small-scale tweaks with impossible large-scale control.
Rainmaker Seeded Clouds Before Texas Floods
- Rainmaker seeded clouds near Runge and released ~70 grams of silver iodide, then a light drizzle followed.
- After heavy floods nearby, the company faced intense social-media backlash and doxxing threats.
Scientific Consensus: Small, Variable Gains
- Decades of research show cloud seeding works but with modest, variable effects often around 5–10%.
- Improved measurements confirm modification is real but far too small to produce flood-scale impacts.