Sky News Daily Mad science: Can we really repair the climate?
Sep 9, 2025
Thomas Moore, Sky News Science Correspondent, shares insights on geoengineering and its potential to combat climate change. He discusses a groundbreaking experiment to thicken Arctic ice using freezing seawater, exploring the innovative yet controversial nature of such methods. The conversation delves into the tension between relying on traditional decarbonization strategies and these experimental technologies. Moore also highlights the challenges of public engagement in climate initiatives and the urgent need to address the impact of climate change on the polar regions.
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What Geoengineering Aims To Do
- Geoengineering tries to repair the climate by reflecting sunlight or mitigating warming effects like warm water melting polar ice.
- Preserving polar ice is seen as crucial because it helps cool the planet and reflects sunlight back into space.
Cold-Box Experiments In Cambridge
- The Climate Repair Unit built a minus-nine-degree container to recreate sea ice formation and pour water on it to study freezing behaviour.
- They found salt largely percolates through the ice, leaving fresher, potentially more resilient ice behind.
Real-World Tests Are Planned
- Field tests are planned in the Canadian Arctic with four pumps over one square kilometre to gather evidence in real conditions.
- The team insists you need real-world data before settling geoengineering debates about feasibility.