When conspiracy theorists drive policy: The nationwide push to ban weather modification
nbcnews.com
Three U.S. states have banned weather modification — passing laws against a technology their own scientists say barely exists at meaningful scale.
Availability HeuristicMoral PanicPublic Choice TheoryPrecautionary Principle
Theory Briefing
- Louisiana, Florida, and Tennessee have each passed laws banning weather modification and geoengineering amid swirling conspiracy theories.
- The legislation targets a technology that mainstream scientists say does not operate at the scale the laws seem to fear.
- Conspiracy beliefs about chemtrails and cloud seeding have moved from fringe internet forums into actual state legislative chambers.
- The bans raise a real question: when public fear of a threat outpaces evidence, what does that do to science policy?