Carl T. Bergstrom

The fuck?

https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/12/24/1066041/a-startup-says-its-begun-releasing-particles-into-the-atmosphere-in-an-effort-to-tweak-the-climate/

A startup says it’s begun releasing particles into the atmosphere, in an effort to tweak the climate

Make Sunsets is already attempting to earn revenue for geoengineering, a move likely to provoke widespread criticism.

MIT Technology Review
Dec 28, 2022 at 5:42amWeb
Show threadIce NineDec 28, 2022

@ct_bergstrom Oh I saw that too - I mean what could go wrong?

Other than this being a real life example of a Hollywood disaster movie where all the scientists scream "Noooo!" at the beginning. But of course no-one listens to the white-coats, because what would they know?

Show threadCarl T. BergstromDec 28, 2022
@IceNine What would some random account called IceNine possibly know about the unintended consequences of geophysical experimenta....oh. shit.
Show threadDaniel FarinaDec 28, 2022

@ct_bergstrom @IceNine my favorite variant of this was in reference to a successful attempt to genetically engineer the C4 photosynthesis mechanism into a common staple, rice…

a.k.a, “rice nine”

Show threadIce NineDec 28, 2022
@fdr @ct_bergstrom This is what happens when one does grow up in a household with a SciFi fanatic for a parent. Cat's Cradle and the Surface Tension collection of stories really stuck with me.
Show threadFraochsDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom @IceNine now I going to have to fish out that book by Vonnegut to refresh my memory.
Show threadIce NineDec 28, 2022
@Fraochs @ct_bergstrom It's always worth a re-read, as is Slaughterhouse Five. Both have a surprising amount you can learn from them.
Show threadeswillwalkerDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom Isn’t that what smog is? Most companies release particles into the atmosphere.
Show threadGeorg H.Dec 28, 2022

@ELS @ct_bergstrom

The intentionally released particles are way up higher in the atmosphere than smog, so they would reflect the sunlight *before* it contributes to global warming.

Smog and most other air pollution are too close to the ground to have that blocking effect - when the sunlight hits smog, light and its heat are already trapped within the atmosphere.

Volcanos can blow their ash right up into the atmosphere and that way contribute to blocking sunlight.

Hope that's helpful. 🙂

Show threadAdam Christian SmithDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom I read the headline and skipped it because my first thought was what you said.
Show threadDave SpectorDec 28, 2022

@ct_bergstrom isn’t this the basic plot of Neal Stephenson’s novel Termination Shock? 🤔

…yet again a bunch of entitled, out of control, idiot tech bros trying to implement what was supposed to be a cautionary tale.

Show threadLaurie FeinswogDec 28, 2022
@Dhmspector @ct_bergstrom yes and yes.
Show threadlneumanncaJan 2, 2023
@Dhmspector @ct_bergstrom yes was just going to post that! Hope that's not where they got the idea!
Show threadbrocolie (tots not a vampire)Dec 28, 2022

@ct_bergstrom "fail fast" startup culture strikes again + new greenwashing grift just dropped

incredible

Show threadSterling EricssonDec 28, 2022

@ct_bergstrom Interesting. The newest form of what we used to call eco-terrorism. :P

Seems like a small enough amount to not impact anything, but force actual actions in response to it being done.

The question is whether there's any existing law covering such actions? Or whether this is an entirely new area.

Show threadErikDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom this is how we end humanity even faster
Show threadCurtAdamsDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom Sounds pretty scammy, if they're already trying to sell "cooling credits" without any proof it even works, never mind the problematic side effects.
Show threadcostrikeDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom Always, "Can we?"
Never, "Should we?"
Show threadYogi HendlinDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom terrorism
Show threadparticlesDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom hey! cool!
Show threadLoukas (They/Them) 🏳️‍⚧️Dec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom yet again we learn how the tragedy of the commons is actually just the tragedy of assholes.
Show threadThe life of PabloDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom Elon Dusk
Show threadEve RickertDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom TBH I have thought about this a lot. Not the startup/making money angle, but the idea that some kinds of geoengineering are do cheap and easy that it would be easy for rogue parties—a state, a billionaire, etc.—to just quietly start doing it without asking or telling anyone. It could be happening right now!
Show threadRob HoneycuttDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom
It confirms how irrational and uninformed VC managers can be.
Show threadEmeritus Prof Christopher MayDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom This looks a little like part of a title sequence (alongside swirling newspapers) at the start of a #climatecrisis movie!
Show threadnickDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom  move fast and break planets
Show threadAndrew HarmerDec 28, 2022

@ct_bergstrom

"Perhaps in a world where we don't get our act together and end up with high warming, SRM could buy us time for CDR in the late 21st and 22nd century. But right now we should be trying as hard as possible to avoid that future through rapid emissions reductions" Zeke Hausfather

https://twitter.com/hausfath/status/1518640832194048001

Zeke Hausfather on Twitter

“Perhaps in a world where we don't get our act together and end up with high warming SRM could buy us time for CDR in the late 21st and 22nd century. But right now we should be trying as hard as possible to avoid that future through rapid emissions reductions. 8/”

Twitter
Show thread¡a!nDec 28, 2022

@ct_bergstrom @slomo “previously a director of hardware at Y Combinator”

Well now, that is a surprise

Show threadSebastian Dröge 🍵Dec 28, 2022
@iain @ct_bergstrom Exactly my reaction when reaching that sentence 🙃​
Show threadPēteris KrišjānisDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom in reality, I am interested in opposite technology - something we can use to clean up atmosphere after some real fuck up, like nuclear war.
Show threadSammiDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom There are a number of research groups around the world already looking at testing these ideas with larger stratospheric balloons. This startup is only playing and they seem to have no idea about ballooning. But there are larger players......
Show threadFlorian 'floe' EchtlerDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom ah of course, a feel-good bandaid solution where we can sprinkle a bit of money so we can continue to drive our SUVs in good conscience. Also, any intercontinental flight dumps 10,000 times the amount of sulphur into the stratosphere, no?
Show threadAdam KielińskiDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom
Why have nuclear winter when you can have rich kid having way too much power and way too little brain winter
Show threadJoanna KrupkaDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom Trusted research? Boring. I'm surprised it's legal, but probably this is relative. Btw. their website looks like a scam.
Show threadCharles OuGuoDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom is it possible that they're just bullshitting for PR? the article is light on proof that the described launches actually happened:
Show threadCharles OuGuoDec 28, 2022

@ct_bergstrom and now their website prominently lists this article as a "feature": https://makesunsets.com

Whatever actually happened, it seems like they're getting what they wanted out of this.

Make Sunsets

We create global cooling by launching reflective, biodegradable, high-altitude clouds. main side effect: more vivid sunsets;)

Make Sunsets
Show threadllewellyDec 28, 2022

@ct_bergstrom
nothing attracts vc funding like a company that is literally trying create a major disaster.

(I wish I was joking.)

Show threadFraochsDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom I was really hoping that out of Covid we would realize that we can function with a lot less business traveling from the simple commute to work to having to fly all over to meetings. Obviously some jobs are being on location necessary but a lot is of anymore.
Show threadRobert SchwartzDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom Article: Not a single reference to Neal Stephenson’s Termination shock.
Show threadLeonardo Ferreira FontenelleDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom are we terraforming Earth now? At least the planet has a magnetosphere and decent gravity!
Show threadsigmadogDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom Haven't these clowns ever seen a horror movie? Frankenstein, for starters?
Show threadZinoffDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom WTF +1
I wouldn't want to go as far to say that jail is the right place for these people, but there must be other options out there.
Show threadLiverpoolWizDec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom Sulfur particles, I believe. The prime mover/owner in this is claiming that it's just to stir up interest etc. The particles can end up absolutely anywhere and enrage/upset/affect all sorts of people and indeed countries. Utter madness.
Show threadRuben 🏳️‍🌈Dec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom This is wrong in many ways, but, as a Mexican, one question I have is why in Mexico? Why not outside their house or hq?
Show threadKnud JahnkeDec 28, 2022

@ct_bergstrom

Imagine "startups" popping up pushing stuff into the atmosphere that, on paper, reflect solar radiation, selling this as "offsets".

Show threadPeat BogDec 28, 2022

@ct_bergstrom
Can we please ban "junk credit" representing the speculative value of things of uncertain value --e.g., crypto, NFTs, frequent flyer miles, loyalty credits, etc?

Junior high history taught me that speculative trading caused accelerating boom-bust cycles culminating in the Great Depression. Then FDR stopped that bullshit. The end.

Now hot garbage line goes up and down and I don't get it. But I know nothing about money and have to count on smart people to fix this.

Show threadGrifflion 🇨🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇬🇧 🇮🇪 🇪🇺Dec 28, 2022
@ct_bergstrom This is probably not a good idea
Show threadNanaKimDec 29, 2022
@ct_bergstrom So they're going to blow us up. Has it never occurred to them that releasing sulfur into the atmosphere might affect people? Especially those that are allergic to sulfur? I've seen the effects of that.
Show threadMarkDec 29, 2022
@ct_bergstrom Are they going to tweak ocean pH too? And tweak oil spills and black lung? And failed urban design?
Show threadDLDec 29, 2022
@ct_bergstrom this report was upsetting
Show threadMike PozarDec 31, 2022
@ct_bergstrom we should regulate this… but it’s more important to regulate carbon emissions. We emitted those for generations, consequences be damned, and continue to; I’m not as worried about this.
Show threadSparklePigeonJan 4, 2023
@ct_bergstrom if it’s in the US, likely EPA/state air regulations might have something to say about this.