Climate change has accelerated efforts by some theorists to develop mechanisms for controlling Earth's weather patterns and even the biosphere. But human attempts to control our these elements are nothing new. In fact, our ancestors aspired to do the same in antiquity. But what attempts have been made already to alter the weather? Were they successful? What did we learn from these efforts? Is this fantasy? madness? or something we can achieve?
In this episode I speak with science and technology historian Prof. Jim Fleming (Ph.D. history, Princeton University) who is the Charles A. Dana Professor Emeritus of Science, Technology, and Society at Colby College. His published works include Fixing the Sky: The Checkered History of Weather and Climate Control and Inventing Atmospheric Science.
With a mixed background covering both science and history, he is uniquely positioned to critique past and present efforts to manipulate the weather.
Guest:
Music: Pixabay
Photo Credit: Alexander Gerst public domain