tech
A Private Company Wants to Block the Sun, Responsibly
Stardust sold geoengineering to investors. Now it needs to sell it to the public.
TL;DR
- Stardust Solutions, a private company, is developing a solar geoengineering technology to artificially cool the planet by dimming the sun.
- The company claims to have invented a unique particle that avoids the environmental risks associated with traditional sulfate aerosols.
- Stardust has raised $60 million and is releasing documents outlining its "guiding principles" and a framework for safe deployment, emphasizing research and transparency.
- Key concerns remain regarding the specific nature of their proprietary particle and the ethical implications of a private company controlling planet-altering technology.
- The company aims for its technology to be deployed only through international decision-making, potentially selling services to national governments or international bodies.
- Stardust emphasizes that its current focus is on research and development, not deployment, to inform future governmental decisions on solar radiation modification (SRM).