The Download: Solar geoengineering’s future, and OpenAI is being sued

Solar geoengineering aims to manipulate climate by reflecting sunlight back into space. In theory, this could alleviate global warming. But as interest in the idea grows, so does concern about the potential consequences.

A startup called Stardust Solutions recently raised $60 million in funding, the largest geoengineering startup known to date. My colleague James Temple has new story about the company and how its appearance makes some researchers nervous.

Until now, the field has been limited to debates, academic research on offer and, of course, a few minor actors to keep an eye on. Now things are getting more serious. So what does this mean for geoengineering and for the climate? Read the full story.

—Casey Crownhart

This article is from The Spark, MIT Technology Review's weekly climate newsletter. To receive it in your inbox every Wednesday, register here.

If you are interested in learning more about solar geoengineering, visit:

+ Why the commercial race for solar geoengineering is bad for science and public trust. Read the full story.

+ Why we need more research, including outdoor experiments—make more informed decisions about such climate interventions.

+ Hard lessons from Harvard's failed geoengineering experiment, which was officially abandoned last year. Read the full story.

+ How this London-based non-profit organization became one of the largest funders of geoengineering research.

+ Technology can change the entire planet. These groups want every nation to have a vote.

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