Israeli-U.S. geoengineering start-up Stardust Solutions has raised $60 million to fund its audacious plan to block sunlight by spraying proprietary particles into the atmosphere, bringing its total funding to $75 million. Led by Wyoming-based Lowercarbon Capital, this secretive venture aims to conduct "controlled outdoor experiments" as early as April 2026, dispersing reflective particles from aircraft flying 11 miles above sea level. While Stardust claims its powder is safe, asserting it won't harm ecosystems, humans, the ozone layer, or cause acid rain, the company's refusal to disclose the composition of these particles renders such promises hollow. Operating with minimal transparency, no peer-reviewed research, and no public oversight, Stardust's project represents a dangerous leap into uncharted territory, risking irreversible environmental and geopolitical consequences. The perils of this unchecked experiment demand urgent scrutiny and a global moratorium.
Solar geoengineering, deliberately altering the Earth's atmosphere to reflect sunlight and cool the planet, is a controversial and thinly researched field. As POLITICO notes, it remains "mostly unregulated," with no robust international framework to govern its deployment. Stardust's plan to release proprietary particles into the stratosphere, without disclosing their makeup, epitomises the recklessness of this endeavor. The company, founded in 2023 by former Israeli nuclear physicists Yanai Yedvab and Amyad Spector, operates as a for-profit climate contractor, aiming to sell its technology to governments for global-scale deployment. Yet, it lacks patents, peer-reviewed publications, or a code of conduct, raising serious questions about its legitimacy and accountability.
The absence of transparency is particularly alarming. Stardust's claim that its particles are environmentally benign is unverifiable without independent testing or public disclosure. Investors, reportedly "putting their trust in the concept" rather than demanding proof, are gambling with the planet's atmosphere based on blind faith. This lack of rigour is compounded by the company's military-linked venture capital funding and its headquarters near Tel Aviv, which critics argue could tie the project to geopolitical agendas, further complicating its implications.
The potential environmental consequences of Stardust's experiment are staggering. Releasing particles into the stratosphere could disrupt global weather patterns, alter precipitation, or damage the ozone layer, effects that may not be reversible. Unlike natural phenomena like volcanic eruptions, which temporarily cool the planet with sulphur-rich particles, Stardust's proprietary formula is an unknown variable. Without peer-reviewed studies or independent verification, there's no guarantee it won't trigger unintended consequences, such as acid rain or ecosystem collapse. The 2010 U.N. moratorium on geoengineering, supported by environmental groups like CIEL and Friends of the Earth, was established precisely to prevent such untested interventions.
The scale of the risk is global. A miscalculation could affect rainfall critical to agriculture, exacerbate droughts, or disrupt monsoons, disproportionately harming vulnerable populations in the Global South. The stratosphere knows no borders, what's released above one country affects the entire planet. Stardust's plan to conduct experiments without international consensus or oversight turns the Earth into a laboratory for an unproven technology, with no mechanism to mitigate fallout if things go wrong.
Beyond environmental risks, Stardust's project raises profound geopolitical concerns. Solar geoengineering is a dual-use technology with the potential to be weaponised or leveraged for strategic advantage. A company seeking government contracts to deploy this technology globally, as Stardust does, could hold nations hostage to proprietary patents, creating dependencies or power imbalances. Critics warn that military-linked funding and the company's opaque operations could entangle the project in geopolitical rivalries, potentially sparking conflicts over who controls the "thermostat" of the planet.
The lack of a "social license," public consent or democratic input, further undermines Stardust's legitimacy. More than 590 climate scientists and governance scholars have called for an International Non-Use Agreement on Solar Geoengineering, citing its potential to destabilise global systems. By forging ahead without public knowledge or international regulation, Stardust risks fuelling distrust and division, particularly if its experiments cause harm that crosses borders.
At its core, Stardust's project is an ethical failure. The company's secrecy and for-profit model prioritise commercial gain over the public good. Geoengineering the atmosphere is not a neutral act, it's a unilateral attempt to rewrite the planet's climate system without the consent of those who will bear the consequences. The absence of public debate or oversight violates principles of democratic accountability. As environmental groups argue, this "reckless race" bypasses the global community's right to weigh in on a technology that could alter life as we know it.
Moreover, Stardust's refusal to disclose its particle composition raises questions about corporate accountability. If the technology fails or causes harm, who will be held responsible? The company's Delaware registration and Israeli headquarters may complicate legal recourse, leaving affected communities without redress. The fact that investors are willing to fund such a high-stakes venture without demanding transparency underscores the dangerous hubris driving this project.
The perils of Stardust's sun-blocking scheme are clear: untested technology, unknown environmental impacts, geopolitical risks, and a profound lack of accountability. The call by 590 scientists and scholars for a worldwide moratorium on solar geoengineering is not alarmist, it's a rational response to a technology that could reshape the planet without our consent. Governments, international bodies, and civil society must demand transparency, independent verification, and strict regulation before any experiments proceed. Stardust's $75 million war chest and plans for global deployment make this an urgent priority.
The Earth's atmosphere is not a corporate playground. Stardust's secretive bid to control the sky could threaten ecosystems, communities, and global stability. A pause is not just prudent, it's a moral imperative to protect the planet from a reckless experiment no one voted for.
https://jonfleetwood.substack.com/p/israeli-us-geoengineering-company