Changing the World (Literally)

About This Episode

Could we create an atmospheric sun shield to halt the effects of global warming? Should we? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Gary O’Reilly are joined by climate scientist Daniele Visioni and sociologist Holly Jean Buck to explore the science and ethics of deliberately altering Earth’s climate.

Is geoengineering science fiction, or the future of climate intervention? We explore volcanic eruptions, aerosols, and the surprising climate lessons we’ve learned from nature. Daniele breaks down how particles in the stratosphere can reflect sunlight, potentially cooling the planet. But can we scale it safely? From acid rain chemistry to the risks of unintended consequences, we examine what happens when we try to alter the stratosphere.

Later, Holly Jean Buck joins to explore the human and geopolitical dimensions. Can climate technologies be fair, equitable, and democratic? From carbon removal to ocean fertilization and nuclear energy, the team weighs the pros, cons, and public perception of large-scale solutions. Along the way, they tackle misinformation, global cooperation, and the question: if we build climate control, who controls the climate?

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