Can a giant blimp cool the planet?

Scientists want to install a stadium-size blimp 12 miles above Earth to pump out sunlight-reflecting particles — much like a volcano

A blimp the approximate size of the Rose Bowl (much larger than the one pictured) could help cool the planet by spraying particles that reflect sunlight back into space.
(Image credit: Paul Bowen/Science Faction/Corbis)

Could Goodyear save the planet? Well, not quite. But scientists from several U.K. universities have proposed floating a massive particle-spewing blimp over the Earth in the hope that its emissions will cool our warming planet. Will this government-funded project produce any meaningful results, or is it just another bizarre engineering pipe dream? Here, a guide:

What exactly are scientists proposing?

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us