Several weeks ago, scientists in the UK announced they were kickstarting an experiment to artificially dim the Sun. No, this isn’t science fiction; you can search it online and find all kinds of optimistic articles talking about what an innovative, forward-thinking idea this is, despite the fact that it clearly sounds like something a Bond villain might do. 

What’s the reasoning for it? With a changing climate and a warming planet, this could offer governments around the world the opportunity to artificially reduce temperatures. “It’s a good thing! Trust us. We’d never use this power for evil.”

So they say. 

Well, fellow tin-foil hatters, this news speaks to a conspiracy theory as old as the term itself. Weather manipulation is real. Governments have tried to tell us for decades that it’s impossible, but the Saudis use it all the time to cool down Dubai (and it recently caused catastrophic flooding in the middle of the most arid, dry place on Earth). China is known for using advanced weather manipulation techniques to create rain to grow crops. Hell, even U.S. ski resorts have used cloud seeding techniques to help improve their snow conditions. So what’s stopping our deep state and military complex from leveraging that same technology to, say, dim the Sun when they want to? 

And let me tell you why that is an important goal for The Powers That Be. Eventually, when the majority of homes and buildings run on solar power, it will allow the government to charge people for their electricity (and vitamin D). You want more sunlight in your community? Taxes are going to have to go up. You want to clear that eternal overcast sky and see the beautiful bright blue above? You’d better have the money to pay for it.