A cloud seeding startup did not cause the Texas floods

The article addresses and debunks the conspiracy theory that a cloud seeding startup, Rainmaker, caused the devastating floods in Texas. Despite online rumors, atmospheric scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Illinois confirm that cloud seeding had no role in the floods. Cloud seeding, a practice dating back to the 1950s, involves spraying particles like silver iodide into clouds to encourage ice crystal formation, which can enhance precipitation. However, its effects are relatively small compared to the massive scale of natural storms. Cloud seeding is primarily used in winter near mountain ranges in the western U.S. to increase snowfall and build snowpack, which later replenishes water reservoirs. Studies, including one conducted in Idaho, show that cloud seeding can add measurable precipitation (e.g., 186 million gallons over a few hours), which is beneficial for drought-stricken areas but negligible compared to the trillions of gallons involved in large storms. Furthermore, Rainmaker’s seeding activities occurred days