This Startup Claims It Can Stop Lightning Strikes

"Lightning sparked 60% of Canada's catastrophic 2023 wildfires, which burned tens of millions of acres and forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate. Skyward initially claimed on its website that it could prevent "up to 100% of lightning strikes," but quietly removed the statement after MIT Technology Review began asking questions."

"Scientists have some concerns about the technology, such as how well it works under varying weather conditions, how much material needs to be released, potential environmental impacts, and the lack of transparent methodology."

"Skyward Wildfire has a bold plan to prevent wildfires: stop the lightning that causes them. The Vancouver-based startup raised $5.7 million claiming it can prevent lightning strikes using cloud seeding with aluminum-coated glass fibers-the same military chaff used to jam radar systems."

Skyward Wildfire, a Vancouver-based startup, raised $5.7 million to develop a lightning prevention technology using cloud seeding with aluminum-coated glass fibers, the same material used in military radar jamming. Lightning caused 60% of Canada's devastating 2023 wildfires, burning millions of acres and displacing hundreds of thousands. The company initially claimed it could prevent up to 100% of lightning strikes but removed this claim after scrutiny. Scientists express concerns about the technology's performance across varying weather conditions, required material quantities, environmental consequences, and lack of transparent methodology.

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