Debunking Chemtrail Conspiracy Theories Amidst Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Decades-old myths surrounding the concept of chemtrails have resurfaced in a new conspiracy theory falsely suggesting that the United States government is using non-existent weather manipulation technology to orchestrate Hurricanes Helene and Milton. This conspiracy, largely promoted by right-wing influencers with considerable online following, asserts that these hurricanes were deliberately directed towards communities that support Donald Trump as part of a plot to affect the upcoming election.

The increase in interest around chemtrails has been evident in Google search trends and social media activity. Chemtrail theorists claim that contrails, or condensation trails left behind by jets, are laden with harmful chemicals for purposes such as weather control or psychological manipulation. Scientists maintain that contrails result from water vapor condensing and freezing around aircraft exhaust, dismissing the theory as baseless.

Despite the conspiracy’s lack of evidence, it continues to persist, often targeting climate scientists. One research lab at Harvard University reportedly receives numerous abusive messages related to chemtrail allegations, prompting them to host explanatory content debunking the theory on their website.

The theory’s longevity is attributed to a small group of pseudoscientists devoted to proving it accurate, despite their limited reach mostly to obscure blogs or unconventional online platforms. The current climate of misinformation, however, has allowed it to gain a wider audience. Daniel Swain, a climate scientist at UCLA, notes that such theories have expanded from niche forums to widespread social media platforms, illustrating the ease with which misinformation spreads today.

Right-wing media figures and platforms have amplified these narratives, including disgraced conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who highlighted the theory’s virality on his show. Additionally, antisemitic undercurrents have been noted, with accusations falsely linking Jewish individuals to the supposed technology steering hurricanes.

Public figures such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have also engaged with these theories, while legislative actions like a Tennessee bill banning airborne chemical releases have added fuel to the debate. Experts warn that these conspiracy theories risk overshadowing the urgent, factual discourse on climate change and its effects.

Experts in the field stress the limitations of any real atmospheric interventions, such as cloud seeding, which have proven inconsistent at best. Katja Friedrich, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, suggests that the conspiracy theories are a distraction from addressing climate change’s tangible impacts.

Joshua Horton, a researcher at Harvard University, explains that the political climate is fostering these narratives just weeks before a significant presidential election, creating what he describes as a “perfect storm” of conspiracy, reality, and misinformation.