In 2025, a team of engineers and scientists from the US and Israel unveiled an ambitious project that could change the way we tackle climate change. The startup Stardust Solutions proposed using innovative reflective particles to reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface. According to the developers, this technology would temporarily lower global temperatures and slow the pace of warming. The idea sparked heated debate among climate experts, politicians, and business leaders.
The company has already developed a unique material capable of reflecting part of the Sun’s radiation. To deliver the substance into the stratosphere, they plan to use a fleet of a hundred airplanes, which will regularly release the particles at an altitude where they can effectively scatter sunlight. This approach is reminiscent of the aftermath of major volcanic eruptions, when ash and sulfur temporarily cool the planet—but in this case, the process would be controlled and repeatable.
Geoengineering in Practice: Challenges and Concerns
Last year, Stardust’s management reached out to Janos Pasztor, a former UN climate adviser, asking him to help build public trust in the project. Pasztor, who has extensive experience in international negotiations, was struck by the scale and speed of the startup’s development. He noted that such ideas were previously discussed only in scientific circles and science fiction, but now they are becoming reality.
However, the expert immediately raised concerns about the safety and consequences of introducing such technology. The scientific community warns that interfering with atmospheric processes could lead to unpredictable changes in weather systems, disrupt food chains, and even trigger geopolitical conflicts. Moreover, there is virtually no legal regulation of such initiatives worldwide, adding further risks.
Funding and Opacity: Who Stands Behind the Project?
Despite these concerns, the startup quickly attracted investor attention. In October 2024, the company announced it had secured $60 million from funds linked to well-known Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and one of Italy’s industrial dynasties. Total investment reached $75 million, enabling accelerated development and preparation for trials.
At the same time, questions arose about Stardust’s transparency. The company’s website remained hidden from search engines for a long period, and the code of conduct agreed upon with Pastor was never published. Following disagreements over these issues, Pastor ended his collaboration, fearing his recommendations were being ignored. Representatives of the startup attributed the technical problems to a coincidence and promised to resolve them, but some experts remain wary.
Technology and Scientific Foundations: How the Stardust System Works
The project is based on the idea of mimicking natural processes that occur during volcanic eruptions. In 1783, the eruption of Laki in Iceland released millions of tons of sulfur into the atmosphere, causing temporary cooling across the Northern Hemisphere. Modern scientists have established that when sulfur particles reach the stratosphere, they can lower global average temperatures for several years.
Stardust proposes using environmentally safe particles that would be dispersed in specific latitudes — north and south of the tropics. Aircraft taking off from, for example, Florida and southern Brazil, would evenly distribute the substance throughout the atmosphere. According to projections, the particles would remain in the stratosphere for about a year, after which they would need to be replenished. Even a slight reduction in solar radiation, the developers believe, could significantly slow down global warming.
Expert opinions and possible consequences
Not all scientists support the commercialization of solar geoengineering. David Keith of the University of Chicago, founder of the carbon removal company Carbon Engineering, declined to consult for Stardust. He believes that the global consequences of dispersing particles in the atmosphere are impossible to predict, and that society is not ready to trust private companies with issues that affect the entire planet.
Among the potential threats, experts point to the possibility of weather manipulation for the benefit of certain states or corporations, which could lead to international conflicts. In addition, the long-term environmental impacts remain unknown, and scientific debates around the technology are ongoing.
By the way: what is known about Stardust Solutions and its key figures
Stardust Solutions is a relatively young company founded by a group of scientists and entrepreneurs from the US and Israel. CEO Yanai Edwab is a nuclear physicist who previously served as Deputy Chief Scientist at the Israel Atomic Energy Commission. Under his leadership, the startup has attracted significant investment and built a team of 25 specialists working to develop and implement new climate technologies.
Janos Pasztor, who was consulted on the project, is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on climate and sustainable development. He has held senior positions at various UN agencies, contributed to global climate agreements, and advised governments around the world. His involvement with the Stardust project underscores the company’s serious intentions, although disagreements over transparency and ethics led to a break in cooperation.
Stardust Solutions continues to develop its technology despite criticism and concerns from the scientific community. The company claims it intends to keep the process as transparent and safe as possible, yet many questions remain unanswered. In the coming years, the project could become one of the most talked-about in the field of climate innovation.
