U.S.–Israeli Start-Up Announces Solar Geoengineering Tests for 2026

A controversial U.S.–Israeli start-up has announced plans to begin outdoor solar geoengineering experiments as early as April 2026, raising alarm among environmental groups and scientists who warn the tests could have global implications.

The company, Stardust Solutions, says its research will focus on solar radiation management (SRM) — an experimental technology that seeks to reflect a portion of the sun’s rays back into space in an effort to temporarily cool the planet.

According to a report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), the planned experiments could involve the release of reflective particles into the atmosphere. Critics say such actions amount to a “reckless planetary experiment” that risks disrupting weather systems, rainfall patterns, and ozone recovery without global consent or oversight.

“Solar geoengineering has enormous scientific uncertainty and political risk,” said a CIEL spokesperson. “No company or country has the right to unilaterally alter the global climate.”

The company has not disclosed the exact location, scale, or materials to be used in the proposed tests. Wired magazine previously reported that Stardust Solutions had been developing a novel form of aerosol-based technology, though few details have been made public.

While proponents argue that SRM research could provide a potential emergency tool to offset climate change, most climate scientists emphasize that cutting greenhouse gas emissions remains the only proven and safe method for stabilizing the planet’s temperature.

No official U.S. or Israeli government authorization for the project has been confirmed as of this report.