Technology

This startup claims it can stop lightning and prevent catastrophic wildfires

Source

MIT Technology Review

Published

Mar 3, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

A Vancouver-based startup called Skyward Wildfire claims it can prevent catastrophic wildfires by stopping lightning strikes that ignite them. The company raised millions in funding and stated it can prevent the majority of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in targeted storm cells. Skyward's method involves cloud seeding with metallic chaff, a technique evaluated by US government agencies in the 1960s. However, researchers and environmentalists express doubts about the effectiveness and potential environmental impacts of this approach, emphasizing the need for transparency and scientific scrutiny. Skyward's investors see promise in its technology, but without detailed data from field trials or peer-reviewed publications, the effectiveness of their lightning prevention claims remains uncertain.

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How much wildfire prevention is too much?

A Canadian startup, Skyward Wildfire, is aiming to prevent wildfires by targeting lightning strikes, which are responsible for a significant portion of wildfires. The company proposes using metallic chaff to disrupt the buildup of static electricity that leads to lightning strikes. While the theory behind the method is sound, results from field trials and peer-reviewed studies are lacking. Experts caution that preventing lightning-ignited fires should be approached judiciously to avoid exacerbating fuel accumulation issues. Some argue that focusing on preventing ignitions may not address the root causes of increasingly destructive wildfires, which are exacerbated by human factors.

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