The Limits of Controversial Research: The Failed Solar Geoengineering Experiment and the Future of Older Nuclear Reactors

In March 2017, two Harvard professors, David Keith and Frank Keutsch, discussed plans to conduct the first solar geoengineering experiment in the stratosphere at a small summit in Washington, DC. Solar geoengineering involves spraying certain particles high above the planet to reflect sunlight back into space to counteract climate change. Critics argue that manipulating the planet’s climate system is too dangerous to study in the real world.

The proposed experiment faced opposition and fears from critics, with concerns that it could have significant negative impacts. After a decade of planning, Harvard recently announced the termination of the project. The failure of the solar geoengineering experiment raises questions about the boundaries researchers have when exploring controversial subjects.

Meanwhile, nuclear reactors in power plants worldwide are getting older, with some reactors over 40 years old. In Europe, nearly 90% of reactors are over 30 years old. Economic pressures have led to the shutdown of older, especially smaller reactors, particularly in areas with cheaper sources of electricity such as natural gas. However, older nuclear reactors may still have a significant amount of operational life left.