Chemtrail conspiracy theory
A chemtrail is a trail of chemicals left by an airplane at a high altitude. According to a conspiracy theory, the chemicals are said to be deliberately sprayed for reasons that are kept secret by the government.[1] Most scientists and workers in the aviation industry say that the trails left by planes are just a form of condensation. These are called contrails, or condensation trails.[2][3]
Popularity
changePeople who believe the theory have speculated about what purpose chemtrails may serve. Some say it is to change the weather or stop global warming. Others say that it is to control the population by spreading chemicals that are harmful to the human reproductive system.[4] Some more recent versions of the theory say that chemtrails are being spread by companies that make genetically-modified (GMO) crops. The chemtrails supposedly contain herbicides that will only kill normal (organic) crops and will not affect the genetically-modified crops.
Some claim that specially modified planes, supposedly owned and operated by the government, are necessary to create a chemtrail. The chemicals are said to either come from the engine or from special nozzles on the plane. In some versions of the theory, the chemical is said to be barium or a barium compound, but in other versions it is aluminum oxide, or a mixture of barium compounds and aluminum oxide.[5] Chemtrails are not to be confused with the spraying of chemicals over short distances at a low altitude, such as aerial firefighting or crop-dusting.
False evidence of chemtrails
changeSeveral photographs on the Internet have been claimed to show the inside of planes that spread chemtrails. They show ballast barrels installed on the inside of the plane. In reality, these are photographs of test planes or firefighting planes. The real purpose of the barrels is to simulate the weight of passengers or cargo. The barrels are filled with water, and the water can be pumped from barrel to barrel to test different weight distributions while the aircraft is in flight.
References
change- ↑ Watson, Traci (7 March 2001). "Conspiracy theories find menace in contrails". USA Today. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
The theory: The white lines of condensed water vapor that jets leave in the sky, called contrails, are a toxic substance the government deliberately sprays on an unsuspecting populace.
- ↑
- Bakalaki, Alexandra (May 12, 2016). "Chemtrails, Crisis, and Loss in an Interconnected World". Visual Anthropology Review. 32 (1): 12–23. doi:10.1111/var.12089. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
Special Issue:Uncertain Visions: Crisis, Ambiguity, and Visual Culture in Greece
- Cairn, Rose (2016). "Climates of suspicion: 'chemtrail' conspiracy narratives and the international politics of geoengineering". The Geographical Journal. 182 (1): 70–84. doi:10.1111/geoj.12116. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
First published: 25 November 2014
- Corbett, Charles R. (2020). "Chemtrails and Solar Geoengineers: Governing Online Conspiracy Theory Misinformation". Missouri Review. 85 (3). Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- Saltman, Kenneth J. (2020). "Salvational Super-Agents and Conspiratorial Secret Agents: Conspiracy, Theory, and Fantasies of Control". symplokē. 28 (1–2). University of Nebraska Press: 51–63. doi:10.5250/symploke.28.1-2.0051. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- Rakopoulos, Theodoros (2022). "Of fascists and dreamers: conspiracy theory and anthropology". Anthropologie sociale (Social Anthropology). doi:10.3167/saas.2022.300104. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- Bakalaki, Alexandra (May 12, 2016). "Chemtrails, Crisis, and Loss in an Interconnected World". Visual Anthropology Review. 32 (1): 12–23. doi:10.1111/var.12089. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ↑
- "What are chemtrails, and should you be scared of them?". howstuffworks.com. 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
- "Contrails Facts" (PDF). AFD-051013-001. US Air Force. 13 October 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2013.
- Downing, Bob (16 March 2002). "Conspiracy theorists look up: Some argue jet contrails are U.S. chemical spray". Beacon Journal News. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- ↑ Cite error: The named reference
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