Cloud seeding, chemtrails and conspiracies: Can we really control the weather?

In early July, a storm dumped as much as 20 inches of rain in parts of central Texas, the equivalent of months’ worth of rain that swelled the Guadalupe River with devastating force. At least 130 people died in the flooding, including dozens of children. 

Amid the grief and confusion, blame emerged in an unexpected place. A small cloud-seeding flight conducted by a startup named Rainmaker two days prior became the target of unfounded accusations. Elected officials and online influencers questioned whether the operation triggered or worsened the deluge.