Crash Course: Meet the scientist who wants to control the weather

A new film profiles a Finnish scientist's lifelong quest to create rain clouds via technology Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). Meet the scientist who wants to control the weather It is easy to forget that [clouds](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RjaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTkvMDMvMTIvaWYtY2xpbWF0ZS1jaGFuZ2UtbWFrZXMtdGhlLWNsb3Vkcy1kaXNhcHBlYXItd2VyZS1zY3Jld2VkX3BhcnRuZXIvVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) — yes, those big, cottonball-resembling things in the sky — are comprised of thousands of tiny particles, so small that they float through the air instead of settling on the ground. These are known as aerosols, and for scientists like [geoengineering](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMDkvMjMvYmxlYWstYXMtaXQtc2VlbXMtZ2VvZW5naW5lZXJpbmctbWF5LW5vdy1iZS10aGUtb25seS13YXktdG8tc2F2ZS1lYXJ0aC1mcm9tLWNsaW1hdGUtY2hhbmdlL1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) expert Dr. Hannele Korhonen — who has ambitions to [control the weather](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMTgvMDIvMTEveW91LWNhbnQtY29udHJvbC10aGUtd2VhdGhlci1ldmVuLWluLXdhci9XA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) — they are a lifelong passion. [Read more from Matthew Rozsa](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvZ2VvZW5naW5lZXJpbmctaW50ZXJ2aWV3LWNsb3Vkcy9XA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). (Getty Images/John M Lund Photography Inc) Benjamin Franklin continues to be a pop culture darling, from "Bill & Ted's" to video games He's the latest subject of a [Ken Burns](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0SAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMDQvMTEva2VuLWJ1cm5zLXZpY2lvdXMtaGVtaW5nd2F5LXNtZWFyLXBicy1zZXJpZXMtdG90YWxseS1pZ25vcmVzLXdyaXRlcnMtbGlmZWxvbmctbGVmdGlzdC1wb2xpdGljcy9XA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) documentary, PBS' double header "[Benjamin Franklin](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0QvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGJzLm9yZy9rZW5idXJucy9iZW5qYW1pbi1mcmFua2xpbi9XA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)," which is [now streaming](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0QvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucGJzLm9yZy9rZW5idXJucy9iZW5qYW1pbi1mcmFua2xpbi9XA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). Quotes attributed to him [spring up everywhere](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0QyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmkuZWR1L2JlbmphbWluLWZyYW5rbGluL2ZhbW91cy1xdW90ZXNXA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo), including on Netflix's ["Virgin River."](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0Q9aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMDcvMTcvdmlyZ2luLXJpdmVyLW5ldGZsaXgtYXBwZWFsL1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Why has Benjamin Franklin, or our idea of Franklin, endured in our national memory for so long, and where are some of the places in popular culture to continue to find him? [Read the rest from Alison Stine.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RPaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvYmVuamFtaW4tZnJhbmtsaW4tcG9wLWN1bHR1cmUtbW92aWVzLXR2LW11c2ljL1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) (Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images) - [Sean Penn](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvc2Vhbi1wZW5uLWZveC1uZXdzLXNlYW4taGFubml0eS11a3JhaW5lLXplbGVuc2t5eS9XA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) tells Fox News' Sean Hannity, "I don't trust you" and predicts "Ukrainians will win this" - Republican Congressman [Paul Gosar](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvY29uZ3Jlc3NtYW4tcGF1bC1nb3Nhci1zY2hlZHVsZWQtZm9yLW5hdGlvbmFsaXN0LWV2ZW50LW9uLWhpdGxlcnMtYmlydGhkYXkvVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) scheduled for white nationalist event on Hitler's birthday - Your [salt and pepper shakers](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYveW91ci1zYWx0LWFuZC1wZXBwZXItc2hha2Vycy1oYXZlLWEtc3VycHJpc2luZ2x5LXNwaWN5LWhpc3RvcnkvVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) have a surprisingly spicy history - Raskin calls out "[Trump-Putin axis](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvcmFza2luLWNhbGxzLW91dC10cnVtcC1wdXRpbi1heGlzLWFmdGVyLW1hcmpvcmllLXRheWxvci1ncmVlbi1oZWNrbGVzLWphbi02LWNvbW1pdHRlZS12b3RlL1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)" after Marjorie Taylor Green heckles Jan. 6 committee vote - A contentious study reveals exactly [how easily COVID-19 spreads](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvdGhhbmtzLXRvLWEtY29udGVudGlvdXMtc3R1ZHktd2Utbm93LWtub3ctZXhhY3RseS1ob3ctZWFzaWx5LTE5LXNwcmVhZHMvVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - [Roleplaying in sex](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0ROaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvdGhlLXZpZXctc3VubnktaG9zdGluLXJvbGVwbGF5aW5nLWV0aXF1ZXR0ZS0vVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~)? "The View" gets an education on the do's and don'ts of the erotic practice - Republican-appointed Supreme Court shuts down GOP's [bid to ban early voting in Arizona](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0ReaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvYXBwb2ludGVkLXNodXRzLWRvd24tZ29wcy1iaWQtdG8tYmFuLWVhcmx5LXZvdGluZy1pbi1hcml6b25hL1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - On Will Smith slapping Chris Rock and [what I know about heroes and violence](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvb24td2lsbC1zbWl0aC1zbGFwcGluZy1jaHJpcy1yb2NrLWFuZC13aGF0LWkta25vdy1hYm91dC1oZXJvZXMtYW5kLXZpb2xlbmNlL1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "[Little maggot-infested man](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0SDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvbGl0dGxlLW1hZ2dvdC1pbmZlc3RlZC1tYW4tdG9tLWNvdHRvbi1zbGFtbWVkLWZvci1zYXlpbmcta2V0YW5qaS1icm93bi1qYWNrc29uLXdvdWxkLWRlZmVuZC1uYXppcy9XA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)": Tom Cotton slammed for saying Ketanji Brown Jackson would defend Nazis - [Trump's trashing of Ukraine](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RsaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvdHJhc2hpbmctb2YtdWtyYWluZS1wYXlzLW9mZi1mb3ItcnVzc2lhLXZvdGUtdG8tcmVqZWN0LW5hdG8tLWFuZC1kZW1vY3JhY3kvVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) pays off for Russia: Republicans vote to reject NATO — and democracy - [Court disbars Jan. 6 defense lawyer](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvZGlzYmFycy1qYW4tNi1kZWZlbnNlLWxhd3llci1jbGFpbWVkLWl0cy1ub3QtaWxsZWdhbC10by1nby1pbnNpZGUtdGhlLWNhcGl0b2wvVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) who claimed “it’s not illegal to go inside the Capitol” - Battleground Michigan: [GOP joins with militant far right](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvYmF0dGxlZ3JvdW5kLW1pY2hpZ2FuLWpvaW5zLXdpdGgtbWlsaXRhbnQtZmFyLXJpZ2h0LWluLWNhbXBhaWduLWFnYWluc3QtZGVtb2NyYWN5L1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) in campaign against democracy - [Time for Merrick Garland to act](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0Q1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvc2hvdWxkbnQtZ2V0LWEtcGFzcy9XA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): Trump can't get a pass on serious crimes over "politics" - Stealth school board candidates are everywhere: But "[Stop the Steal](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0R5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvc3RlYWx0aC1zY2hvb2wtYm9hcmQtY2FuZGlkYXRlcy1hcmUtZXZlcnl3aGVyZS1idXQtc3RvcC10aGUtc3RlYWwtaXNudC13b3JraW5nLWZvci10aGVtL1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)" isn't working for them Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. Tennessee's child marriage bill pushes another purpose: Gutting same-sex marriage Republicans love nothing more than setting up their own "alternatives" to the cultural institutions they believe have been "tainted" by liberalism. Did Twitter ban you for racist vitriol and inciting domestic terrorism? Then try to start (but fail) at [creating a Twitter of your own](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDQvYWxsLWJldHMtYXJlLW9mZi10aGUtYnJhaW5zLWJlaGluZC10cnV0aC1zb2NpYWwtYXBwLWp1c3QtcXVpdC1hbWlkLWJvdGNoZWQtbGF1bmNoX3BhcnRuZXIvVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). Don't like that [Disney disavows hatred of LGBTQ people](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0R_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDEvZGlzbmV5LWh5c3RlcmlhLWFuZC1saXR0ZXItYm94ZXMtcmVwdWJsaWNhbnMtZGVlcGx5LW9kZC1vbi1sZ2J0cS1wZW9wbGUtZXNjYWxhdGVzLXRvLXZpb2xlbmNlL1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)? Try to [start a children's entertainment company that pushes](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWVkaWFtYXR0ZXJzLm9yZy9mb3gtbmV3cy9yaWdodC13aW5ncy1jb24tY3VsdHVyZS1jb21lcy1tb3VzZVcDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) dull right-wing propaganda instead. Angry that major razor companies won't financially support fascism? [Make your own razors](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RFaHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLnlhaG9vLmNvbS9iZW4tc2hhcGlyby1kYWlseS13aXJlLWFubm91bmNlLTEzMDA0NjcyMy5odG1sVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~)! Are you just [generally mad at Starbucks because you](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZGFpbHliZWFzdC5jb20vd2h5LWRvZXMtc3RhcmJ1Y2tzLW1lbHQtY29uc2VydmF0aXZlLWJyYWluc1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) have a sneaking suspicion that drinking coffee is somehow effeminate? Start your own coffee company that's [draped in gun-related imagery](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0SDaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZm94YnVzaW5lc3MuY29tL2xpZmVzdHlsZS9jb25zZXJ2YXRpdmUtY29mZmVlLWNvbXBhbnktZ3Jvd3MtYnVzaW5lc3MtZm9jdXNpbmctdmV0ZXJhbnMtcG9saWNlLWFuLXVuZGVyc2VydmVkLXBvcHVsYXRpb25XA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) and pretend it doesn't scream "overcompensation." There will surely be a "conservative" Oreo to come out any day now that [the right is mad about the company running pro-LGBTQ ads](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RpaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDUvaS1kby1ub3QtbGlrZS1nYXktY29va2llcy1jb25zZXJ2YXRpdmVzLXZvdy10by1ib3ljb3R0LW9yZW8tb3Zlci1uZXctYWQvVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). [Read the rest from Amanda Marcotte](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvdGVubmVzc2Vlcy1jaGlsZC1tYXJyaWFnZS1iaWxsLXB1c2hlcy1hbm90aGVyLXB1cnBvc2UtZ3V0dGluZy1zYW1lLW1hcnJpYWdlL1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Getty Images/Joe Kohen) - "Tanis: 'First dinosaur fossil linked to asteroid strike'," [BBC](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0Q1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvbS9uZXdzL3NjaWVuY2UtZW52aXJvbm1lbnQtNjEwMTM3NDBXA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Jena Malone Hits a Reverse-Paw Patrol, Performs Citizen’s Arrest to Rescue a Dog," [Vulture](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudnVsdHVyZS5jb20vMjAyMi8wNC9qZW5hLW1hbG9uZS1jaXRpemVucy1hcnJlc3QtZG9nLmh0bWxXA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Jimmy Wang Yu Dies: Martial Arts Action Star In Hong Kong Films Was 79," [Deadline](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly9kZWFkbGluZS5jb20vMjAyMi8wNC9qaW1teS13YW5nLXl1LWRlYWQtbWFydGlhbC1hcnRzLWFjdGlvbi1zdGFyLWluLWhvbmcta29uZy1vYml0dWFyeS0xMjM0OTk2MTcxL1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Martha Stewart's Cat Princess Peony Died After Her Dogs Mistakenly Killed Her," [Buzzfeed](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYnV6emZlZWQuY29tL3JhY2hlbGJyb2Rza3kvbWFydGhhLXN0ZXdhcnQtY2F0LXByaW5jZXNzLXBlb255LWtpbGxlZC1kb2dzVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Noam Chomsky: We're nearing "the most dangerous point in human history" Renowned linguist, philosopher and Salon contributor Noam Chomsky issued a dire warning on Wednesday that humanity is at a crucial point in its history — largely due to the twin threats of climate change and nuclear war. [Read more from Matthew Rozsa](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDQvMDYvbm9hbS1jaG9tc2t5LW1vc3QtcG9pbnQtaW4taGlzdG9yeS9XA3NwY0IKYktDxE5iac2W0lIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). (Brill/ullstein bild/Getty Images) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmJLQ8ROYmnNltJSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRkMUlAP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgpiS0PETmJpzZbSUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)