Revived Wartime Resource May Soon Power Everything from Bullets to Batteries

This overlooked metal isn't just for the battlefield anymore. It's part of the future energy grid, too. This could be a rare early-stage play in a market that's heating up fast.

FACT FOCUS: No, weather modification did not cause the deadly flash floods in Texas

MELISSA GOLDIN
July 08, 2025

As authorities search for victims of the flash floods in Texas that killed more than 100 people over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, social media users are spreading false claims that the devastation was caused by weather modification.

Many pointed to one process in particular, blaming cloud seeding performed on July 2 by a California-based company for the tragedy.

But officials say there is no evidence that the floods are the result of cloud seeding and experts agree that cloud seeding would not result in precipitation of this magnitude.

Here's a closer look at the facts.

CLAIM: A July 2 cloud seeding operation by Rainmaker Technology Corporation caused flash floods in the Texas Hill Country over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

THE FACTS: This is false. It is not possible that cloud seeding generated the floods, according to experts, as the process can only produce limited precipitation using clouds that already exist. Forecasts predicted rain for that weekend prior to July 2 in an area that was already prone to flooding.

"The claim that cloud seeding played a role in this tragic event is complete nonsense," said Andrew Dessler, director of Texas A&M University's Texas Center for Extreme Weather.

Dev Niyogi, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin who studies extreme weather, said it is "extremely unlikely" cloud seeding played a role in the floods. He cited weather factors as the reason: "the moisture flow coming into the area and the widespread rains the system had, as well as the forecast of very heavy rains over the wider area."

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said at a press briefing on Monday that "to the best of my knowledge, there is zero evidence of anything related to anything like weather modification" when asked about such speculation. He added: "The internet is a strange place. People can come up with all sorts of crazy theories."

Nonetheless, social media users questioned whether Rainmaker's operations could be connected to the disaster in Texas.

"Well ... this is weird ... A company called Rainmaker, conducted a cloud seeding mission on July 2 over Texas Hill Country," reads one X post. "2 days later, the worst flood in their history occurred ... in the exact same area that the Rainmaker flights were. The entire goal of Rainmaker is to increase the precipitation of existing clouds. Why do we let these corporations f -- k with the weather?"

Many posts also noted Rainmaker's connection to Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel, who cofounded the data-mining outfit Palantir Technologies, a secretive company that has long relied on spies, police, and the military as its customers. The Thiel Foundation awarded Rainmaker founder and CEO Augustus Doricko $100,000 in 2024 as part of its fellowship program.

Cloud seeding utilizes an artificial material -- typically silver iodide -- to induce precipitation or clear fog. The practice is an imprecise undertaking with mixed results.

Dessler explained that "cloud seeding can work in certain limited situations and produce very modest increases in precipitation," but often delivers nothing."

Regardless, the process cannot create storms out of thin air. Ken Leppert, an associate professor of atmospheric science at the University of Louisiana Monroe, said it "had absolutely nothing" to do with the flash floods in Texas.

"Cloud seeding works by adding aerosols to existing clouds," he said. "It doesn't work by helping to create a cloud/storm that doesn't already exist. The storms that produced the rainfall and flooding in Texas were not in existence two days before the event."

The Texas Hill Country, in the central part of the state, is naturally prone to flash flooding due to the dry, dirt-packed areas where the soil lets rain skid along the surface of the landscape instead of soaking it up.

After a flood watch notice was issued midday on July 3, the National Weather Service issued an urgent warning overnight for at least 30,000 people. The July 4 flash floods started with a particularly bad storm that dropped most of its 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain in the dark early morning hours. There was so much rain that the Guadalupe River rose higher than it has in 93 years by almost a foot, according to local reports.

"The natural disaster in the Texan Hill Country is a tragedy. My prayers are with Texas," Doricko, the Rainmaker CEO, wrote as part of a series of X posts. "Rainmaker did not operate in the affected area on the 3rd or 4th or contribute to the floods that occurred over the region."

He said Rainmaker's last cloud seeding operation prior to the floods occurred in the early afternoon on July 2 over eastern portions of south-central Texas. Two clouds were seeded and remained in the sky for about two hours before dissipating. Rainmaker suspended its cloud seeding operations indefinitely the same day in response to "unusually high moisture content."

___

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.

Continue Reading...

Popular

Asian shares are mixed after Wall Street closes higher and edges to more records

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Asian shares were mixed in cautious trading Friday after Wall Street closed at an all-time high with Delta Air Lines kicking off earnings season with a solid outlook for the rest of 2025, spurring an airline stock rally.

Amy Coney Barrett Earns Trump's Credit After Court Ruling: 'I Have Great Respect For Her'

Trump praises Justice Barrett's Supreme Court ruling limiting nationwide injunctions, while blasting NYC's Mamdani and defending his economic agenda.

Copper's Spiking - And This Junior Has the Grades to Match - Ad

Copper is climbing again - and this time, it looks tariff-proof. A $31M junior just posted nearly 1B lbs of copper equivalent. With insiders and institutions piling in, this could be the next breakout.

Australian airline Qantas says customer data stolen by cybercriminal

Australian airline Qantas said Wednesday that a hacker made off with a trove of customers' personal data including passenger names, emails, phone numbers, birth dates and frequent flyer numbers.

Trump says he's not planning to extend a pause on global tariffs beyond July 9

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is not planning to extend on most nations beyond July 9, when the negotiating period he set would expire, and his administration will notify countries that the trade penalties will take effect unless there are

Elon's Greatest Invention... Hidden in South Memphis? - Ad

In South Memphis, I uncovered what could be Elon Musk's biggest invention yet. It's so secretive, rivals are flying drones to spy on it. If you're serious about investing in AI, now's the time to see what's really going on inside those walls.

Gen Z Loves Job-Hopping, But This Boss Who Stayed In The Same Company For 35 Says There's An Upside To Staying Put

CEO Janet Godwin says best advice was to focus on current job, not next promotion. Gen Z prioritizes flexibility, while job hopping can lead to higher earnings but also impact retirement savings.

Shaquille O'Neal Wants $50 Million From Lakers Following $10 Billion Sale

Citing his past contributions to the Laker's success, Shaquille O'Neal jokingly requested a $50 million payout after a $10 billion sale.

Copper's Rally Is Back. This $31M Junior Is Sitting on a Potential Fortune - Ad

A high-grade copper-gold discovery in Quebec just delivered extremely high grade intercepts. Valuation? Just $31M. With copper breaking out, the timing here could be perfect. Get the symbol here.

Elon Musk Renews Demand for Jeffrey Epstein Files Release, Weeks After Alleging Trump Is Named in Them

Elon Musk has once again demanded the release of the unredacted Jeffrey Epstein files. This comes in the wake of his allegations against President Trump.

Unveil the 365X Crypto Secret - Replay Disappearing Soon! - Ad

Only 12 hours left! Watch the replay of the "365x Return in 90 Days" crypto Workshop before it's gone. Discover Joel and Adam's 4-part system, real success stories, and how to start mirroring their trades. This is your last chance-don't miss out.

MercadoLibre Shares Up 1.4% After Key Trading Signal

A significant trading signal occurred for MercadoLibre stock, as it demonstrated a power inflow at $2443.25, after which MELI rose nearly 1.4%.

Social Security Administration Sends 'Unbelievable' Email On Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill': Report

Email from SSA claims Trump's tax law will eliminate taxes on Social Security benefit. Critics call it politically motivated and incorrect.

Gold Just Hit Another Record. This Junior Could Be Next. - Ad

This copper junior was the smallest company invited to a top global mining conference. With nearly 1B pounds CuEq and 50,000m of funded drilling, this story won't stay quiet for long.

Alibaba Cloud Opens Third Malaysia Data Center, Plans Second in Philippines

Alibaba expands cloud networks and AI capabilities globally, opening new data centers in Malaysia, Philippines, and South Korea by 2025.

XRP Boosted 4% By Ripple's Stablecoin Partnership With BNY

Ripple (CRYPTO: XRP) has announced that the Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BKAG) will serve as the primary custodian for reserves backing its

This Tiny Tech Stock Could Be the Next Big Platform Play - Ad

One under-the-radar company is embedding intelligence into everyday glass-already powering Ferraris, aircraft, and city buses with adaptive surfaces and vision systems. It's not just a product. It's a platform.

Trump asks Supreme Court to remove 3 Democrats on the Consumer Product Safety Commission

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Wednesday asked the to remove three Democratic members of the , who were fired by President and then reinstated by a federal judge.

Stunning Trump Policy Unlocks Upfront Cash Payouts - Ad

The U.S. has collected $15B from Trump's tariffs - and now, thanks to Title 15, you could claim your own $100-$1,000 instant upfront cash payouts. No stocks needed. Use your phone and this income technique to collect upfront payouts now.

Ohio awards $310 million to US defense contractor for 4,000-worker advanced manufacturing facility

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Defense contractor Anduril Industries has been awarded a $310 million grant from Ohio's job creation office, as the company prepares to build a massive advanced manufacturing facility near Columbus.

Dogecoin Shoots Up Over 6% As Elon Musk Launches America Party, Large Transactions Spike

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) is trading higher overnight Sunday after Elon Musk launched his new political party. What Happened: The dog-themed memecoin spiked over 6% in the last 24 hours, with trading volume exploding 179% to $1.19 billion.

The Tesla Shock Nobody Sees Coming - Ad

While headlines scream "Tesla is doomed"...Jeff Brown has uncovered a revolutionary AI breakthrough buried inside Tesla's labs. One that is helping AI escape from our computer screens and manifest itself here in the real world all while creating a 25,000% growth market explosion starting as early as July 23rd.

Paramount to pay $16 million in settlement with Trump over '60 Minutes' interview

In a case seen as a challenge to free speech, Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump over the editing of CBS' “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October.

China is Tightening Critical Metal Supply-Investors Wondering Who Will Step Up - Ad

This metal powers everything from munitions to batteries. But with China imposing export controls, the West is scrambling for supply. One tiny firm may control a key N. American site-and investors are watching closely.

Trump's previous tariff push terrified the world economy. He's betting this time is different

WASHINGTON (AP) — When President Donald Trump last rolled out , financial markets quaked, consumer confidence crashed and his popularity plunged.

Fire that shut Heathrow was caused by a preventable technical fault known for years, report finds

LONDON (AP) — An electrical substation fire that , canceling more than 1,300 flights, was caused by a preventable technical fault identified almost seven years earlier, a report found Wednesday.

Revived Wartime Resource May Soon Power Everything from Bullets to Batteries - Ad

This overlooked metal isn't just for the battlefield anymore. It's part of the future energy grid, too. This could be a rare early-stage play in a market that's heating up fast.

Senate GOP removes tax on solar and wind energy but dismantles climate law passed by Democrats

WASHINGTON (AP) — The approved by the Senate Tuesday removes a proposed tax on solar and wind energy projects but quickly phases out tax credits for wind, solar and other renewable energy.

Ex-Trump Family Attorney Raises Alarms Over Trump's Actions as President: 'I Have Never Been As Concerned'

Abbe Lowell expressed serious concerns about the potential harm that the current administration could cause to the country's institutions.

Copper's Spiking - And This Junior Has the Grades to Match - Ad

Copper is climbing again - and this time, it looks tariff-proof. A $31M junior just posted nearly 1B lbs of copper equivalent. With insiders and institutions piling in, this could be the next breakout.

US Stocks Likely To Open Higher: Trump's Tariff Clock Ticks, Fed Likely To Keep Rates Unchanged

U.S. stock futures advanced on Wednesday after ending on a mixed note on Tuesday. Futures of major benchmark indices were trading higher.

Elon's Greatest Invention... Hidden in South Memphis? - Ad

In South Memphis, I uncovered what could be Elon Musk's biggest invention yet. It's so secretive, rivals are flying drones to spy on it. If you're serious about investing in AI, now's the time to see what's really going on inside those walls.

GSK Rebranded Flovent Asthma Inhaler For Children To Avoid $367 Million Medicaid Rebate, Senator Hassan Accuses

Senator Maggie Hassan is investigating GSK's discontinuation of Flovent HFA, citing increased hospitalizations, higher drug costs, and lost Medicaid rebates.

Copper's Rally Is Back. This $31M Junior Is Sitting on a Potential Fortune - Ad

A high-grade copper-gold discovery in Quebec just delivered extremely high grade intercepts. Valuation? Just $31M. With copper breaking out, the timing here could be perfect. Get the symbol here.

Elon Musk Is The 'Most Productive Human Being On Earth,' Says Ark Invest's Cathie Wood: 'Facts Are Facts'

Investor Cathie Wood, the CEO of Ark Invest, offered one of her most emphatic endorsements yet of Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) CEO, Elon Musk, calling him "the most productive human being on earth and in space in history."

Trending Now

Information, charts or examples are for illustration and educational purposes only and not for individualized investment management This message contains commercial elements, such as advertising. We only send these offers to those who have opted in to our newsletter. Past performance is not indicative of future results. For these reasons we strongly suggest trading in a DEMO/Simulated account. The information provided by us is for educational and informational purposes only. We make no representations or warranties concerning the products, practices or procedures of any company or entity mentioned or recommended and have not determined if the statements and opinions of the advertiser are accurate, correct or truthful. If you use, act upon or make decisions in reliance on information contained or any external source linked within it, you do so at your own peril and agree to hold us, our officers, directors, shareholders, affiliates and agents without fault.

Copyright activatrade.ca
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service