The Military Is Shutting Down Its Weather-Controlling Death Beam

[SlyPokerDog]

Can a facility that has inspired global conspiracy theories be designated a World Heritage Site? If so, that might be the only way to prevent the shutdown of the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) in Alaska, which studies the ionosphere—or creates lethal hurricanes—depending on whom you talk to.

The HAARP installation, not unlike the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, is a peculiar hybrid of military and civilian science. It was conceived during the mid-1980s, but found itself without a clear mission by the time construction began in 1993 and the Cold War had ended. Jointly funded by the Air Force, Navy, DARPA and the University of Alaska, the $290 million facility's principal instrument is an array of 180 crossed dipoles that are spaced over an area of about 30 acres. Collectively, the array can transmit up to 3,600 kW of radiated power, which has made it possible for scientists to study the basic physics of how charged particles behave in the ionosphere, 55 to 370 miles above the Earth.

http://io9.com/the-military-is-shut...utm_source=io9_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

 

[Haakzilla]

...I guess I can take off my hat now, thanks for the intel!

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

 

[PDXFonz]

I've always wondered why conspiracy theories tend to have heavy anti-establishment tones to them...

 

[jlprk]

Every day, I read some new conspiracy theory in the news which is put out by the establishment to bolster the establishment.

But when authority says it, all the anti-conspiracy theorists accept the theory. They are lazy thinkers.

 

[MARIS61]

I guess this means the replacement facility is now fully operational?