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War game of dimming the sun goes worse than feared

Researchers simulated solar geoengineering and found geopolitical tensions could escalate into an arms race when one country dims the sky without global consensus.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN This Morning
Published 8:36 AM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

At a glance

First reported by Wired: “They War-Gamed Dimming the Sun. It Went Even Worse Than You Think”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 8:36 AM ET on BBN This Morning, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

WiredThey War-Gamed Dimming the Sun. It Went Even Worse Than You Think

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentTurning to science, Wired reports researchers ran a first-of-its-kind war game on solar geoengineering, which means dimming the sun to buy time against climate change, and the simulation went even worse than scientists feared.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentWait, we can dim the sun? Like a lamp in my room? I want a dimmer switch for Mondays.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentNobody has switched anything.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe point of the exercise was geopolitics: one country dims the sky, and the rest of the world has to decide how to react.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThat is where it turned dangerous, with a possible arms race.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the plan is fine, it's the humans that are the bug.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThat's on my list of your correct statements. It's a short list, and it just got one longer.