“This is a response to those who saw not White – but a Dark, almost black trace in the sky after a plane flew by. <…> They patent the sky and spray oxidized graphene into our clouds (the speech here and in the following quotes is unedited – editor’s note),” announced a member of a Facebook group on Monday, August 24.
In this closed group, advice is shared on how to protect oneself from so-called “chemtrails” – chemicals or biological substances allegedly sprayed into the air by airplanes.
The post mentioned the US patent 2022/0002159 A1: “3D graphene oxide nanoparticles for cloud seeding,” and included a copy of it. In mid-June, it was published by another Facebook user with almost identical text.
“They no longer ‘seed’ clouds with water or silver iodide. Now they spray 3D reduced graphene oxide and silicon dioxide nanoparticles to control ice nucleation at -8 °C, manipulate weather conditions, and create atmospheric changes as needed,” the internet user explained.
According to the post’s author, graphene oxide is the same substance discussed for many years in debates about “chemtrails” and mRNA-based vaccines.
These nanoparticles are said to be remotely controlled, remain in the environment, are designed to interact with clouds and possibly with living organisms when settling on the ground.
The latter internet user provided tips on how to detox from graphene oxide in other posts, explaining that this substance is now everywhere due to coronavirus vaccines, COVID-19 tests, and geoengineering.
Another Facebook user wrote about graphene oxide spraying from planes five years ago. Last November, the same patent copy was published in a similar anti-chemtrail group in Serbia, and earlier the technology was discussed on the social network “X.”
Widespread in the Middle East
By the provided number, it is easy to verify that such a patent really exists, and a reverse image search helps find a copy of it circulating on social networks.
The inventors are scientists from Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR) in Abu Dhabi. They filed the application back in 2020, received the patent in April 2024 valid until 2041.
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The patent US 2022/0002159 A1 describes a 3D reduced graphene oxide / silicon dioxide (rGO-SiO₂) composite designed for ice crystallization – an important process in cloud seeding and weather modification.
The material is designed to increase precipitation by causing ice to form at higher temperatures than naturally occur. This enhances the effectiveness of cloud seeding.
Cloud seeding is a technology that helps manipulate existing clouds to produce more rain or snow. It usually involves airplanes injecting substances like silver iodide into clouds. This makes water vapor condense more easily and turn into rain.
This method has been used for several decades, and in recent years the UAE and some other Middle Eastern countries have applied it to address water scarcity.
Also read: Dubai received as much rain in one day as in a year – are internet users right blaming cloud seeding?
Also read: Internet users sided with Iran: it accuses enemies of “stealing” rain and snow
Also read: Catastrophic rains are considered man-made, but blame is misplaced
Graphene oxide nanoparticles are indeed studied in laboratories for their ability to promote ice crystal formation (described in a 2020 PMC published study). These academic cloud physics studies are often misrepresented online as “proof” of secret geoengineering.
Nobel Prize awarded
As soon as COVID-19 vaccines appeared, a hoax emerged claiming they contain graphene oxide. The portal 15min has written about this multiple times.
Also read: New popular conspiracy theory: graphene oxide “discovered” in vaccines
Also read: Vaccine skeptics “found” graphene again, but the smoke screen is for another reason
Later, this substance was “found” in sand or beach sand, creating the impression it might have been deliberately spread, linking graphene oxide with “chemtrails.”
Also read: Special graphene again spawns hoaxes – was it really found in sand after rains?
Graphene, made of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like a honeycomb, is the strongest, thinnest, and most conductive material. In 2010, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded for its development.
Due to its electrical conductivity, transparency, and mechanical properties, graphene is very useful in various fields: from sensors and alternative energy to biomedicine and filters. With good capacity, durability, and stability, this material is used in phone batteries.
Dr. Egidijus Griškonis, an associate professor at the Department of Physical and Inorganic Chemistry at Kaunas University of Technology, told the portal 15min that graphene compounds are not new materials and most people have encountered them.
Humanity probably first encountered graphene when the first fire was lit. We deal with it when burning any fuel – graphene and other carbon nanomaterials form during various combustions.
Pure graphene oxide is obtained by oxidizing natural graphite. It is a million times thinner than a human hair, so a simple graphene sheet is almost transparent.
How lies are born from science
Graphene and “chemtrails” are connected only in conspiracy theories spread online, distorting information about real research. There is no scientific evidence that graphene oxide is secretly sprayed from planes.
The modern world is full of technologies that become increasingly complex and less understandable to ordinary people. When non-experts discuss them, especially without context or by shifting it, many false conclusions arise.
This is exactly what happened in this case – a real technology turned into a bogeyman. It took just a few steps – a document is circulated (giving credibility), but instead of the full name (3D reduced graphene oxide / silicon dioxide composite), only graphene oxide remains.
This term is surrounded by emotionally powerful but not necessarily correct phrases (“patenting the sky,” “our clouds”), creating associations with control and secrecy. Negative actors appear – “they,” so one can only imagine a powerful group behind this technology. Finally, everything is linked to equally complex topics: climate change, weather modification, population control, 5G, nanotechnology, vaccines, “chemtrails.”
The “chemtrails” themselves are a conspiracy theory that planes spray chemicals or biological agents (bacteria, viruses, parasites, etc.) into the air.
According to atmospheric scientists, meteorologists, and aviation services (including the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA)), the white trails behind aircraft are formed by ice crystals created when hot gases emitted by planes flying at high altitude interact with cold, moist air.
Also read: White trails in the sky cause suspicion: was there really a “chemtrail” attack over Europe?
15min verdict: lacking context. Internet users misinterpret the US patent for a 3D reduced graphene oxide and silicon dioxide composite used for cloud seeding, assuming it is used for so-called “chemtrails.”
Publication prepared by 15min in cooperation with Meta, aiming to stop the spread of misleading news on social networks. More about the program and its rules – here.
