cabal theoriser on societal spiritualist have been officious at work vend their latest stopping point : The magnificent auroras seen over belt of four different continent over the weekend were cause by a University of Alaska program that studies the ionosphere . Which , of course of instruction , is virginal nonsense .

This claim has been making the rounds on societal media , after a geomagnetic storm caused brilliant lights in the night sky this preceding weekend — lights that appeared in places where break of the day do n’t often glint . Auroras occur when particle from the Sun collide with particles in Earth ’s ionosphere , the boundary between our planet ’s lower air and space . The solar storm was due to activity on the surface of the Sun , as our star approaches the uttermost of its 11 - year solar cycles/second . In fact , this weekend ’s storm wasthe most intense since 2003 , get hold of G5 ( extreme ) conditions Saturday night , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .

Typically , these aurora find towards Earth ’s poles , along the planet ’s magnetic theatre of operations . But the extremeness of the storm think that break of day were seen everywhere from Seattle to Florida in the United States , but also across Canada , Europe , and in character of Africa , Asia , and Australia .

Aurora over Utah, with the ISS, visible as a streak, in the background, May 13, 2024.

Aurora over Utah, with the ISS, visible as a streak, in the background, 7 March 2025.Image: NASA/Bill Dunford

During a NOAA press conference contain last week , scientists and forecasters from the Space Weather Prediction Center told newsman they had warn operator of vital base to prepare for the storm , which can interrupt everything from transformers to GPS navigation system . The forecasters alsogave details on the superlative nature of the stormand what to carry , including auroras far south than the Northern Lights typically appear .

cabal theorists online are suggesting that the auroras were in reality get by theHigh - frequency Active Auroral Research Program(HAARP ) , an experimentation for canvass the ionosphere . As it just so happens , the University of Alaska announced on May 2 thatHAARP testing would take placefrom May 8 to May 10 , a fact that theorists read as meaning the experimentation do the auroras .

Sadly , the University has had to respond to these claims . “ We have been responding to many enquiry from the medium and the world , ” Jessica Matthews , HAARP director , articulate in apress release . “ The HAARP scientific experiments were in no way linked to the solar storm or high auroral body process seen around the ball . ”

Aurora over the Great Wall of China on May 12 (because China is deeefinitely working with the University of Alaska.)

Aurora over the Great Wall of China on May 12 (because China is deeefinitely working with the University of Alaska.)Photo: Yang Dong/VCG (Getty Images)

Mentions of HAARP on X , formerly love as Twitter , are typically accompanied by unfounded references to conjecture “ weather weapons , ” such as chemtrails and government - made tornado and vortex . A surprising bit of the non - U.S.-based social medium posters focused on Brazil , implicating HAARP as a campaign of the recent devastating floods in the land . One X user in Essexcomplainedthat chemtrails and HAARP were at it again , leaving a loggerheaded coating of dark-green junk on her garden table . ( Someone point out : “ Deb ’s [ sic ] , that ’s Springtime in England . ” )

The ionosphere stretchiness from about 50 miles to 400 miles ( 80 to 644 kilometers ) above Earth ’s Earth’s surface , far above where Earth ’s weather fall out . Despite this disconnect , conspiracy theoriser are saying that HAARP is responsible for everything from the upper atmosphere to weather on the ground . But there may be a good reason for this conspiratorial proclivity ; a2023 studyby the American Psychological Association find that confederacy theorists are “ often driven by a indigence to understand their surroundings , a desire for superiority , and certain personality traits such as paranoia and self-concern , ” asNeuroscience News reported .

HAARP uses a rooms of instruments to sympathize the ionosphere , but confederacy theorists are most concerned in its Ionospheric Research Instrument , whichaccording to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks , “ can be used to temporarily arouse a limited domain of the ionosphere for scientific study . ” That ’s right — scientists actually can create little auroras as they study the ionosphere . But that ’s where similarities finish ; HAARP is n’t powerful enough to produce auroras like those that pass off naturally . Honestly , if man couldmanufacture lighting shows as outstanding as those view this weekend ( by everyone but me , if I am to trust social media ) , someone probably would ’ve monetise it by now .

Tina Romero Instagram

However , the more I write about conspiracy theorist ’ beliefs about HAARP , the more I empathize their perspective . If it ’s rain down out , that ’s evidence the government is once again essay to keep me from going into the position . If it ’s cheery out , that con — erm , chemtrail — is a sign that the government is once again try on to envenom me , and keep me from doing my meaningful work . I will not be silenced !

Space weatherX ( Twitter )

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