Our world is becoming increasingly strained by water shortages, erratic weather, and intensifying climate extremes, so the idea of manipulating the sky to coax rainfall has captured the imagination of scientists, policymakers, and the public alike.
Cloud seeding certainly offers a tantalizing promise: the ability to encourage rain, snow, or even reduce damaging hail by intervening in the natural processes of clouds. But while it sounds like science fiction, cloud seeding is very real, and so are the questions and controversies that surround it.
So, what exactly is cloud seeding able (and not able) to do? Click through this gallery to find out.