Back in the 13th Century, a catastrophic eruption in Indonesia ushered in a “volcanic winter”. Sulfur smothered the sky, causing crop failure and famine as far away as Europe.  

Almost 800 years later, geoengineers are considering replicating this effect on purpose. The theory goes that plumes of aerosols could shield us from the sun and combat climate change. Experts say it could work, but not without a slew of risks.  

This week, we’re bringing you stories about the environmental tradeoffs that come with attempts at progress 

It’s the third episode of Sci-Fi, a series envisioning alternative futures and imaginary realms. These stories were produced for the Science Gallery’s new exhibition — Sci-Fi: Mythologies Transformed, which is open now. 

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