Researcher Nick Begich presented an update on Project HAARP, the massive antenna array in Alaska, which interacts with the ionosphere in ways that he believes were dangerous. As the son of a U.S. congressman from Alaska, he dedicated much of his life to investigating the intersection of science, politics, and the military. Begich emphasized that HAARP's primary function is to manipulate the ionosphere by focusing energy into small, intense spots, creating effects such as weather modification, over-the-horizon radar, missile detection, and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) generation. He pointed out that the facility can produce a power level of up to a billion watts-- an amount that surpasses natural energy interactions and is capable of influencing weather systems, potentially causing unprecedented storms or droughts, as well as affecting human physiology and psychology.
He warned that the addition of "tremendous amounts" of artificial energy into the natural energy systems of the planet can cause "all kinds of havoc to break loose." Begich explained that by modulating these signals at specific frequencies, the technology could also trigger a range of effects from altering emotional states to controlling behavior in the human brain. The concern is compounded by the realization that in addition to the U.S., China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran are all likely pursuing such capabilities, threatening global stability. The guest pointed out that the technology exists that would allow a small, portable EMP device to "drive down Wall Street, knocking out computer databases," which would be highly disruptive to the world economy.
Begich advocated for open discussion, international treaties, and transparency to curb the dangerous overreach of electromagnetic and psychological warfare technologies, stressing that without public engagement and policy oversight, a "brave new world" of covert control, environmental catastrophe, and societal upheaval could rapidly unfold. (In 2015, control of the HAARP facility and its equipment was officially turned over to the University of Alaska.) The first hour featured news and Open Lines.