logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2024
15m 7s

Make it rain: What is cloud seeding?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Officials in Lahore, Pakistan have been using artificial rain in an effort to lower levels of air pollution. They make it rain through cloud seeding, a process that involves firing special particulates from a plane.

Alex from the What in the World team explains how the process works. And Navin Singh Kadka, the BBC’s global environment correspondent, discusses the impact of creating artificial rain and the controversies that come with it.

Also: The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) starts on 13 January. Several of Africa’s top footballers will step away from their clubs in Europe and Saudi Arabia during the month-long tournament. Nishat Ladha, a reporter with BBC Africa Sport, explains the impact that could have on their clubs and their careers.

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producer: Alex Rhodes and William Lee Adams Editors: Verity Wilde and Simon Peeks

Up next
Today
Why water pistols are being used to fight overtourism
Water pistols have become a symbol of resistance against overtourism in several cities around the world. This summer local residents in Barcelona, Spain, have been using them again to show their frustration at how mass tourism is impacting their city; from housing to overcrowding ... Show More
12m 25s
Yesterday
Rare earths - The most important minerals you probably haven’t heard of
Rare earth minerals are vital to modern human life - but you probably haven’t heard of them. They’re in our phones, computers and cars. These minerals aren’t actually that rare, but they’re difficult to extract - and this process can be pretty damaging to the environment. Mining ... Show More
11m 48s
Jul 8
‘I replaced my therapist with an AI chatbot’
From drafting emails to planning trips, AI has become like a personal assistant for lots of people around the world. Now, the technology is playing a new role: therapist. Rather than waiting for an appointment or paying to see a professional, thousands of people are turning to AI ... Show More
14m 31s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2022
Dry Hard
Is the UK heading for a drought? Adam speaks to the head of the Environment Agency, Sir James Bevan about the impact of the recent dry weather and soaring temperatures, which are forecast to hit 37C (99F) in some parts of the country in the coming days.Adam is also joined by Char ... Show More
31m 49s
Jul 2022
Monkeypox Health Alert
A global health emergency is declared, so how worried should we be?Adam is joined in the studio by the BBC’s James Gallagher and Dr Rosamund Lewis from the World Health Organisation, to discuss the global outbreak of Monkeypox and how the world can get it under control.Also, ther ... Show More
28m 16s
Jul 2022
The Roar of the Lionesses
England head to Wembley for the Euro 2022 final. Gabby Logan and eight-year-old Tess, whose celebrations at the semi-final went viral, chat to Adam about what’s happening right now in women’s football. The BBC’s Zoe Kleinmann jumps onto Newscast to explain why Instagram is upsett ... Show More
35m 12s
Dec 2023
What events shook Africa in 2023?
2023 has been an eventful year for Africa and it's that time of the year when Africa Daily reflects on some of the things that have happened. There's so much to discuss from South Africa's Springboks winning the rugby world cup to the Nigerian elections, as well as some disastrou ... Show More
32m 38s
Nov 2022
World Cup 2022: Episode 2 - Bukayo & Gareth
Tom Clarke is joined in London by Gregor Robertson and Alyson Rudd - with Tom Roddy and Jonathan Northcroft in Qatar. England proved that going into a World Cup in poor form doesn’t matter with a 6-2 win over Iran. What did we learn and did Gareth Southgate get everything right? ... Show More
49m 43s
Nov 2021
Good COP, bad COP: What to expect from the climate summit
As delegates from almost two hundred nations gather in Glasgow for the COP26 climate conference, the stakes couldn't be higher. But can the conference succeed if the leaders of some of the world's biggest polluting nations haven't even turned up?This podcast was brought to you th ... Show More
28m 22s
Mar 2024
How Man City’s business model is transforming football
The rise of defending world, European and Premier League champions Manchester City has been as rapid as it has been controversial. From allegations of sportswashing against its Emirati ownership, to the no less than 115 charges it is facing for alleged violations of football’s fi ... Show More
25m 23s
Aug 2022
Can we control the weather?
This summer, countries across the world have experienced extreme weather events. Flash floods have killed people in South Korea, Uganda, Australia and the US state of Kentucky, and heatwaves have broken records across Western Europe, North America and Japan. However, countries ac ... Show More
24m 37s
Sep 2022
Climate Change: Leaving Pakistan out to dry
Months of torrential downpours and flooding have hounded Pakistan, and much of the blame is falling on climate change. But Pakistan’s contribution to greenhouse gasses is less than 1 percent. So how is the world coming to Pakistan’s aid to make up for the damage done? In this epi ... Show More
22m 1s
Jul 2021
Putting a Price on Pollution
Extreme weather across Europe, North America and Asia is highlighting a harsh reality of science and history: The world as a whole is neither prepared to slow down climate change nor live with it.European officials are trying to change that. The European Commission, the E.U.’s ex ... Show More
25m 40s