For decades, tin foil fashionistas have attributed a number of sinister happenings to the atmospheric research program known as HAARP, including hurricanes, earthquakes and even the destruction of the Space Shuttle Columbia. After this week, however, it will be a lot harder to entertain those claims: On Saturday, the supposed weather-altering secret weapon is holding an open house.
“We hope that people will be able to see the actual science of it,” a spokesperson from the University of Alaska, which now operates the facility, told Alaska Dispatch News. “We hope to show people that it is not capable of mind control and not capable of weather control and all the other things it’s been accused of.”
According to KTVF, the university expects both scientists and conspiracy theorists to show up at the event. With any luck, that will include former Minnesota governor and professional wrestler Jesse Ventura, who questioned whether HAARP was being used for mind control in 2009 after being turned away at the facility’s gates.
“This thing can knock planes out of the air,” said Ventura at the time. “It can control the weather. And it’s a very dangerous, dangerous weapon.”
Ventura and his ilk should find themselves more than welcome: According to the university, children of all ages are invited and refreshments will be provided.
[h/t Metafilter]