An attack of the vapours: Tennessee bill endorses chemtrails conspiracy theory

A bill banning ‘chemtrails’, which scientists say is not a thing, is making its way through the Tennessee legislature. Photograph: cunaplus/Alamy

The “chemtrails” conspiracy theory is enjoying its moment in the clearly visible, not blocked by government-released toxic chemicals, sun, after the Tennessee state senate passed a bill this month targeting the baseless concept.

Legislation banning the “intentional injection, release, or dispersion, by any means, of chemicals, chemical compounds, substances” swept through the Republican-dominated senate, and will now be considered by the Republican-dominated house, before then being weighed by Tennessee’s Republican governor. There is also a movement to pass a similar law in Pennsylvania.