Overview

• Julian Brown’s mother says he is safe, keeping a low profile for security reasons; the Atlanta Police Department reports no missing persons case under his name.
• On July 9, Brown posted a video saying he was “under attack” and then went silent until a blank Instagram post on July 30 renewed curiosity about his whereabouts.
• Brown’s Plastoline device uses a solar-powered microwave pyrolysis reactor to convert plastic waste into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, and independent tests confirmed the recycled diesel burns cleaner than standard diesel.
• The 21-year-old inventor has amassed about 1.7 million social media followers and his GoFundMe campaign has raised over $18,000 toward a $1 million goal to scale his technology.
• Unverified social media claims of black helicopters circling his home and potential targeting by oil and gas interests have fueled conspiracy theories about his disappearance.