‘We have harnessed the power of the atom:’ Enron parody unveils at-home nuclear reactor
- The satirical masterminds behind the “Birds Aren’t Real” conspiracy hypothesis have launched a parody product called the “Enron Egg”.
- The Enron Egg is marketed as a fictional at-home nuclear reactor, playing on the infamous history of the Enron Corporation.
- The website and promotional materials for the Enron Egg clearly state that it is a parody and intended for entertainment purposes only.
Enron has unveiled a recent product a month after the infamous and defunct business was resurrected − apparently for fun − by one of the guys behind the satirical “Birds Aren’t Real” conspiracy hypothesis.
The parody business announced the “historic reveal” of the Enron Egg, “the globe’s first at-home nuclear reactor,” in an X post on Monday.
Enron re-entered the community consciousness in early December with the launch of Enron.com, two decades after the American vigor business was sullied by fraud and some of its top executives were sent to prison. The website was launched on the 23rd anniversary of the business’s insolvency filing along with a press release and an official-looking promo video.
The materials, which at first glance seemed to signal a rebranding, instead ended up being an elaborate joke. Not only was Connor Gaydos of “Birds Aren’t Real” fame involved, but the business’s own terms and conditions declare the website is “protected parody” for “entertainment purposes only.”
In a five-minute clip, Gaydos, playing an Enron CEO, claimed the Enron egg was going to revolutionize the power industry, the independence industry and the liberty industry. Gaydos also says Enron has partnered with FEMA to provide nuclear eggs to rapid response teams all over the globe.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have harnessed the power of the atom,” Gaydos said. “Introducing the Enron Egg, the globe’s first micro-nuclear reactor for residential suburban use.” The little device, according to Gaydos, has the ability to power a home for 10 continuous years.
‘Birds aren’t real’ guy purchased Enron trademark in 2020
community documents first found by CNN display that the Arkansas-based business behind the Enron trademark purchase is owned by Connor Gaydos, who, along with Peter McIndoe, created the mock “Birds Aren’t Real” conspiracy hypothesis.
The joke conspiracy is meant to satirize the spread of misinformation by proliferating the untrue concept that the U.S. government wiped out birds and replaced the animals with drones to spy on Americans.
Gaydos’ LLC, The College business, bought the Enron trademark in 2020 for $275, the documents display. The website’s terms list the Enron relaunch as “act art.”
What is the Enron egg?
The Enron Egg is a “compact nuclear reactor that uses Uranium-Zirconium Hydride (U-ZrH) fuel rods to generate heat through nuclear fission,” according to the Enron website. “This heat is transferred via a 3D-printed Inconel heat exchanger, powering a turbine to generate electricity. A closed-loop cooling structure ensures secure operation without environmental contamination.”
No worth was listed for the Enron Egg, but the business says it is “significantly more affordable than traditional vigor systems.” Interested parties may preorder the Enron Egg by signing up for Enron’s email newsletter.
What was Enron?
Enron was a Houston, Texas-based vigor, raw materials, and services business. In 2001, Enron collapsed in a economy-shaking insolvency amid revelations that the business had grossly overstated its profits. The financial implosion victimized tens of thousands of employees and investors.
Some got prison sentences, including CEO Jeffrey Skilling and CFO Andrew Fastow.
Kenneth Lay, Enron’s former chairman, died of a heart attack in 2006, one month after his career ended with a criminal conviction for lying to investors about the business’s finances.
