The following projects all involve ideas that originally came from science-fiction tales. However, many of the projects remain within the realm of possibility and some are on their way to reality.
Geo-engineering, or climate engineering, is still in its embryonic stage of development. Some of the ideas experts are discussing, such as putting lunar glass or metallic reflecting disks into space to reduce the amount of incoming solar radiation, sound like the stuff of science fiction.
More than 2,000 years of planning for a fixed link between Italy and the island of Sicily came tantalizingly close to fruition in 2006 when a construction contract was signed.
Engineers with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration are on track to support surface construction on the moon within a decade, says Robert P. Mueller, senior technologist in the advanced projects development in the surface systems office for engineering and technology at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
The Very Large Structure (VLS) is described as a 600-ft-tall "city on wheels" that would remain in almost constant motion as it rolled over the countryside.
Delhi-based architects are promoting plans to build vast bubble-like enclosures to create urban havens in environmentally challenging cities such as the Indian capital and Beijing, China.
