Top of the list is a solar shade, a gigantic umbrella in space that would shield the Earth from the sun's rays.

ECONOMIST: Geo-engineering

Normally, the Earth's magnetosphere acts as a shield from these harmful particles and protects the environment.

MSN: Solar storms sparked by giant 'magnetic rope,' study finds

Numerous helicopter companies (most based in Lihu'e) offer up-in-the-air jaunts over waterfall-striped Mt Wai'ale'ale, the island's central shield volcano and one of the wettest spots on Earth, and the sheer-hewn sea cliffs of the Na Pali coast, accessible otherwise only by ocean kayak.

BBC: Hawaii for beach haters

The 22, 000 heat protection tiles shield the shuttle from the 3, 000-degree Fahrenheit temperatures encountered during reentry into Earth's atmosphere for landing.

CNN: Technicians finish toasting shuttle tiles