Although concerns about the economy may be trumping concerns about the environment in political spheres, some climate think tanks are making preparations for extreme climate freakout mode. According to an article in the New Scientist, geoengineering schemes to mitigate global warming -- formerly dismissed as kooky, crackpot musing of the late Dr. Strangelove -- are now being considered as real world fall-back scenarios.

One of the latest ideas pitched to British politicians was firing a fine dust into the upper atmosphere to block the sun's rays -- à la Blade Runner. Other recent geoengineering propositions have included space mirrors, global refrigerators, and carbon burial at sea. As whacked out as it may seem, it appears that ideas like these are no longer being laughed out of the meeting room, but explored as planet-saving alternatives. Well-established scientists like Paul Crutzen are now weighing the pros and cons of various "Plan B" scenarios to cool the planet, should global temperatures spiral out of control. Hmm, I guess it can't hurt to study the possibility, but it feels like we might be getting a little hasty. What do you think?

[via Earth2Tech]