Smart suits and spider probes among 18 radical ideas funded by NASA

NASA has announced a new round of funding for 18 futuristic projects that could help propel humans further into our solar system and beyond. Many of the ideas'sound like the stuff of science fiction,' the agency acknowledged, but they're not too crazy to one day become a reality. Among those that received funding are micro-probes that take after spiders to safely fly through the air, as well as a futuristic'smart suit' with self-healing skin to protect astronauts. Among those that were funded are micro-probes that take after spiders to safely fly through the air, as well as a futuristic'smart suit' with self-healing skin to protect astronauts (pictured) The cutting edge technologies are part of NASA's Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Program, which awards applicants up to $500,000 to develop their ideas. There are 12 Phase I ideas, like the smart suit, which are awarded $125,000 over nine months.