Science fiction fans (and writers) love airships. After all, what’s not to love about one of the more gracefully archaic modes of transport ever invented? Now there’s a whole new twist to the trope for writers to play with (if they haven’t already) – a bunch of Swiss scientists have built a prototype blimp powered by artificial muscles that swims through the air like a fish. Rumours of grant offers from imaginary decadent magical empires may or may not be completely unfounded.