In 1977, a Saudi prince towed a chunk of Alaskan iceberg to Iowa and served 4,000-year-old ice to guests. Decades later, his bizarre plan to ship icebergs for drinking water is attracting serious engineering interest

A Saudi prince proposed towing icebergs for freshwater in 1977. Engineering challenges prevented this ambitious plan from becoming reality. New technologies and increased ice melt have revived interest in this concept. Several countries are now re-examining iceberg transport for water needs. The idea remains a potential solution for global freshwater shortages.