Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a handheld device that can suck water right out of the air and turn it into drinkable water, using nothing but sunlight.
This nifty invention could be a game-changer for areas around the world where water is scarce or not clean, according to a study published in Nature Water.
This amazing water harvester uses a super porous material known as a metal-organic framework (MOF) to draw water from the air.
The researchers even tested it in one of the driest places in North America, Death Valley National Park, and it worked!
With climate change making droughts worse, this device could help solve a massive problem.
“Nearly one-third of people worldwide live in areas where water is hard to come by,” said Omar Yaghi, the Berkeley professor who invented MOFs and led the study.
“By 2050, that could be almost 5 billion people. So, we need new ways to get water.”
While other materials can’t handle low humidity or use too much energy, MOFs have none of these issues.
They can extract water from the air efficiently and can be used everywhere, from helping people get drinking water to aiding farmers with their crops. This tech could also be a lifesaver in places where there’s plenty of water, but it’s not safe to drink.
Experts are using data science and machine learning (kind of like advanced computer programming) to design MOFs and devices like this water harvester faster and more effectively.
They’re trying to improve each part of the system to get the best results.
During tests, the device worked like a charm in both Berkeley, California, and Death Valley National Park. Despite the dry, hot conditions in Death Valley, the harvester was able to pull water from the air time and time again.
It’s super-efficient, too. The device can turn 85 to 90 percent of the water it captures from the air into drinking water.
In one day, it can collect the equivalent of a cup of water per kilogram of MOF used, and it can do this for many years without needing to be replaced. When the MOF has reached its limit, it can be disassembled and put back together again in water, without creating any waste.
What makes this device even cooler is that it runs solely on sunlight, meaning it doesn’t need any other power sources and doesn’t contribute to climate change. Plus, it’s small enough to fit in a purse!
Despite being tinier than earlier versions, it’s even more efficient. In fact, it’s more than three times as productive as the last MOF-powered harvester made by Yaghi’s team.
In the future, Yaghi envisions these devices being used in households and even community centers. They could be placed next to air conditioners to supply homes with clean water for cooking and cleaning.
He said some companies are already working on this. “It gives people their own source of water,” Yaghi said.
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