It sounds like the plot of a science fiction movie, but it's reality: A group of scientists have just invented a device that can turn air into drinkable water. No, it’s not magic. It’s science. And it could revolutionize the way we deal with emergencies, droughts, and climate change.
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Where does this technological marvel come from? All 'RMIT University in Australia, in collaboration with Chinese institutes, where a team of researchers has designed a mini-device as big as a coffee cup… but with superhero powers.
Here's what it does (and why it's amazing)
This “magic glass” captures humidity from the air thanks to a smart sponge made from balsa wood and super absorbent hygroscopic salts (such as lithium chloride). The real gem? It works only with the energy of the sun. When the transparent dome is closed under sunlight, the collected water condenses and… voilà, it is ready to drink.
All thanks to a material called WLG-15 which not only absorbs moisture even in deserts, but releases almost all the water collected in less than 10 hours. And it can work even at -20 °C. Science fiction? No: the future.
Solar Energy, Low Cost, Huge Impact
The real revolution? This system is affordable and accessible, thanks to the use of balsa wood and the simplicity of the design. Researchers assure that it is more efficient than methods such as fog harvesting or expensive radiative cooling systems. And, even more incredibly, it maintains high performance even after weeks of freezing temperatures.
A single cube weighs less than a gram but can produce precious milliliters of drinking water. In a single sunny day, 9 cubes can collect up to 15 ml of water. Few? Maybe. But imagine a network of larger devices…
And it's not the only "sci-fi" experiment underway.
MIT has already developed materials capable of capturing water in deserts, and a team in Maryland has created a giant sponge that absorbs water without the need for electricity, just by exposing it to the sun. But the Australian solution remains among the more promising, for simplicity, efficiency and very low cost.
Why does it concern us all?
Blackouts, water crises, heat waves, dry rivers. The world is changing, and Having an independent water source could mean the difference between survival and perishing. This invention It could be used in remote areas, disaster zones, refugee camps… or even in our camping backpacks of the future.
???? What if the sun was enough to keep you from dying of thirst?
This is no longer just a movie question. It is the first step towards a more resilient future.
Share this discovery with those who still believe that the innovation cannot change the world.
Article published on May 22, 2025 - 23:01 pm
