Heroes of the Week: MIT Scientists: high-tech 'bubble wrap' turns air into safe drinking water — even in Death Valley

 This week's heroes are scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They've created something to help create safe drinking water, even in desert areas! Although the yield of water from the atmosphere isn't much in dry areas, it's a start. (Side note: the current Administration SLASHED science funding drastically)  Here's the story about this amazing innovation.

(photo: The hydrogel material absorbs water from the air. (MIT)_)

MIT's high-tech 'bubble wrap' turns air into safe drinking water — even in Death Valley

By Damien Pine, LIVE SCIENCE   June 30, 2205

Researchers at MIT have tested a new technology for turning water vapor in the atmosphere into drinkable water, even in extreme environments.

MIT researchers have created a high-tech "bubble wrap" capable of collecting safe drinking water directly from the air — even in Death Valley, the driest desert in North America.

The new water harvester is a major step towards providing safe, accessible drinking water to people across the globe — and works wherever you may find water vapor in the air, scientists said in a new study published June 11 in the journal Nature Water.

The water harvester is made from hydrogel (a highly water-absorbent material) that is enclosed between two layers of glass — much like a window. At night, the device absorbs water vapor from the atmosphere. During the day, the water condenses on the glass thanks to a coating that keeps the glass cool. The liquid water then drips down the glass and is collected in a system of tubes.

The hydrogel is formed into a special shape, a series of domes resembling a sheet of bubble wrap that swells up when absorbing water vapor. The domes increase the material’s surface area, which increases the amount of water it can hold.

Researchers tested the new device for a week in Death Valley, a unique desert valley spanning across parts of California and Nevada. It’s the hottest place in the world and the driest place in North America.

It produced about a quarter to two-thirds of a cup of water every day (57-161.5 milliliters). In more humid areas, the device should produce even more water. This design is a lot more effective than some previous attempts to collect drinking water from air, all without needing electricity to power it, MIT representatives said in a statement.