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Aug 28, 2023

Researcher finds inspiration from spider webs and beetles to harvest fresh water from thin air

Posted by in categories: computing, quantum physics, sustainability

Nature is the ultimate quantum computer.


A team of researchers is designing novel systems to capture water vapor in the air and turn it into liquid.

University of Waterloo professor Michael Tam and his Ph.D. students Yi Wang and Weinan Zhao have developed sponges or membranes with a large surface area that continually capture moisture from their surrounding environment. In the journal Nature Water Tam and his team discuss several promising new water collection and purification technologies.

Traditionally, for consumption is collected from rivers, lakes, groundwater, and oceans (with treatment). The current technologies Dr. Tam is developing are inspired by nature to harvest water from alternative sources as the world is facing a serious challenge with freshwater scarcity.

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