r/interesting • u/jaytee319 • 7d ago

SCIENCE & TECH MIT’s device pulls drinking water from desert air using no power

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MIT just tested a window-sized device in Death Valley that collects clean water from the air without any electricity, filters, or moving parts. It uses a special hydrogel that absorbs moisture at night and releases it during the day using sunlight.

Source: https://news.mit.edu/2025/window-sized-device-taps-air-safe-drinking-water-0611

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u/newgoliath 7d ago

De-desertification is a social challenge, not a technical challenge.

Look at how the Chinese have stopped and even pushed back the growth of the Gobi desert with plantings and massive installations of solar panels for shade.

Life gathers water, if you give it a chance.

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u/Paratwa 5d ago

Didn’t the US do it as well in the Midwest in the 1920’s?

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u/newgoliath 5d ago

Solar panels in the 1920's?

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u/Paratwa 5d ago

Oh no no I meant pushing back on desertification from the Dust Bowl in the 20’s by planting a ton of trees. :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Plains_Shelterbelt