Smart Aerogel Turns Air into Drinking Water

摘要

In the Earth's atmosphere, there is water that can fill almost half a trillion Olympic swimming pools. But it has long been overlooked as a source for potable water. Researchers now have created a substance that extracts water from air without any external power source. The team created a type of aerogel - a solid material that weighs almost nothing. Under the microscope, it looks like a sponge but it does not have to be squeezed to release the water it absorbs from the air. It also does not need a battery. In a humid environment, one kilogram of it will produce 17 liters of water a day.