Planet Earth is now home to some 7.5 billion people. In spite of the ever-increasing population and life expectancy figures, one of the sad truths of our world is that more than one in 10 people do not have access to clean drinking water - but all that might be about to change.
Researchers at the State University of New York have created a portable solar still, which is a technology that will allow people to generate their own drinking water much like they generate energy with solar panels.
Solar stills have actually been around for millennia. They’re essentially black-bottomed vessels that filled with water after it has been trapped using a clear material (such as a sheet of plastic). The suns heats up the black container, causing the water to evaporate and become trapped in its upper layer, leaving contaminants and dirt behind.
The problems with solar stills to date have been the cost to set one up, and the amount of surface area required to produce an adequate amount of clean water each day. The researchers at the State University of New York managed to improve the ancient design in two fundamental ways, namely ensuring that it’s just the topmost layer of the water that gets heated for less lost energy, and employing materials that would make the new solar still design viable for the poorest people in the world to own.
Materials include a fiber-rich paper, similar to the paper used to print currency on, that’s coated in carbon black. The latter is a cheap powder that is left as a by-product of oil and tar production. Polystyrene blocks are also cut up and turned into 25 connected sections.
The polystyrene foam allows the solar still to float on the surface untreated water and acts as an insulating barrier, preventing sunlight from heating up too much of the water below. Evaporated water is trapped by a clear acrylic cover before being funneled into a collection vessel.
According to a report on the new solar still design, it channels the energy in sunlight into evaporating water with 88% efficiency. This level of efficiency allows the new design with a 1-square-meter surface area to purify 1 liter of water every hour, which is four times faster than commercially-available solar still designs.
At an estimated cost of just $1.60 per square meter, providing the minimal level water needed to sustain a family of four might cost as little as $5 per solar still. Are we on the cusp of a water revolution? Only time will tell.
Content and image source: The Plaid Zebra
Second image by Deposit Photos.
Breathalyzers May Be More Important Than You Thought
This video does a great job in breaking down how in the future, breath analysis can be used to detect disease and prevent more invasive procedures.
Get a Dog Now - It Might Actually Improve Your Longevity!
It has long been known that dog ownership can help with loneliness and boost social interaction, but a correlation now been found with good heart health...
10 Revolutionary Wheelchairs and Mobility Scooters
Disabled people will soon be as mobile as individuals who are fully able-bodied thanks to fantastic revolutionary new wheelchair and mobility scooter designs.
Can You Believe It? This Gun Actually Saves People's Lives
Discover the brand new technique that is allowing burn victims to regrow a new layer of skin in as little as four days!
This New Clinic is Infusing Seniors With Young Blood
Older people are getting blood transfusions from younger people in order to regain their vitality and fight aging. Find out more about this procedure.
This Study May One Day Help Treat Chronic Stress And PTSD
A recently discovered protein in the brain (p11) can be linked to both depression and stress and has the potential to help future treatments
How Your Eye Came to Be the Color It Is...
Why do we have different-colored eyes, and what does it mean?
The Channel Tunnel - The 7th Wonder of the Modern World!
The construction of the Channel Tunnel is said to be an impossible feat!
Take an Incredible Tour of Our Colossal Milky Way Galaxy
Fly Through the Milky Way Galaxy!
These Optical Illusions Will Shock Your Mind!
Optical illusions create miscommunication between our eyes and brain making, us see things that are not really there or not see things that are right in front of us. See for yourself.
Scientists Develop 'Flying Dragon' Robot to Fight Fires
Scientists in Japan have created a water-spitting 'flying dragon' robot to fight fires.
11 Technologies to Potentially Achieving Immortality
Scientists are hard at work developing technologies that could extend our lifespans and even make us immortal. Here are 11 of them.
This Giant Tank Will Unlock the Universe’s Big Mysteries
Japan is building a huge underground tank inside a mountain to help unlock the many mysteries of the universe.
19 Things to AVOID to Make Your Phone Live Longer
19 common mistakes we all make, that make our phones age quicker.
Introducing the Astronauts That Were Just Launched Into Space
The two astronauts — veteran NASA fliers Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are honored to have been on this flight. Let's get to know them!
Is There Any Way To Destroy or Deflect Asteroids?
Watch an interview with Cathy Plesko, a leading scientist working on preparing for the dangers of an asteroid attack
These Experiments Remind Us Water Isn't Just For Drinking
This video will make you stop and think for a second the next time you're having a glass of water as you remember the brightly colored experiments that this video shows us you can do with water
These Expensive Megaprojects Proved to be a Waste of Time
Not all megaprojects are useful. Here are some worthless ones.
Watch This Man Build a Future Using Trash from the Past
In this video, you will see what this incredible community has been able to accomplish by building homes from recycled materials.
13 Incredible ROOF INNOVATIONS For Your House
Keep the roof of your house safe with these incredibly useful inventions.
The Oldest Medicines That Have Stood the Test of Time
Learn about some fascinating old medicine and general healing practices that have survived for thousands of years.
Revolutionize Your Green Space: 12 Cool Garden Gadgets
Take your garden to the next level with the amazingly cool inventions and gadgets.
This Man Built an Automatic Train System for Trash Cans!
Wouldn’t it be cool if a robot picked up and moved our garbage out for pickup with the push of a button?
Wonder Why Time Speeds Up As You Age? Here's the Answer
We all get the sensation that time moves faster as we get older, but there are scientific reasons for that. Read on to learn about this fascinating phenomenon.
The McGurk Effect - Don't Believe Your Eyes!
What we hear can be affected by what we see...
Discover How Anesthesia Affects Your Body and Mind
If you were ever curious about how exactly anesthesia works, then this video has all the answers!
Remembering the Life and Wisdom of Stephen Hawking
Stephen Hawking possessed one of the greatest minds the world has ever seen, but was also impaired by a debilitating disease. Here are his life ant times.
12 Mind-Blowing Archaeological Discoveries Of 2022
Archaeologists made some remarkable discoveries in 2022. Here is a look at the most fascinating ones.
26 Incredible Facts About the Human Mind
The human brain is an interesting and powerful organ, which is why we've gathered 26 interesting facts about exactly how human psychology works.
Visual Illusions: What Color Are These Strawberries?
Tricking our brain into believing that something is one color or shape than another thing is surprisingly easy, but can we explain why?
The Psychology Behind Why Some People Are Habitually Late
Now we finally know why some people are habitually late.
2023 in Science: Biggest Discoveries You Missed!
Let’s take a look at the most amazing scientific discoveries that made news this year.
A Tunnel Built by a Swarm of Robots - Jaw-Dropping!
Imagine a swarm of robots attacking a mountain and smashing it to pieces...
Amazing Science: THIS is the True Scale of Our Universe...
Get a sense of the true scale and shape of the universe we've discovered so far.
19 Everyday Items That Started as Military Inventions
Look around your home, and you’ll surely find a handful of these items that were originally developed for the armed forces.
24 Smart Storage Inventions You Didn't Know You Needed
These super useful inventions are designed to make you help space!
Wow! Who Knew That Jupiter Was So Mesmerizing?
Take a look at Jupiter like you've never seen it before!
Experience the True Scale of Heavenly Bodies
Witness the true scale of planets, stars and galaxies in this incredible video that sheds light on size in our universe.
Future Technology: Inventions That Will Change Our World
Check out a few amazing futuristic inventions that are about to become mainstream.
10 New Things We've Learned About The Brain
We have learned some astonishing new things about the human brain in recent times.
Do You Know What Alzheimer's Really Is?
This video will shed light on the different stages of this complex and incredibly destructive disease.
Understanding the Aging Process of Our Body Parts
Find out how every organ and body part in our body changes with age.
The Curious Science of Tricking Your Taste Buds
Did you know you could confuse your sense of taste? Find out how!
3 Surefire Ways to Always Identify Pseudoscience
Find out how you can identify pseudoscience, and learn how it differs from actual science.
Welcome to the Fastest Maze-Solving Competition Ever Made...
Welcome to Micromouse, a competition for the quick of eyes and the quick of minds. This is the oldest robotics race.
Get a Sense of Scale of Just How Big SpaceX's Rockets Are
SpaceX is achieving incredible things in space, however it's difficult to picture just how big their rockets are. Take a look...
Why is Everyone Obsessed with This Weight-Loss Tool?
Ozempic has been touted as a wonder drug for weight loss in recent months. But what's the real truth behind it?