Moisture Farming From ‘Star Wars’ Will Soon Be A Reality, Scientists Say [Video].
In the fictional world of George Lucas’ "Star Wars," Tatooine is a desert planet where there are moisture farmers using devices called "vaporators" to extract water from desert air.
On the real world of planet Earth, researchers have built a device utilizing the same principle.
To demonstrate how the device does it, visualize a tall iced glass of any drink, water droplets form on the outside of the glass.
Condensation occurs when warm air is cooled down, which can then be collected.
In desert locales, there is lower water content in the air making the system less efficient.
To solve this problem, a passive cooling technology is employed along with a type of material and surface quality critical for water collection.
Researchers have shown this can be realized by adding a special coating that attracts water molecules.
However, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed technology that is potentially more efficient.
Reports indicate that a kilogram of this material can potentially harvest 2.8 liters of water a day in environments with humidity levels as low as 20 percent without the need of an external power source.