Is it possible to get water from air? That’s the truth

Water shortage is a serious problem not only in a city, region or even a country, but throughout the world. According to reports and data provided by various online media, more than two billion people do not have access to clean drinking water and countries like India are suffering from severe water shortage due to serious reasons like climate change, pollution and overuse. But now researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have come up with an incredible and promising new way to solve this problem. Let’s dive in and learn everything about it in detail!
How does this new technology work?

As noted in a recent report India todayProfessor Masahide Takahashi and his remarkable team have developed a “new material” that can pull water out of the air in an amazing way. This is extremely interesting because in dry areas or places where water is hard to find, it can provide a reliable source of clean water. What makes this new method special is that it doesn’t require a lot of energy to work. Traditional systems for collecting water from the air require heating to very high temperatures, but the new material works at much lower temperatures – as low as 35°C. This means that it consumes much less energy, making it very economical and easy to use.
This new discovery is based on two different types of polymers, including polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol. The combination of these polymers gives this new creation a very distinctive structure, capable of absorbing a lot of water within itself and also releasing it at the slightest approach to low temperatures, creating an effective collection of moisture from the air.
Why Energy Matters

One of the biggest problems with water harvesting systems is that they use a lot of energy. Older systems need to heat the air to over 100°C to release the water, which can be expensive and difficult to achieve in energy-constrained areas. But this new technology only requires 35°C, meaning it uses much less energy. This makes the system much more practical and accessible, especially in regions that are already resource constrained.
Helping regions affected by drought and natural disasters
This technology can be especially useful in places where water is scarce, such as drought-stricken areas or regions affected by natural disasters. Dr. Arisa Fukatsu, one of the researchers, explained that this system can provide clean drinking water when it is needed most, such as during emergencies or in areas where water sources have dried up. “This technology could be a lifesaver in places where clean water is hard to come by,” she said.
For people facing water shortages or natural disasters who have the technology, a way to get water directly from the air can make a huge difference. This could help ensure people have access to safe drinking water even when other sources are unavailable.
Better for the environment

This new system not only helps reduce water shortages, but is also more environmentally friendly. Traditional methods of collecting water include desalination or pumping it out of the ground, which can be very energy-intensive and harmful to the environment. On the other hand, this new system requires less energy, meaning it leaves a smaller carbon footprint and is therefore better for the planet. At a time when water scarcity is getting worse in a world threatened by climate change, less energy used to collect water means fewer greenhouse gas emissions in the process.
What’s next for this technology?
According to reports and data provided by online sources, the team is still working on making this technology even better. They are focused on improving the material so it can perform even more efficiently and be used in more places. Their goal is to make this technology available to communities around the world, especially those who need it most.
The study, published in the journal ACS ES&T Water, marks a major step forward in the search for ways to harvest water from the air. But much remains to be done before this technology can be used on a large scale. Next steps include refining the system so that it can be widely used and made available to communities around the world.