‘Bubbles’ turn air into drinkable water

MIT engineers have developed an atmospheric water harvester using an absorbent hydrogel to extract drinkable water from vapor in the air. The hydrogel has high vapor-carrying capacity and is molded into a pattern of small domes to increase surface area for water absorption. The system operates autonomously without the need for external power sources and can produce up to 160 milliliters of clean water per day. Researchers aim to deploy this technology in resource-limited areas to provide a sustainable source of drinking water, even in desert regions.