Technology

Device that can extract 1,000 liters of clean water a day from desert air revealed by 2025 Nobel Prize winner — claimed to work in desert air with 20% humidity or lower, delivering off-grid ‘personalized water’

Source

Tom's Hardware

Published

Feb 28, 2026

TL;DR

AI Generated

A device capable of extracting 1,000 liters of clean water daily from desert air, developed by 2025 Nobel Prize winner Professor Omar Yaghi, is set to be commercialized. The machine works in desert air with 20% humidity or lower, offering off-grid "personalized water" solutions. Yaghi's company, Atoco, envisions providing relief to water-scarce regions globally, with successful tests conducted in arid locations like Death Valley. The technology utilizes Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) to efficiently harvest water from the air without a power source, driven by wind and solar energy. Inspired by his upbringing in a water-scarce environment, Yaghi aims to address water insecurity with this innovative solution.

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4 weeks ago