Solar-Powered Water Harvester
A new technology developed by KAUST researchers can consistently extract liters of water out of thin air each day without needing regular manual maintenance. Harvesting water from air is not a new idea, or even a new technology, but existing solar-powered systems are clunky. Solar-powered harvesters work in a two-stage cycle. An absorbent material first captures water from the air, and once it is saturated, the system is sealed and heated with sunlight to extract the captured water. Alternating between the two stages requires either manual labor or a switching system, which adds complexity and cost. The new harvester developed at KAUST requires neither — it passively alternates between the two stages so it can cycle continuously without intervention. The device could provide affordable water solutions for arid regions.
Contact: King Abdullah
University of Science and Technology
+96 612-808-0900
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GPS-Free Navigation
A team of researchers from Sandia National Laboratories is attempting to make a motion sensor so precise it could minimize the nation’s reliance on global positioning satellites. Until recently, such a sensor — a thousand times more sensitive than today’s navigation-grade devices — would have filled a moving truck. But advancements are dramatically shrinking the size and cost of this technology. For the first time, the scientists have used silicon photonic microchip components to perform a quantum sensing technique called atom interferometry, an ultra-precise way of measuring acceleration. It is the latest milestone toward developing a kind of quantum compass for navigation when GPS signals are unavailable. The team is also exploring other uses beyond navigation. Researchers are investigating whether it could help locate underground cavities and resources by detecting the tiny changes these make to Earth’s gravitational force.
Contact: Troy Rummler
505-249-3632
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Electric Bandages
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed an inexpensive bandage that uses an electric field to promote healing in chronic wounds. These water-powered, electronics-free dressings (WPEDs) are disposable wound dressings that have electrodes on one side and a small, biocompatible battery on the other. The dressing is applied to a patient so that the electrodes come into contact with the wound. A drop of water is then applied to the battery, activating it. Once activated, the bandage produces an electric field for several hours. The electrodes are designed in a way that allows them to bend with the bandage and conform to the surface of the chronic wounds, which are often deep and irregularly shaped. WPEDs can be applied quickly and easily. Once applied, patients can move around and take part in daily activities. This functionality means that patients can receive treatment at home and are more likely to comply with treatment.
