A federally funded research effort to revolutionize water treatment has yielded an off-grid technology that uses energy from sunlight alone to turn salt water into fresh drinking water. The desalination system, which uses a combination of membrane distillation technology and light-harvesting nanophotonics, is the first major innovation from the Center for Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT), a multi-institutional engineering research center based at Rice University. NEWT’s “nanophotonics-enabled solar membrane distillation” technology, or NESMD, combines tried-and-true
Freshwater from salt water using only solar energy
More of Today's Solutions
Denmark introduces green taxes for aviation sustainability
Denmark recently revealed a bold plan to implement a green tax on air travel beginning in 2025. According to Thomas Danielsen, the country's transportation ...
Read MoreA guide to the three kinds of movement your body needs every week
Making physical activity a priority has never been more important for our health in this fast-paced society when sitting all day is the standard. While ...
Read MoreWhy little treats matter: the science-backed benefits of small daily joys
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM You know those small moments that somehow make everything feel a little better? Maybe it’s stepping outside into ...
Read MoreAncient conch blowing practice shows promise for easing sleep apnea symptoms
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM An ancient breathing practice involving conch shells could help ease the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a ...
Read More
