Make water out of thin air
It’s a gadget straight out of a science fiction movie — a machine that scientists claim can make water out of thin air.
An international team at Canadian firm Element Four has developed the gadget, called Water Mill, which its hopes could actually become the greatest household invention since the microwave.
According to the scientists, using the same technology as a de-humidifier, the gadget could create a ready supply of drinking water by capturing it from an unlimited source — the air.
The Water Mill, likely to cost £800, works by drawing in moist air through a filter and over a cooling element that condenses it in water droplets — it can produce up to 12 litres a day and generate more water when storms pass over, as the humidity in the air increases.
It is capable of trapping up to 40% of the liquid content of the surrounding air. The household version is designed to trap air from outside the home, filtering out any pollutants and piping the water inside.
According to the scientists, the machine not only offers an alternative to bottled water in developed countries, but it is a solution for the millions who face a daily water shortage.
An agricultural version has been created to help farmers irrigate their crops even in areas of low rainfall and the designers say it could also be of use for troops on the move. To top it all, the machine uses the same amount of electricity as three light bulbs.