Researchers at MIT have developed an innovative technology that transforms air into drinkable water, even under some of the most extreme environmental conditions. This new water harvester is capable of collecting moisture from the air, turning it into fresh drinking water — a major breakthrough in the global effort to ensure accessible clean water. The research, published in the journal Nature Water (June 11, 2025), showcases a high-tech solution that could make a significant difference in areas suffering from water scarcity. The device was even successfully tested in Death Valley, one of the hottest and driest places on Earth.
The water harvester consists of a hydrogel material enclosed between two layers of glass, resembling a window. At night, it absorbs water vapor from the atmosphere, and during the day, the moisture condenses on the glass thanks to a special coating that keeps it cool. The liquid then drips down into a collection system. This process allows the device to produce drinkable water without the need for electricity, making it an environmentally friendly solution for water harvesting.
How MIT’s “Bubble Wrap” Works: A Game Changer for Water Scarcity
The MIT-developed water harvester works by utilizing a hydrogel—a highly absorbent material—sandwiched between two layers of glass. The device is designed with a special shape: a series of domes that resemble a sheet of bubble wrap. This shape is crucial because it increases the surface area of the hydrogel, allowing it to absorb more water vapor from the air. At night, the hydrogel draws in water vapor, and during the day, condensation occurs on the glass surface, where the water is collected.
The novelty of the design lies in its ability to function in extreme conditions. In Death Valley, where temperatures can soar above 120°F (49°C), the device produced a quarter to two-thirds of a cup of water every day. This may not be enough to supply an entire household, but in more humid environments, the potential for water production increases significantly.
The key takeaway is that this design requires no electricity, which makes it not only cost-effective but also sustainable. Given the growing challenges of climate change and water scarcity in many regions, this technology represents an exciting step forward.
The Science Behind the Hydrogel: Ensuring Clean and Safe Drinking Water
While previous designs for water collection from the air have faced challenges with contamination (particularly due to lithium salts leaching into the water), MIT’s new technology solves this issue. In earlier models, lithium salts, which were added to the hydrogel to increase its absorbency, tended to leak into the water, making it unsafe for consumption. However, MIT’s design incorporates a stabilizer—glycerol—which prevents the lithium from leaching into the collected water. This breakthrough ensures that the water remains safe to drink without further purification processes.
The researchers used glycerol to stabilize the lithium salts, reducing leakage to below 0.06 ppm, the threshold deemed safe by the US Geological Survey for lithium in groundwater. This advancement addresses a key problem in water harvesting designs and makes the technology more reliable and suitable for long-term use.
Scalability and Accessibility: A New Hope for Global Water Needs
Although one individual panel may not produce enough water to meet the needs of an entire household, the design has immense potential for scalability. The small size of the panels allows them to be installed in large arrays, covering minimal ground area. In areas where water scarcity is a critical issue, multiple panels could provide a significant source of clean drinking water for communities.
Xuanhe Zhao, one of the authors of the research, discussed the scalability of the technology, emphasizing the ease of deployment:
“We imagine that you could one day deploy an array of these panels, and the footprint is very small because they are all vertical. Now people can build it even larger, or make it into parallel panels, to supply drinking water to people and achieve real impact.”
The compact nature of the panels means they could be installed in various environments, such as homes, schools, and even remote areas with minimal access to traditional water sources. The researchers estimate that eight 3×6-foot panels could provide enough drinking water for a typical household. The potential for large-scale deployment could revolutionize how communities access clean water, especially in regions lacking infrastructure.
