Janus Crystals Harvest Water with Record Efficiency, No Energy Needed

[{"selector":"#anim-a193a92f-03b8-46e3-b4fa-8ebe76baa607","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e7880ca-579d-4665-a86b-efd676da01b7","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ca9bc95-885e-41c9-abb2-bbd910de85bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a937ba5-ffb7-4ecb-a170-38163aa304e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-af694fd5-e622-49c7-b9c8-208b8d3696d9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 374.74634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Scientists craft dual-surface crystals that harvest water from air without energy input, potentially solving global water scarcity through nature-inspired innovation. Photo Source- Didieric0508 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-986f02e4-a477-44a6-96ad-21d36af61e11","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-686f282f-e5cf-4e46-8327-b744077fff4f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 374.74634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0dbb32e2-f91b-4c1b-8d86-01d4f752720b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-741dc320-1731-4fdc-b8f9-206e6ef03b39","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -236.24333%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-748aa659-73c4-43e7-bb8c-0ceac4aee239","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-998ddc72-e08c-421d-8072-4f2d32b49caa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.46540%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0cda5132-23f1-49e2-94dd-09b5acf30934","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-705915f8-38d0-49a9-970c-a76f01cfb02c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d542c918-450b-4720-b322-b3963646d6ed","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] How do these crystalline materials match desert beetles' remarkable water-collecting abilities while achieving record-breaking efficiency? Janus Crystals Harvest Water with Record Efficiency, No Energy Needed Photo Source- Shree Krishna Dhital (CC BY-SA 3.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-4d2e77ce-2a2a-4372-aba2-fe9e20c6a151","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-816d51a8-b439-4d97-b667-86a666579fa5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e1832df-d92f-4ed5-96bd-1a87c3d0f06f","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f74a421b-084f-4172-9e37-fcd219e1e378","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ede68dd1-9cd2-4f23-9781-d29dd0599ddd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 374.74634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Researchers from Jilin University and NYU Abu Dhabi developed elastic organic crystals with opposing surfaces - one that attracts water, another that repels it. Photo Source- C.yang (Pixahive)

[{"selector":"#anim-510643be-c0e0-4940-ba9d-e94856cf4caf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb52e743-356c-454e-b161-17b05eb4edbc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4c6e631-ffb8-40d6-bb23-71b285b5f7a6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1efb54cd-4d51-4718-8296-ba169f381350","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8587fe4d-7361-4927-af68-5f8248050721","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -236.24333%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a015500a-5725-49a7-86fb-4ed084a0c657","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e18bed34-28cb-4673-a2ba-5953759c9b32","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.46540%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1cd7a5a7-e72d-4733-8bd4-b90aa382f375","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36b6e6f9-d61d-444f-9677-d48a4cbf3a92","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 374.74634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The light-translucent Janus crystals enable real-time monitoring of water droplet formation and collection through simple light observation. Janus Crystals Harvest Water with Record Efficiency, No Energy Needed Photo Source- Shree Krishna Dhital (CC BY-SA 3.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-69e54671-2cfc-40d2-8b1e-bf5b7e2555f9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2bc45c50-7ddd-4f3a-99a3-5b68c3e35911","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a57cc75e-1362-4db1-9a19-ebaa12c8e1ce","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3a7478a-4142-4dca-8ba5-38ae03b9a4da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b919ff62-9746-4bd6-ab82-c44e5ea4095d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 374.74634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] What makes these crystals outperform existing porous materials in capturing atmospheric moisture under normal conditions? Photo Source- World Agroforestry (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-a72b9a91-ae5f-4f0e-b342-d112690818a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e7def0db-bf3e-4b09-bd20-4a9813a0e461","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-edaf3d3f-e4d1-4d29-8014-510f2d74726e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddf7d9d1-7c7a-43a6-80cc-f0fa25a7bca4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-982c04ed-0e8e-4f45-b79a-bddf032118ad","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -236.24333%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-788f143b-4244-41c2-bf27-65a7f6f6c9a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07cb0a82-1eb2-4f30-86ef-6349960a41d6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.46540%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1fccee24-eaf0-4755-aa04-3e552b4dcf4f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-055c5662-f60b-46eb-906a-226d860d5bc7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 374.74634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Professor Naumov reports the crystals utilize mechanical compliance and optical transparency for self-sensing water collection. Janus Crystals Harvest Water with Record Efficiency, No Energy Needed Photo Source- ILRI (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-7acc18a0-6d44-41dc-90a5-c102f741c36b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-54bc7122-1a16-4297-adf5-9a309cfcc75f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-47fe4432-1511-4c6a-afac-f5685cdc6b32","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c59c748e-1535-4b31-9edd-d02e7df24f32","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec4e7c58-174f-4dd2-8b23-51f50ba56f40","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 374.74634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Unlike energy-intensive desalination, these crystals passively extract fresh water from Earth's atmosphere through spontaneous condensation. Photo Source- Shree Krishna Dhital (CC BY-SA 3.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-f060af82-9d37-47d7-b63d-19f546ef0ba2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c8ef353-6fa8-4fd0-89a6-21a3645e9630","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":500,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c09a2db9-7b48-4190-9a9a-e0945f11f008","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a7171566-298b-4e33-8815-5a517f9a12dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-000b8c65-acba-4bc6-a7fc-36f4cf90350e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -236.24333%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dfba4d0f-256a-41ed-b7e5-23dcac3afb9b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-19fce6a4-2a9e-4ae3-970e-e22c82910a84","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.46540%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-15519de8-daf2-4033-a5a9-fab9c5ced987","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5d6ad30d-135f-41d3-8596-d20a135729a9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 412.22283%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The research combines expertise from multiple institutions to engineer crystals that mimic natural water-harvesting mechanisms found in desert organisms. Janus Crystals Harvest Water with Record Efficiency, No Energy Needed Photo Source- Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT (CC BY-SA 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-efb1f563-224e-434a-abf0-bf6b8e43454d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d350e0ef-fb69-46c3-a19c-eb4c3cf56259","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eece1c50-6977-4916-93c2-aa59f2ad4484","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-519e1a0b-6b5b-451e-a45d-b83cabc4c5c7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b7ee6e9-3363-4532-8cfd-563ea698dae4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 374.74634%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Which practical applications could emerge from crystals that simultaneously capture humidity and efficiently transfer it to collection points? Photo Source- Amar singh kangarot (CC BY-SA 4.0)

World's Largest Floating Wind Platform Powers 30,000 Homes at Sea

[{"selector":"#anim-5b762032-c14d-4bd8-b32c-6f66a6be9ef8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c676fcee-fc14-4aec-a2b4-8cf217670439","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.5)","scale(0.95)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5851763-951b-438a-a893-684decf39114","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec111e7b-75f2-41eb-9e87-76a8c0d2b997","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Next story Learn more