health
February 21, 2026
‘Reimagining Matter’: Nobel Laureate Invents Machine That Harvests Water from Dry Air
Omar Yaghi’s invention uses ambient thermal energy and can generate up to 1,000 litres of clean water every day
TL;DR
- Professor Omar Yaghi, a Nobel laureate in chemistry, invented a device that harvests water from the air.
- The invention uses reticular chemistry to create materials that extract moisture, functioning even in arid conditions.
- Atoco, a company founded by Yaghi, produces units that can generate 1,000 liters of clean water daily.
- These units are powered by ultra-low-grade thermal energy and can operate off-grid, making them ideal for disaster-stricken or remote areas.
- The technology is seen as a climate-friendly and sustainable alternative to desalination.
- The invention could provide crucial water supplies for islands in the Caribbean affected by hurricanes and drought.
- A UN report indicates that nearly three-quarters of the world's population lives in water-insecure countries.
- Officials in Grenada, particularly on Carriacou and Petite Martinique, see the invention as a promising solution to their water challenges.
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