{"id":239042,"date":"2023-07-10T07:38:45","date_gmt":"2023-07-10T11:38:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/es\/?p=297177"},"modified":"2025-07-01T18:44:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T01:44:06","slug":"using-honeycombs-to-end-the-drought-mit-creates-the-invention-of-the-century","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/using-honeycombs-to-end-the-drought-mit-creates-the-invention-of-the-century\/","title":{"rendered":"Unconventional Solution: MIT’s Century-Defining Invention Uses Diapers to Tackle Drought Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Engineers at MIT have developed an incredibly absorbent version of a material commonly found in disposable diapers <\/strong>that could help drought-stricken communities and make air conditioning devices more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Hydrogels are gummy and transparent materials known for their ability to retain large amounts of water<\/strong>. Apart from their use in diapers, hydrogels are also useful in manufacturing contact lenses, hygiene products, and wound dressings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MIT team created an extra-absorbent hydrogel capable of extracting water from the air, even in the most arid conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From diapers to the desert, that’s how we will end drought<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To achieve this, the researchers infused the hydrogel with lithium chloride, a specific type of salt. They found that they could put more salt into the hydrogel than previously believed possible, and the salt-infused gel retained “unprecedented” levels of moisture in all kinds of environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researchers claim that this new hydrogel offers real possibilities because it can be quickly mass-produced. In theory, the gel could be used to passively capture water in the desert and drought-stricken regions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It would be configured to continuously absorb water vapor, which could then condense and be used as drinking water. Scientists also envision using it as a dehumidifying element in air conditioning devices, which would reduce their energy consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Extreme Water Uptake of Hygroscopic Hydrogels through Maximized Swelling-Induced Salt Loadinghttps:\/\/t.co\/BSRYpsBINb<\/a><\/p>— Ordo Fraterna Fibonacci (@OrdoFibonacci) June 16, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>