A new high tech jacket developed by engineers at the University of Texas can pull drinking water from thin air. With the advance in fabric technology, the jacket can collect up to a pint and a half of drinkable water per day. Scientists suggest that the ground-breaking technology could benefit anyone who spends a lot of time in areas without easy access to drinking water, including hikers, campers, runners, agricultural workers, and soldiers. Scientists focused on the fibers rather than building another bulky device. Professor Gulhua Yu explained that the textile incorporated into the jacket collects moisture and funnels it to detachable harvesting units, which are then placed in a foldable collector and heated to produce the water. The researchers are now eyeing applications beyond clothing — including backpacks, tents, emergency shelters and other outdoor gear — allowing items people carry every day to help collect water. They also plan to look at applying the technology to remote field operations, disaster response, and water access in arid or infrastructure-limited regions. The University’s research commercialization unit has filed a patent application for the technology.
