These are independent reviews of the products mentioned, but TIME receives a commission when purchases are made through affiliate links at no additional cost to the purchaser.
Each year, some 4 billion people experience severe water scarcity for at least a month, according to UNICEF. In search of a solution, a team led by Lenan Zhang, research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, created a unit that turns salt water into potable H20 using the power of the sun. Thermal desalination—evaporating, then condensing water to remove the salt—isn’t new, but powering the process using sunlight (making the process cheaper and less energy-intensive) is. In one hour, the MIT system can desalinate 2.5 liters of water per square meter of solar panel power.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Cybersecurity Experts Are Sounding the Alarm on DOGE
- Meet the 2025 Women of the Year
- The Harsh Truth About Disability Inclusion
- Why Do More Young Adults Have Cancer?
- Colman Domingo Leads With Radical Love
- How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone
- Michelle Zauner Stares Down the Darkness
