Illuminated nets are helping to reduce bycatch.
On land, in countries like Peru, Bolivia or Oman, nets are hung to catch water droplets from fog. But what if the air itself is polluted?
Cue a Swiss research team, which has coated the metal wiring of its nets with a mix of polymers and titanium oxide. The polymers ensure the droplets drip fast into a container for collection.
Meanwhile, the titanium oxide breaks down pollutants at molecular level, rendering them harmless. The mesh is cleaned regularly using solar-powered UV light.
During initial tests, researchers collected 8% of the water in lab-produced fog, removing 94% of dirt particles contained within.
In Tunisia, a team is successfully harvesting humidity with a solar-powered device.Â
