What We’re Reading: Could Deep-Sea Robots Alleviate Water Scarcity?
What We’re Reading: Could Deep-Sea Robots Alleviate Water Scarcity?
What We’re Reading: Could Deep-Sea Robots Alleviate Water Scarcity? Welcome back to our weekly behind-the-scenes glimpse at what’s getting our team talking. Let us know what you think at [email protected]. Deep thoughts Water scarcity is among the most pressing problems facing humanity, and extreme weather and growing urban populations will only make it more pressing in the decades ahead. Desalination has long loomed as a possible solution, but it’s never been considered practical. Now, new technology — deep-sea robots, reverse osmosis filtration — could change that , according to a Wall Street Journal story that caught RTBC Executive Editor Will Doig’s attention this week. Will says: Creating potable water through desalination is a problematic process. One of the biggest issues is that forcing water molecules through a purifying membrane requires loads of energy. One intriguing new solution is locating desalination plants deep on the ocean floor where the crushing pressure of the water its…