With less than 0.04 inches of rainfall each year, cities in Chiles barren Atacama Desertone of the driest places in the worldcollect their water from ancient underground water sources. Now, researchers have identified another simple method that could help address water scarcity. An international team of researchers in Chile has tested the viability of a water-collection method that could be straight out of Dune: fog harvesting. The technology also brings Star Wars to mind, namely the moisture farmers of Tatooine. The practice could bring significant relief to people living in poor, informal settings without access to a stable water source, according to the study, published today in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science, The collection and use of water, especially from non-conventional sources such as fog water, represents a key opportunity to improve the quality of life of inhabitants, Virginia Carter, an expert in sustainable development at the Universidad Mayor and first co-author of the study, said in a Frontiers statement. Carter and her colleagues conducted their study in the rapidly-growing municipality of Alto Hospicio, where around 10,000 people live in informal settlementsonly 1.6 percent of which are connected to water distribution networks. The team used simple fog collectors: very fine nets, or mesh, held aloft by two poles. Moisture in the air condenses into droplets on the material, which then flow into a gutter and into a water tank. Though their methods are not quite as innovative as sci-fi stillsuits that recycle urine into drinkable water (that currently seems reserved for space exploration), the fog collectors are passive systems that dont require electricity or other energy to function. By showcasing its potential in Alto Hospicio, one of Chiles most stigmatized yet rapidly urbanizing cities, this study lays the groundwork for broader adoption in other water-scarce urban areas, said Nathalie Verbrugghe, an engineer at Universit libre de Bruxelles and another first co-author of the study.Carter, Verbrugghe, and their colleagues revealed that 38.61 square miles (100 square kilometers) could yield between 0.05 and 1.32 gallons (0.2 and five liters) of fog water per 10.76 square feet (one square meter) per day. August and September were the peak months for fog water collection, with researchers gathering up to 2.64 gallons (10 liters) per 10.76 square foot (one square meter) per day. This research represents a notable shift in the perception of fog water usefrom a rural, rather small-scale solution to a practical water resource for cities, Carter explained.The researchers estimate that a relatively small area of mesh could collect enough water to irrigate Alto Hospicios green spaces. Scaling up the system with larger fog collectors could even provide enough water to meet the weekly needs of the citys informal settlements. They also suggest that fog water could be used for soil-free farming, potentially producing up to 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of leafy greens each month. The researchers do point out some shortcomings to their analysis.Their promising results came from fog collectors in higher altitudes outside of the citys limits, so their regular use would require significant distribution infrastructure in addition to large storage systems. Other key prerequisites include fog density, suitable wind patterns, and well-oriented elevated landforms. Additionally, since fog is seasonal in many regions, this variability should be considered, said Verbrugghe. In fact, Carter emphasized that fog can serve as a complementary urban water supply, and not a comprehensive solution to water scarcity. However, the team still hopes to encourage policymakers to integrate this renewable source into national water strategies, concluded Carter. This could enhance urban resilience to climate change and rapid urbanization while improving access to clean water.While fog harvesting alone will not solve water scarcity, it ultimately represents an innovative and sustainable water collection method that could one day become an important tool in desert communities water management.

Cloud Street / Steffen Welsch ArchitectsSave this picture! Tom RossHousesNorthcote, AustraliaArchitects: Steffen Welsch ArchitectsAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:341 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2021 PhotographsPhotographs:Tom RossManufacturersBrands with products used in this architecture project Manufacturers: LIVOS, Lysaght, Oblica, Red Interior Design, S&A Stairs, Sanden, Slimline, Sonic Lighting Lead Architects: Steffen Welsch More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. Part of an inner suburban neighbourhood, Cloud Street a large family home with an extensive program - is a two-storey building with its own identity that appears modest and merges effortlessly into its surroundings. It reflects our ethos of building as background that avoids standing out but draws its strength from being part of and contributing to something else, in this case a relaxed suburban street in a family friendly neighbourhood.Save this picture!We are known for designing modest buildings and were uncomfortable with a 299 sqm house. This drove our approach to deliver a design that despite its size is recessive, environmentally sensitive, considers future use, reaches out to the community and most importantly has a significantly lower global warming potential than the average Australian dwelling.Save this picture!Appearing recessive carries through from the initial concept to floor plans, form, material selection and detailing. The functional and spatial concept is an arrangement split into four zones: communal areas in the centre around a northern courtyard garden, parents and children to either side, all facing north, and utilities along the south.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!We chose our rooms not to be rectangular: the walls are angled, and ceilings sloped. This permits the form to break down into small parts. The building appears to be held together by two double-storey pavilions: parents at the rear, and children and guests at the front.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Whereas the parents' wing is secluded, with a staircase tucked behind the kitchen leading to the main bedroom with a private terrace, the kids' wing features an open circular timber staircase, a fireman's pole and access to a garden that can open up to the street. The frontage is casual in its presence and openly connects to the neighbourhood. We removed the front fence and created an open front yard with native plantings and casual sitting areas.Save this picture!Respectfully engaging with its environment on multiple levels is at the core of Cloud Street's design, construction, and use. Leveraging passive solar design principles, we let considerations such as the management of thermal comfort, sunlight access, natural airflow and ventilation, acoustics, and access to greenery inform the layout, size and location of openings and our material choices.Save this picture!Despite its formal complexity, the house was economically constructed around a rammed earth spine, selected for its low embodied carbon, thermal mass, acoustic quality, as well as the way light animates its surface. A light-controlling veranda, strategically placed windows for natural ventilation, and thick walls with integrated automated awnings ensure stable indoor temperatures - reducing reliance on artificial climate control. Clad in timber destined to mature gracefully, it symbolizes a symbiotic relationship with nature.Save this picture!Results of our life cycle analysis, which assessed Cloud Street's whole-life carbon impact, demonstrated a 230% saving in its global warming potential compared to the average Australian dwelling providing an indication that large buildings can also be environmentally sensitive and helps to further illuminate the expansive potential of sustainable design.Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officePublished on February 20, 2025Cite: "Cloud Street / Steffen Welsch Architects" 20 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1026958/cloud-street-steffen-welsch-architects&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

Yangbei Village CCP Elderly Day-Care Center / Studio 10Save this picture! Arch NangoCommunity CenterShaoguan, ChinaArchitects: Studio 10AreaArea of this architecture projectArea:843 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2023 PhotographsPhotographs:Arch Nango, Chao Zhang Lead Architects: Shi Zhou More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. The Yangbei Village CCP Elderly Day-Care Center is located in the Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County of Shaoguan City, northern Guangdong. Nestled among mountains and abundant waterways, Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County is home to the Yao and Hakka people, known for their rich historic and cultural heritage and mountain settlements. With rural revitalization efforts, many Yao residents have moved to new public housing on the plains, though some elderly remain in traditional mountain villages, maintaining buildings with rammed-earth and timber structures. The Hakka population, primarily engaged in agriculture in the plains, contributes to the area's diverse cultural landscape.Save this picture!Save this picture!Economically, the northern Guangdong mountainous region, including Ruyuan, has been a focus for rural revitalization and poverty alleviation. The project in Yangbei Village, a Hakka community split by the S250 highway and near the Xinjie River, is a strategic part of the "Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County Multi-Town Rural Revitalization Belt".Save this picture!Save this picture!During the research phase, we observed how the region's architectural style blends its multicultural heritage with adaptations to its hot, humid, and mountainous climate.Local architecture, including Yao villages, Hakka residences, and modern buildings, often features colonnades or verandas, creating popular semi-outdoor "gray spaces" for public use during inclement weather. However, Yangbei Village lacks these covered public areas. The village population is predominantly elderly and children of migrant workers, with younger adults working in urban areas and returning only on holidays. The CCP Center in the village provides a comprehensive daycare facility for the elderly, complete with living quarters, bathrooms, a clinic, activity room, and canteen, catering to both daily needs and long-term care of the community's elderly.Save this picture!Save this picture!The site's original closed courtyard, framed by temporary structures with overhanging eaves, was reimagined to prioritize openness and accessibility. We preserved the courtyard-style layout and mature trees while introducing multiple new entrances and a semi-outdoor veranda along the inter-province highway to improve visibility and access. This arrangement promotes a welcoming, public space, connecting the courtyard to the village through strategic pedestrian pathways.Save this picture!Save this picture!The ground floor includes multiple pedestrian entrances and visual corridors. Along the provincial road, a semi-outdoor veranda opens the inner courtyard, enhancing visibility and accessibility for villagers. A secondary entrance near the northeast corner beside the stairwell links to a main village road, allowing eastern villagers to view and access the courtyard's greenery and activities. Verandas and covered walkways encircle the courtyard, creating a comprehensive public arcade that connects all entrances and facilitates community engagement.Save this picture!Public services, elderly daycare, and office spaces are strategically arranged around the original courtyard layout. The addition of a unifying overhanging eaves structure ties together the variously sized volumes, introducing cohesiveness to the architecture. The overhang forms semi-outdoor "gray spaces" on the ground level, while the space above accommodates rooftop gardens and public activity areas on the second floor. The ground floor's north wing is dedicated to elderly living quarters, featuring courtyard-facing windows for optimal southern light and cross ventilation. On the south, a multi-purpose room and a public service hall cater to high pedestrian traffic and provide both courtyard and roadside entrances, enhancing public accessibility. The east side links these facilities with daycare and shared public services, bridging the north and south wings.Save this picture!The second floor primarily accommodates offices, enhanced by a skylight tower and sloped roof of the ground-level public service hall that form a "theater" seating area on the southern terrace, using the corridor's hollow brick screen wall as a backdrop, and as a response to the local mountainous terrain. A separate steel staircase provides direct external access to the terrace, improving accessibility for villagers and minimizing disruptions to elderly services in the inner courtyard.Save this picture!Save this picture!Reflecting local architectural styles, which typically feature planted porches, rooftops, and terraces, the second floor also includes three semi-outdoor balconies strategically located for relaxation and gardening. Additionally, a planter runs along the edge of the courtyard, aiding drainage and contributing to its greenery. A skylight tower, positioned at the southwest corner of the public service hall, marks the project's highest point and enhances its visibility along the bustling S250 provincial highway. This tower's design incorporates windows inspired by Yao tribal totems, crafting a play of light and shadow inside.Save this picture!Save this picture!To maintain privacy given its proximity to residential buildings, the building's large windows and doors are oriented towards the inner courtyard. The exterior faade features vintage embossed glass windows, which echo the style of traditional local wooden windows. The building faade utilizes earth-toned stucco to distinguish its varied individual volumes from the unifying modern concrete slab addition that covers the public activity and circulation areas. This design resonates with the rammed earth walls typical of Yao village homes. Additionally, the strategic use of hollow bricks for louvers and visual partitions maintains the area's architectural tradition of decorative hollow bricks.Save this picture!Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessAbout this officeStudio 10OfficePublished on February 20, 2025Cite: "Yangbei Village CCP Elderly Day-Care Center / Studio 10" 20 Feb 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1027013/yangbei-village-ccp-elderly-day-care-center-studio-10&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save? / Studio 10You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

#ARTech : YouTube: https://bit.ly/TheArtofTech #ArGamez : YouTube: https://bit.ly/ARGAMEZ #ArabHardware : Facebook: https://bit.ly/Arabhardware TikTok: https://bit.ly/36d6GmN Twitter: https://bit.ly/arabhardware Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arabhardware/ Store: https://store.arabhardware.net Website: https://arabhardware.net

New exciting updates coming for the Random Flow add-on.Watch Random Flow videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKFJy6TgdDCIC8rEkGbY09tE0IEn5j5b3&amp ;amp;si=99m9czjgBALNZY8ZCheck out my tools: https://www.blenderguppy.com/add-ons Visit my shops:https://gumroad.com/blenderguppy https://blendermarket.com/creators/blenderguppy Become my Patron:https://patreon.com/blenderguppy Follow me:https://facebook.com/blenderguppy https://instagram.com/blenderguppy https://twitter.com/blenderguppy #b3d #blender3d #3dmodeling #3dtexturing #conceptart

Head to https://squarespace.com/cgmatter to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CGMATTERproject files https://www.cgmatter.com/worm

Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08496-5Insufficient evidence for natural selection associated with the Black Death

Nature, Published online: 19 February 2025; doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08357-1Atlantic oceanic droughts do not threaten Asian water tower