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Grabbing water from the air: NUS researchers develop advanced aerogels for autonomous atmospheric water harvesting

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An inventive, energy-efficient solution to combat the escalating global freshwater crisis

SINGAPORE, Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The world is on the brink of a freshwater crisis. Estimations indicate that by 2025, half of the world’s population may reside in areas facing water scarcity. In response to this challenge, researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a novel aerogel designed to enhance the efficiency of atmospheric water harvesting.

This development, led by Associate Professor TAN Swee Ching from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering under the College of Design and Engineering at NUS, offers a practical solution to the pressing issue of freshwater scarcity, particularly in arid regions.

The aerogel is capable of absorbing moisture from the air up to about 5.5 times its weight, maintaining its performance across a wide range of humidity levels, and effective even in conditions as low as 20 per cent relative humidity, making it suitable for diverse environments. Demonstrating the aerogel’s applicability, the research team has integrated it into a solar-driven, autonomous atmospheric water generator that efficiently collects and releases freshwater without requiring external energy sources.

Tapping into the atmosphere

The Earth’s atmosphere holds an estimated 13,000 trillion litres of water — representing an untapped reservoir that could potentially alleviate water scarcity across many arid and drought-prone regions across the globe. However, the challenge has always been to efficiently convert water vapour into a usable resource, considering the variability of atmospheric conditions and the energy demands of current technologies.

Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) employs sorbents to extract water from the air, presenting a low-energy, easy-to-operate solution applicable across diverse environments, including regions with limited resources. Despite its potential, SAWH faces challenges with conventional sorbents such as activated alumina, silica gels and zeolites, which either have inadequate water uptake or require high temperatures for water release. Although newer sorbents, including hygroscopic salts and metal-organic frameworks, improve upon these aspects, they struggle with issues like deliquescence and agglomeration, which compromise their efficiency and water sorption capacity. Additionally, SAWH devices are generally incapable of supporting more than one water capture-release cycle daily, limiting their utility for continuous and large-scale freshwater production.

Addressing these limitations, the NUS researchers tapped into their creativity to craft a more adaptable and energy-efficient material for SAWH. By converting magnesium chloride into a super hygroscopic magnesium complex and incorporating it into aerogels composed of sodium alginate and carbon nanotubes, they developed a composite aerogel that overcomes the drawbacks of previous technologies.

Like a sponge, the aerogel absorbs water vapour directly from the air into its porous structure, where it condenses and is stored until needed. When exposed to sunlight or a slight increase in ambient temperature (around 50 deg C), the aerogel releases the stored water as fresh, liquid water. The process is facilitated by the aerogel’s unique composition, which combines the moisture-attracting properties of the magnesium complex with the thermal properties of carbon nanotubes — enabling rapid water absorption and release.

Key properties of the aerogel include its high water uptake capacity — about 5.5 times its weight at 95 per cent relative humidity and 27 per cent of its weight at 20 per cent relative humidity, typical of desert climates. Moreover, its robust structure allows for repeated use without a loss in efficiency. It is also cost-efficient to produce — raw materials necessary for producing one square metre of the aerogel cost only US$2.

“The aerogel exhibits rapid absorption/desorption kinetics with 12 cycles per day at 70 per cent relative humidity, equivalent to a water yield of 10 litres per kilogramme of aerogel per day,” said Assoc Prof Tan. “Carbon nanotubes play a crucial role in boosting the aerogel’s photothermal conversion efficiency, enabling quicker water release with minimal energy consumption.”

From concept to reality

The researchers have also designed and constructed a fully solar-driven, autonomous atmospheric water generator that incorporates two layers of the novel aerogel. Each layer alternately engages in the water absorption/desorption cycle, operating without any external energy input. This setup showcases the aerogel’s practicality for facilitating continuous freshwater production — a feature beneficial in underdeveloped regions or areas lacking necessary clean-water infrastructure.

Potential applications of this technology are vast, encompassing evaporative cooling and energy harvesting to smart sensing and urban agriculture. The team has filed a patent for their technology.

The NUS researchers are looking forward to collaborating with local farms and industry partners alike to advance their research and commercialise their technology.

Read more at: https://news.nus.edu.sg/advanced-aerogels-for-autonomous-atmospheric-water-harvesting/

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SOURCE National University of Singapore

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MEDIA ADVISORY – Governments of Canada and the Yukon Make Energy Affordability Announcement in Whitehorse

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WHITEHORSE, YT, Dec. 18, 2024 /CNW/ – Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, will make an energy affordability announcement alongside the Honourable John Streicker, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Minister responsible for Yukon Development Corporation, Minister responsible for Yukon Energy Corporation and Minister responsible for French Language Services Directorate. Media availability will follow.

Date:

December 19, 2024

Time:

2:30 p.m. MT

All accredited media are asked to pre-register by emailing media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca by December 19 at 9 a.m. MT. A dial-in line is available for media and will be provided upon registration.  

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

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Simulation Theory, Inc. Raises $2 Million in Pre-Seed Funding to Combat Cloud Waste, Revolutionize the Future of Compute

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SAN DIEGO, Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Simulation Theory Inc., a start-up dedicated to reducing waste by optimizing compute resources, has successfully raised $2 million in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Larry Russ, managing partner at Russ, August & Kabat with individual investors including Ryan Peterson, former CEO of Finger Food Advanced Technology Group and Robert Wallace of Strategic Alternatives. The funding will be used to support further development of Simulation Theory’s innovative software development kit (SDK) designed to maximize applications’ ability to optimize existing resources to help companies save billions in overspending on hardware and cloud usage each year.

In today’s digital landscape with the widespread adoption of generative AI and complex simulations, many businesses increasingly rely on cloud services, yet struggle with the skyrocketing prices associated with inefficient hardware usage. Simulation Theory’s technology allows businesses to leverage their existing infrastructure more efficiently, reducing cloud compute costs by up to 40 percent by dramatically increasing application performance.

“The Digital Revolution is over. Welcome to the Age of Optimization,” said Anthony Castoro, chief executive officer and co-founder of Simulation Theory. “As the demand for computing resources continues to skyrocket, we cannot simply build our way out of the problem. Simulation Theory is a deep technology company founded to address the fundamental computing challenges this new age presents. The Simulation Theory SDK allows customers to maximize the compute resources they already have, driving down costs, accelerating business results and promoting sustainable practices that can dramatically reduce our carbon footprint.”

“We understand that creating software that scales on modern CPUs is challenging and as a result the solution has been to throw more expensive hardware at the problem,” said Randy Culley, chief technology officer at Simulation Theory. “Our technology makes it simple for application developers to take full advantage of multi-core CPU architectures on every popular operating system. Some of our early clients have already increased their compute performance by several orders of magnitude, reducing time to completion by as much as 90 percent on the same hardware.” 

Customers including Secur3D, Encant AI, Perception Grid and Gameye are among Simulation Theory’s initial partners evaluating the benefits of a Simulation Theory technology integration in terms of future cost savings and performance gains.

Secur3D, a company that moderates and safeguards UGC, is transforming how platforms, creators, and brands protect their 3D assets from infringement and unauthorized use. By leveraging Simulation Theory, Secur3D is poised to scale its operations rapidly. “Integrating Simulation Theory will allow us to expand in ways we thought would take years,” said Nigel Metcalf, Head of Product at Secur3D. “We anticipate increasing our asset intake capacity by at least 20x and believe this technology will change how people anticipate, compute, and meet customer demand.”

Simulation Theory has also recently launched a pilot program to test the technology’s effectiveness for enterprise applications across various industries.

For more information, visit www.simtheoryinc.com and follow Simulation Theory on LinkedIn.

About Simulation Theory
Simulation Theory’s mission is to solve the most complex compute problems to save companies billions. Founded in 2023 by Anthony Castoro and Randy Culley, Simulation Theory’s proprietary SDK uniquely empowers businesses to leverage existing resources efficiently and sustainably for maximum reduction in cost, increased performance and minimized impact on the environment. 

Press Contact:
press@simtheoryinc.com

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SOURCE Simulation Theory Inc.

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The Use of AI in Education: Challenges and Implementation Strategies Outlined in Info-Tech Research Group’s New Blueprint

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Recently published research insights from global firm Info-Tech Research Group are providing IT leaders in the education sector with a strategic framework to implement AI use. The resource outlines use cases and advisory on how institutions can adopt AI technologies responsibly to enhance operational efficiency, personalize learning, and improve student outcomes. The firm explains that by evaluating key factors such as technology, feasibility, and industry relevance, institutions can create impactful AI roadmaps that align with their goals and drive meaningful improvements in schools.

TORONTO, Dec. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform industries, its adoption in education presents both immense opportunities and significant challenges. From aligning AI initiatives with institutional goals to addressing budgetary constraints and managing the complexities of emerging technologies, the integration process demands careful planning and execution. To support institutions in overcoming these obstacles, Info-Tech Research Group has published an industry blueprint, Prioritize AI Use Cases for Education. The resource contains the global research and advisory firm’s research insights and recommendations for IT leaders to identify and prioritize AI use cases tailored to their institutions’ needs. Info-Tech’s blueprint provides a framework for adopting AI responsibly, which will support institutions in enhancing operational efficiency, improving student engagement, and making informed, data-driven decisions.

Info-Tech’s newly published resource underscores the rapid adoption of AI within the education sector and urges CIOs to strategically embrace its transformative potential.

“The strategic priority of AI determines the institution’s approach,” says Mark Maby, principal research director at Info-Tech Research Group. “For example, institutions focused on institutional growth and sustainability may use AI to personalize learning, optimize course offerings, and identify high-potential students. Those focused on operational excellence may use AI to automate tasks, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. Meanwhile, institutions emphasizing instructional and research value may use AI to create personalized learning experiences, provide real-time feedback, and discover new knowledge.”

‘ The firm emphasizes that successfully adopting AI requires carefully aligning IT and institutional goals. However, many educational institutions struggle to understand how AI can impact their operations and are unsure where to start when prioritizing use cases. To help institutions navigate these challenges, Info-Tech suggests a strategic and responsible approach that includes identifying relevant use cases, understanding potential benefits, and developing a comprehensive plan to address the complexities of implementation and ongoing use.

“The introduction of AI can be contentious, and the risks should be considered carefully,” explains Maby. “AI can have biases that directly thwart the mission of the institution. It is also a new technology, and its promise still outweighs its results.”

In its Prioritize AI Use Cases for Education blueprint, Info-Tech underscores the critical importance of identifying and understanding the relevant AI use cases that can address organizational challenges. The firm advises IT leaders in the industry to carefully evaluate the value of potential use cases by considering the following key factors:

Technology: Evaluate the foundational technology that powers the use case, understanding the tools and systems required for successful implementation.Benefits: Assess the specific value the use case brings to the organization, including improvements in efficiency and decision-making capabilities.Risks: Consider the potential risks involved in adopting the technology, including issues related to data security, integration challenges, and organizational readiness.Feasibility: Determine the practicality of implementing the use case within the education sector, factoring in its prevalence and proven success in similar organizations.Capabilities: Define the organization’s capabilities, which are shaped by the interaction of its people, processes, and technology. This process ensures the use case aligns with the institution’s ability to execute it effectively.Value Streams: Identify how the use case fits within the organization’s value streams, which are its core capabilities organized around delivering value to its stakeholders, whether students, faculty, or staff.Industry: Consider whether the use case is applicable to both higher education and K-12 institutions or if it is more suited to one sector over the other.

An AI use case involves applying artificial intelligence to a specific organizational function or capability, with the goal of driving value and addressing challenges unique to that industry. Info-Tech advises that by leveraging the insights outlined in this blueprint, IT leaders can help educational institutions adopt best-in-class digital use cases and develop robust implementation roadmaps that maximize value creation and lead to meaningful improvements.

For exclusive and timely commentary from Mark Maby, an expert in the educational sector, and access to the complete Prioritize AI Use Cases for Education blueprint, please contact pr@infotech.com.

About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 IT and HR professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

To learn more about Info-Tech’s divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software buying insights.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

For information about Info-Tech Research Group or to access the latest research, visit infotech.com and connect via LinkedIn and X.

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SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group

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