☀️Sun-powered hydrosponge harvests water from air, Kawasaki's wolf-inspired robot, 4,400-year-old settlement unearthed

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Scientists have developed a unique material that combines the best features of hydrogen and a sponge. This “hydrosponge” can extract water from the air in a far more energy-efficient way than existing methods.

While hydrogels are known for their ability to soak up and hold large amounts of water, they often hold the water too rigidly. This means it takes a lot of energy (usually heat) to get the water back out.

On the other hand, a sponge has a light, porous structure which makes it easier to release moisture. However, it tends to dry out too quickly as water can pass through it easily.

The hydrosponge is soft and absorbent like a hydrogel and also features a sponge-like airy structure that makes it easier to release water using just gentle heat, like sunlight. It offers the best of both worlds—high water uptake with low energy use. Dive deeper into this Must-Read.

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MUST-READ

☀️ Sun-powered hydrosponge harvests water from air with 40% less energy

The hydrosponge is mostly made of eco-friendly ingredients, including chitosan (obtained from shellfish waste), γ-polyglutamic acid (a biopolymer), and polyvinylpyrrolidone.

To help the material absorb sunlight and turn that into heat effectively, the researchers also added a compound called polypyrrole. Next, they employed a mix of physical and chemical-based foaming methods to design the material such that 70% of the hydrosponge is empty space comprising interconnected channels.

This porous design allows water vapor to flow through it easily and stick to its surface. To further enhance its performance, the researchers added lithium chloride—a salt that’s naturally good at pulling in moisture from the air.

🐺 Kawasaki's wolf-inspired robot lets riders traverse uneven terrain

Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group, the multinational automotive conglomerate from Japan, has debuted the prototype of a hydrogen-powered, four-legged robot designed to be ridden by humans.

Named CORLEO, the robotic vehicle was unveiled at a showcase event of the upcoming Osaka-Kansai Expo 2025.

The wolf-inspired CORLEO robot has four legs for navigating uneven topography and is envisioned as an all-terrain alternative to motorcycles. Riders mount it like a horse, but its movement and design are akin to agile animals like deer and panthers.

🏞️ 4,400-year-old settlement unearthed, rewrites history of 'empty land'

An excavation has revealed what is believed to be the first Bronze Age settlement in the Maghreb region of North Africa, an area historically overlooked in studies of this era.

Previously considered an “empty land” before the arrival of the Phoenicians, a research initiative supported by the University of Barcelona has now identified a Bronze Age site in northwest Morocco that predates their presence.

Recent excavations have definitively established that Kach Kouch, except Egypt, stands as the earliest known site of its kind in Mediterranean Africa.

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