DIY

Portable machine turns salt water into drinking water using solar power

Fresh drinking water is a real problem in some parts of the world, as it is very hard to have access to it. This clever machine, designed by scientist at MIT will turn salty water into drinking water using solar energy. Oh, and it is also portable so it can be easily transported to areas in need of drinking water. The machine works through electro-dialysis and presses the stream of water between 2 electrodes that have opposite charges. The rest of it is science and it is explained very nicely at the link below that also contains a video presentation on how the entire machine works. The most important thing to keep in mind is that this portable invention is capable of filtering 2,100 gallons of water per day, which is pretty amazing.

How it works
“Electrodialysis works by passing a stream of water between two electrodes with opposite charges. Because the salt dissolved in water consists of positive and negative ions, the electrodes pull the ions out of the water, Winter says, leaving fresher water at the center of the flow. A series of membranes separate the freshwater stream from increasingly salty ones.
Both electrodialysis and reverse osmosis require the use of membranes, but those in an electrodialysis system are exposed to lower pressures and can be cleared of salt buildup simply by reversing the electrical polarity. That means the expensive membranes should last much longer and require less maintenance, Winter says. In addition, electrodialysis systems recover a much higher percentage of the water — more than 90 percent, compared with about 40 to 60 percent from reverse-osmosis systems, a big advantage in areas where water is scarce.”

David L. Chandler explains, “Electrodialysis works by passing a stream of water between two electrodes with opposite charges. Because the salt dissolved in water consists of positive and negative ions, the electrodes pull the ions out of the water, leaving fresher water at the centre of the flow. A series of membranes separate the freshwater stream from increasingly salty ones.” (news.mit.edu)

via: Minds

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DIY

The Cutest WAFFLE MAKER – Car Waffle Maker

Love waffles? Why not take it to the next level with awesome cars and trucks! We’re all about inspiring creativity and re-imagining breakfast so you can start everyday with a smile. Find this Waffle Maker in the link below…

Find it HERE…

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DIY

Australia is Dropping Vegetables From Choppers to Feed Wildlife Starved by Fires

Australia has been going through some tough time with forest fires spreading all over the country and causing a severe loss of wildlife. In areas where the fire has stopped burning, the remaining animals are still struggling to find food and survive. Luckily, Australians have found an ingenious way to help animals in these hard times and started a rescue program that involves food dropped from helicopters.
Among the most affected are the wallabies and since they are left without their natural habitat, finding food is extremely hard for them. So, now the wallabies are showered with carrots and sweet potatoes that are being dropped from helicopters, this way staying safe and undisturbed. Of course, this is only a temporary solution but one that solves a major issue and ensures the survival of this species.
A lot of other animals are in danger of going extinct in Australia, so there is still a lot of work to do and everyone can get help by donating to organizations such as The World Wildlife Federation – Bushfire Emergency Fund, World Animal Protection, Animals Australia or WIRES Wildlife Rescue.

In New South Wales, thousands of kilograms of carrots and sweet potatoes are being dropped by planes and helicopters in fire-affected areas to help wildlife. (EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

This Article Was Originally Posted on goodshomedesign.com Read The Original Article here

DIY

Life Finds A Way: Pictures After The Australian Bushfires

Humans don’t appreciate nature to its fullest, and in many cases, the beauty offered by Earth is taken for granted. Pollution and climate change are major issues in our times, and they have severe repercussions, but nature somehow always finds a way to recover.
The same thing applies to Australia’s forests, the might survivors of months of terrible bush fires that left the country mourning. Experts suspect that the bush won’t fully recover to its previous state, but signs of animals returning have been more than promising.
Thanks to years of evolution and arid climate, many Australian plants have adapted to the climate and learned how to protect their buds in case of high temperatures or even fire. This means that they will start to sprout soon and can even find nutrients in ash.
Pictures of green trees and plants among the ashes are circulating the Internet and they are once again proof that life is cyclic, and nature can recover after experiencing a traumatic event.
Hopefully, soon there will be more and more pictures like these, filled with hope and wildlife will return too to the Australian bush.