AI data centers are less thirsty now, tech giants say
Data centers are running into a wall of public anger in the United States over their thirst for water and power.
Sep 7, 2026
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Machine learning & AI
Page 3: Research news on Emerging energy and water harvesting technologies
Emerging energy and water harvesting technologies encompass a suite of materials, devices, and systems designed to capture, convert, and store dispersed environmental resources such as solar radiation, wind, moisture, and ambient heat. Work in this area integrates atmospheric water harvesting architectures, triboelectric and moisture-induced generators, solar thermal and molecular solar thermal storage, barocaloric and magnetic cooling, and long-duration energy storage concepts. These approaches often rely on nanoengineered surfaces, phase-change and barocaloric materials, and hybrid thermodynamic cycles to improve efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of power, cooling, and freshwater supply.
Energy & Green Tech
Vertical microrods boost electricity generation from evaporation by accelerating ion flow
Evaporation, the process by which water becomes vapor and disperses into the environment, draws heat from its surroundings. This heat, also known as atmospheric thermal energy, is abundant but diffuse, making it difficult ...
Energy & Green Tech
There's a better way to cool data centers that cuts their huge thirst for water
Water is an amazing substance. The human body is made up of more than 50% water. Approximately 70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water. We drink it, bathe in it, cook with it and clean with it. It is also used to cool ...
Aug 19, 2026
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Energy & Green Tech
Hybrid energy system: One roof for electricity, heating and cooling
Photovoltaic panels generate electricity, solar thermal collectors provide heat, while cooling is usually supplied by air conditioning systems that themselves consume electricity. As a result, buildings require different ...
Aug 14, 2026
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Energy & Green Tech
Biosolar roof sets new standard for climate-resilient cities
A study of Bradfield City's First Building green roof confirms that combining native rooftop gardens with solar panels reduces urban heat, increases renewable energy generation and supports local biodiversity.
Aug 11, 2026
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Energy & Green Tech
Smart clothes will soon be on sale. But regulations are needed to prevent a new waste mountain
When you think of advanced futuristic clothing, what comes to mind?
Aug 5, 2026
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Energy & Green Tech
Can wind be harnessed to capture and convert atmospheric water into freshwater?
Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting captures water vapor from the air using specialized materials, or sorbents, and thermal energy to produce freshwater.
Aug 5, 2026
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Energy & Green Tech
Tiny light, big dream: Harvesting power from soil in Japan
Glinting in the night, halfway up a hill in Japan, the greenhouse-like "Ku-An" test lab is lit by electricity harnessed from 1,500 wooden boxes of soil and compost.
Aug 5, 2026
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Engineering
Solar-charged rock bed powers coffee roaster with heat stored for days
Michael Sweeney roasts coffee beans using energy from the sun at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility at Sandia National Laboratories. Sweeney has been collaborating with Sandia as part of a program to use solar energy ...
Aug 4, 2026
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Energy & Green Tech
Energy-efficient electric drying with superheated steam
Drying is widely used across many sectors, including the paper, cement and chemical industries. It is a key step in the production, processing and treatment of minerals, food or detergents, for example.
Aug 3, 2026
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