Nano-solution could clean water in developing nations

Hard to say if this solution will be cheaper than the bordering-on-free LifeStraw, but a team at the University of South Australia has developed a low-cost method for removing bacteria and other contaminants from water "using tiny particles of pure silica coated with an active nano-material." Professor Peter Majewski is pretty proud of the all new system, stating that it can "remove bacteria, chemicals, viruses and other contaminants from water much more effectively than conventional water purification methods." Due to its ability to function sans additional energy and its low overall cost, the team is hoping to see the creation bring clean water to developing countries. The best part? It should be available within two years.

[Via Protein OS]

[LondonConsultant @ Aug 15th 2008 5:34AM]

Maybe it's just me, but the Engadget home page seems completely screwed today. I guess a site upgrade wasn't tested enough...

[Kizorblade @ Aug 15th 2008 6:16AM]

That's awesome. End of story.

[Dave Chappelle @ Aug 15th 2008 6:17AM]

UNISA!? holy shit, our very own, state uni is on ENGADGET!!
IN UR FACE MELBOURNE!! were the fk is Monash.

anyways, i do commend these research's however, this will most likely be the first and last time i ever hear about it. these things never take off.

we should make something that removes salt from water, that would save our state 1 billion on a Desalination plant. which is huge for a state of 1.4 million. (approx)

[redbuta @ Aug 15th 2008 6:56AM]

It says "chemicals", should include sodium chloride etc.?

[Dankoozy @ Aug 15th 2008 6:46AM]

too bad their drives still suck. i'm on my 3rd dead seagate this year

[Rynth @ Aug 15th 2008 7:00AM]

wrong thread NFTW! Unlucky chap, its not your fault, don't blame you.

[Kurian @ Aug 15th 2008 6:37AM]

And when you drink the water, it'll filter your insides of all useful bacteria and you'll die.

[neofolklore @ Aug 15th 2008 7:21AM]

new comment system? I'm so amazed and curious if it actually works better that I forgot what I was going to say about this article!

oh yeh. nano technology, what DOESN'T it do... except actually come to market.

[Big Wizz @ Aug 15th 2008 9:24AM]

Exactly, that was my first thought too.

Nano-technology promises the world, but always in the future...

[ShadowKain @ Aug 15th 2008 8:21AM]

Yea great, just wait until you drink some nano machines and everyone wonders why your doing the Thriller dance off the unfinished freeway exit XD

[ShadowKain @ Aug 15th 2008 8:22AM]

I dont think this comment posting box works any better. :\

[Ian @ Aug 15th 2008 8:23AM]

Can't they make these systems large-scale, or install them in homes?

[Courtney @ Aug 15th 2008 8:38AM]

Cheap? Why not use this for domestic water processing?

[MateFrio @ Aug 15th 2008 10:28AM]

What happened to Dean Kamen's machine?

[Grimmir @ Aug 15th 2008 10:48AM]

We all know that we get this kind of news every now and then to keep our minds from following the dangerous path of "Mr./ Mrs.Presidents: we, as people of Planet Earth and the ones who put you in power, want to have the possibility of drinking clean water anywhere in the world. Every body has the right to get clean water, doesn't matter your nationality, social status or income at the end of the year. We want RIGHT NOW all that technology to be deployed on all the countries which need it."

The funny thing is that we have the right to ask for that crazy thing I just wrote above... and yet, it's not done.

There are big powers - and this is not a conspiracy theory - that don't want that done. It's better for them if the Government spends the money that people like us give them in order to create ghost companies which will, in due time, provide that same money to a couple of guys (including somebody from Government) and nothing will be done.

But of course, we get the news that we have the technology and so on... and in the near future should be available for everyone.

I say: Yeah, right.

[霽月瀛台 @ Aug 15th 2008 11:18PM]

Nano stuff is as fearful as GM stuff to me.
Things get different properties in nano-scaled stuff, for example nano silver kills germs.
Nano carbon was considered to be safe while now it is believed to cause cancer..
So I feel hard to be trustful on those scientists who always claim to know everything about it while actually they know very little.