and yet at least hundred million people live in desert regions around the world, according to the UN.

不過據聯合國聲稱，全世界至少有一億人生活在沙漠地區。

They have to make due with less than 25 cm of rainfall each year,

他們必須善用每年少於 25 厘米的降雨，

and for many, even that miniscule water supply is under threat as climate change is making dry areas even drier.

對於許多人來說，即使是極小量的供水也會受到威脅，因為氣候變遷的關係，使乾燥地區變得更乾。

So scientists at UC Berkeley have been experimenting with materials that can pull drinking water out of thin air.

因此，柏克萊加州大學的科學家，不斷研究將飲用水從稀薄空氣抽取出來的材料。

The compound they've devised is one of a family of materials called Metal-Organic-Frameworks, or MOFs.

他們設計的化合物是金屬有機框架，簡稱 MOFs 的材料家族。

MOFs are, well it's pretty much right in the name, frameworks of metal atoms

MOFs 正如其名，就是金屬原子的框架

connected to each other with organic linkers.

與有機連接體相互連接。

This structure makes them porous like a sponge,

這種結構使它們像海綿一樣成多孔狀，

giving them incredible surface areas; a single gram of a MOF can have

提供它們非常大的表面積，一公克的 MOF

the surface area of a football field.

具有一個足球場的表面積。

And depending on the metal and organic molecules they're made of,

而且，取決於製成的金屬和有機分子，

they can be tailored to capture different things in their pores.

還可以特製它們，來捕捉毛孔中的不同東西。

MOFs have potential uses capturing CO2 and turning it into the fuel methanol,

MOFs 具有潛在用途，可以用來捕捉二氧化碳並將其轉化為燃料甲醇，

or neutralizing nerve agents like sarin gas.

或是中和神經毒劑，如沙林毒氣。

The function the Berkeley scientists tuned their MOF for was extracting water vapor that's present in the air.

柏克萊的科學家將 MOF 的功能轉變成從現存空氣中提取水蒸氣。

The first one they made in 2014, called MOF-801, was zirconium based.

他們在 2014 年做出第一例，叫做 MOF-801，是以鋯來製作。

When tested in a water harvester it worked entirely passively,

在集水器進行測試時，過程完全是被動的，

absorbing and condensing water overnight and giving it up again when the sun warmed it up.

一整晚都在吸收水和壓縮水，太陽變暖時將其再次排放。

So the concept worked, and used a lot less energy than the other way of extracting water from low humidity air,

所以說，概念很有效，與其他從潮濕空氣提取水的方式相比，也使用較少的能量，

which involves cooling the air below freezing.

而且它們還要將空氣冷卻至冰點以下。

But Zirconium is expensive, so the scientists set to developing MOF-303

但鋯非常貴，所以科學家開始發展出 MOF-303

based on the much cheaper element aluminum.

用便宜許多的鋁元素來製作。

Not only is the new MOF cheaper, it also performs much better.

新的 MOF 不僅更便宜，而且性能也更好。

It can hold 30% more water and fill up and empty in just 20 minutes in the right conditions.

它可以容納多 30% 的水，而且在適當的情況下，能在 20 分鐘填滿和清空。

And because the MOF was designed to leave no traces of organic or inorganic material in the water,

因為 MOF 的設計目的是在水中不留下有機或無機物，

it's completely pure and drinkable right away.

所以它是完全乾淨，可立即飲用。

Using the same passive technique in a harvester left overnight in the Arizona desert,

在亞利桑那州的沙漠中，集水器整晚使用同樣被動的技術，

one kilogram of MOF-303 harvested 0.2 liters of water.

MOF-303 一公斤收穫了 0.2 公升的水。

Now I know what you're thinking. That doesn't sound like a lot of water. And you're right.

我知道你在想什麼。聽起來沒有很多水，沒錯。

But the good news is the aluminum based MOF's ability to fill and empty in minutes can be exploited.

但好消息是，鋁製的 MOF 在幾分鐘內填充和清空的功能，可以好好利用一下。

The scientists changed up their design.

科學家改變他們的設計。

Instead of passively relying on a day night cycle, their latest harvester relies on solar powered fans

與其被動依賴晝夜週期，他們最新的集水器依靠太陽能風扇

and heaters to run dozens of cycles a day.

和加熱器每天運行數十次循環。

Ideally it can make more than 1.3 liters of water per kilogram of MOF each day,

理想情況下，MOF 每天每公斤可以產生 1.3 公升的水，

and the researchers hope to get that number as high as 8 or 10 liters per kilogram.

而研究人員希望每公斤的數字可以提高到 8 或 10 公升。

The lead researcher behind this has started a private company called Water Harvesting.

背後的首席研究員建立了一家名為 Water Harvesting 的私人公司。

The plan is to launch a microwaved sized device that can supply 2 adults with enough drinking water

計劃是要推出一種微波爐大小的設備，可以為 2 位成年人提供足夠的飲用水，

for their daily hydration and cooking needs.

以滿足他們日常的水合作用和烹飪需求。

Eventually they envision a harvester big enough to supply a small village.

最後，他們預計做出足夠供給一個小村莊的集水器。

If the devices are affordable, safe, and reliable enough,

如果設備價格合理、安全又可靠，

these metal-organic frameworks have the potential to turn even the driest deserts into oases.

這些金屬有機框架甚至可能將最乾燥的沙漠變成綠洲。

Clean drinking water has always been a challenge for humanity, and sometimes we make mistakes.

乾淨的飲用水對人類來說一直是個挑戰，而我們有時會犯錯。

Like when we decided lead pipes were a good idea.

就像我們認為鉛管是個好主意一樣。

Thankfully, researchers are developing ways to render the poisonous pipes harmless.

幸好，研究人員正在開發將有毒管路變無害的方法。

Amanda has more here.

Amanda 在這裡告訴你更多內容。

If you liked this video let us know in the comments, and don't forget to subscribe.

如果你喜歡這部影片的話，在下方留言讓我們知道，也別忘了訂閱。

Thanks for watching and I'll see you next time on Seeker.

感謝觀看，我們下次在 Seeker 見。