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ScienceTechnology237 words2 min read

New Ways to Get Water From Air

person holding clear glass container
Photo by SHTTEFAN on Unsplash
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Listen to the story

Water towers have been part of towns and cities for a very long time. They are used to store water so people can use it every day. But now, many people are asking what will happen to these old structures in the future.

At the same time, new technology is offering a different way to get water. Engineers at MIT, a famous university, have built a small device about the size of a window. It uses air to produce clean drinking water.

This new invention works by taking moisture from the air and turning it into water that people can safely drink. It does not need a river, lake, or big tank to work.

Interestingly, a 13-year-old geek has also created a similar machine. He loves science and technology, and he built a device that can also make drinking water from the air.

His invention is especially useful for regions affected by drought, where clean water is often hard to find. Machines like his could give people in these areas a new and reliable source of water.

These small, modern inventions are very different from huge, old water towers. As water problems grow around the world, new technology like this may become more and more important.

It is still unclear what will happen to old water towers. But new devices show there may be smaller and smarter ways to solve water problems in the future.

Vocabulary10 words

store
to keep something for later use
structures
large built things, like towers or buildings
device
a small machine made for a special job
drinking water
water that is safe and clean to drink
moisture
small amounts of water in the air
geek
a person who is very interested in science or technology
drought
a long period with little or no rain
reliable
able to be trusted to work well
invention
something new that someone creates
technology
tools and machines made using science

Quiz

1. What is the main topic of this article?
2. Where do MIT engineers work?
3. Why is the 13-year-old's invention especially useful?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

Water towers have been part of towns and cities for a very long time. They are used to _____ water so people can use it every day. But now, many people are asking what will happen to these old _____ in the future.

At the same time, new technology is offering a different way to get water. Engineers at MIT, a famous university, have built a small _____ about the size of a window. It uses air to produce clean _____.

This new invention works by taking _____ from the air and turning it into water that people can safely drink. It does not need a river, lake, or big tank to work.

Interestingly, a 13-year-old _____ has also created a similar machine. He loves science and technology, and he built a device that can also make drinking water from the air.

His invention is especially useful for regions affected by _____, where clean water is often hard to find. Machines like his could give people in these areas a new and _____ source of water.

These small, modern inventions are very different from huge, old water towers. As water problems grow around the world, new _____ like this may become more and more important.

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