LAS VEGAS —
It might sound like science fiction, but for one startup in the valley, atmospheric water harvesting is reality.
In the desert valley of Las Vegas, where water is as precious as gold, a team of researchers at WAVR is working to turn the air we breathe into the water we drink.
"After three years, we successfully developed the fundamental demonstration of our technology," explained WAVR Chief Technology Officer Yiwei Gao.
The company officially launched in 2024 from inside the walls of a University of Nevada-Las Vegas laboratory, and a year later, prototypes are possible with a specialized 3D printer.
"This kind of squishy-like substance here is our hydrogel membrane," said Emilie Luong, WAVR technician.
Luong explained that the hydrogel membrane is highly water-absorbent,