How Water Evaporates Even in the Absence of Heat: Scientists had no knowledge about a crucial aspect of the phenomenon of evaporation in our surroundings. In the past few years, certain scientists have been taken aback by the unexpected discovery that water, when placed within a substance resembling a sponge, known as a hydrogel, was undergoing evaporation at an accelerated pace under typical lighting conditions, devoid of any external heat or heat-generating device.
Following a thorough process of conducting a multitude of new experiments and simulations, as well as re-evaluating and scrutinizing the outcomes of numerous studies, a group of esteemed researchers hailing from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has unveiled an astonishing set of findings.
According to experts, in specific circumstances where water comes into contact with air, the phenomenon of direct evaporation can occur solely through the presence of light, without the need for any external heat source. Surprisingly, this process is actually more efficient than traditional heating methods.
The experiments conducted by the researchers involved the use of water contained within a hydrogel material, however, they speculate that similar outcomes may be achievable in different environmental conditions. Yaodong Tu, a researcher from MIT, collaborated with mechanical engineer Professor Geng Chen and four other scientists to carry out these groundbreaking investigations.