A team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has discovered a phenomenon that radically changes our understanding of nature and could lead to the development of completely new technologies.
This process, called the «photomolecular effect,» demonstrates for the first time that water can evaporate without a heat source, using only light, The Independent reports.
The research could also unlock the mystery that has puzzled scientists and climatologists for 80 years — why clouds absorb sunlight in a way that contradicts physical laws.
«The discovery of light-induced evaporation, rather than heat-induced, provides new revolutionary insights into the interaction of light and water. This can help us better understand how sunlight impacts clouds, fog, oceans, and other natural water bodies, affecting weather and climate… This research falls into the rare category of truly revolutionary discoveries, which do not always immediately receive widespread recognition, but their confirmation requires time, sometimes a long time,» noted Sulin Rouhan, a professor of engineering at Purdue University who was not involved in the research.
This discovery could impact many aspects of life — from predicting climate and weather changes to developing new methods for energy production and water purification.
