* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment

    Unveiling the Enigmatic: First Looks at Destruction and Puck in ‘The Sandman

    Jackie Chan Reveals This Family Member ‘Never Watched’ The Whole Of Any Of His Movies – Yahoo

    Jackie Chan Reveals This Family Member ‘Never Watched’ The Whole Of Any Of His Movies – Yahoo

    Mavs CEO holds firm on new arena, entertainment district in Dallas – Dallas News

    Mavs CEO Stands Strong on Vision for New Arena and Entertainment District in Dallas

    Entertainment: On Your Marks, Get Set, Beer Run! – Urban Milwaukee

    Get Ready to Race: The Ultimate Beer Run Experience Awaits!

    Rachel Guttman Launches Entertainment Law Firm Gutt Law, PLLC [Exclusive] – MusicRow.com

    Rachel Guttman Unveils Exciting New Entertainment Law Firm: Gutt Law, PLLC!

    HYBE Cashes In: Offloads Final Stake in K-Pop Rival SM Entertainment for $177 Million!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Bajeed Pattan Joins Forbes Technology Council as Innovation Leader – PRWeb

    Bajeed Pattan Takes the Helm as Innovation Leader at Forbes Technology Council!

    Lafayette Regional Technology Council – Tech Leadership That’s Homegrown and Future-Focused – Discover Lafayette

    Lafayette Regional Technology Council – Tech Leadership That’s Homegrown and Future-Focused – Discover Lafayette

    Drone technology demo in Cambria County showcases future of lifesaving medical deliveries – local21news.com

    Revolutionizing Healthcare: Drone Technology Takes Flight for Lifesaving Medical Deliveries in Cambria County

    Revolutionary Harvesting Technology Promises to Slash CAR-T Manufacturing Costs!

    Stop the Machines: The Rise of Anti-Technology Extremism – International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – ICCT

    Unplugged: The Surge of Anti-Technology Extremism

    Finland to head EU’s quantum defense technology project – Latest news from Azerbaijan

    Finland Takes the Lead in Pioneering EU’s Quantum Defense Technology Initiative!

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment

    Unveiling the Enigmatic: First Looks at Destruction and Puck in ‘The Sandman

    Jackie Chan Reveals This Family Member ‘Never Watched’ The Whole Of Any Of His Movies – Yahoo

    Jackie Chan Reveals This Family Member ‘Never Watched’ The Whole Of Any Of His Movies – Yahoo

    Mavs CEO holds firm on new arena, entertainment district in Dallas – Dallas News

    Mavs CEO Stands Strong on Vision for New Arena and Entertainment District in Dallas

    Entertainment: On Your Marks, Get Set, Beer Run! – Urban Milwaukee

    Get Ready to Race: The Ultimate Beer Run Experience Awaits!

    Rachel Guttman Launches Entertainment Law Firm Gutt Law, PLLC [Exclusive] – MusicRow.com

    Rachel Guttman Unveils Exciting New Entertainment Law Firm: Gutt Law, PLLC!

    HYBE Cashes In: Offloads Final Stake in K-Pop Rival SM Entertainment for $177 Million!

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Bajeed Pattan Joins Forbes Technology Council as Innovation Leader – PRWeb

    Bajeed Pattan Takes the Helm as Innovation Leader at Forbes Technology Council!

    Lafayette Regional Technology Council – Tech Leadership That’s Homegrown and Future-Focused – Discover Lafayette

    Lafayette Regional Technology Council – Tech Leadership That’s Homegrown and Future-Focused – Discover Lafayette

    Drone technology demo in Cambria County showcases future of lifesaving medical deliveries – local21news.com

    Revolutionizing Healthcare: Drone Technology Takes Flight for Lifesaving Medical Deliveries in Cambria County

    Revolutionary Harvesting Technology Promises to Slash CAR-T Manufacturing Costs!

    Stop the Machines: The Rise of Anti-Technology Extremism – International Centre for Counter-Terrorism – ICCT

    Unplugged: The Surge of Anti-Technology Extremism

    Finland to head EU’s quantum defense technology project – Latest news from Azerbaijan

    Finland Takes the Lead in Pioneering EU’s Quantum Defense Technology Initiative!

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

Future astronauts could safely drink their own urine with this Dune-like device

July 13, 2024
in Science
Future astronauts could safely drink their own urine with this Dune-like device
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A new urine filtration system could help future astronauts explore further without needing to lug around hefty water reserves.

A new urine filtration system could help future astronauts explore further without needing to lug around hefty water reserves. Credit: Karen Morales; DepositPhotos

Astronauts of the future trekking their way across barren extraterrestrial landscapes may soon do so with less fear or running out of water—or uncomfortably shuffling through their own pee—thanks to a new Dune-inspired urine filtration system. The small, backpack-like device, created by researchers from Cornell University and detailed today in Frontiers in Space Technology, could help explorers conduct lengthier space missions without the need for heavy, cumbersome water reserves. It could also help modernize astronaut’s current approach to dealing with biological waste, which essentially amounts to a large adult diaper. 

The new device would use a small silicone catheter to immediately identify and absorb an astronaut’s urine. An onboard integrated reverse and forward osmosis system would filter out toxins and store the remaining liquid as safe, drinking water. If successful, researchers say the novel filtration system would provide astronauts with a “continuous supply of potable water” that could allow them to explore their environments without having to lug around heavy water reserves. That simplified mobility could come in handy, especially as NASA plans for several manned moon missions in coming years that place scientific exploration at the forefront. 

The proposed ‘Urine Collection Device’ would weigh in at eight kilograms and filter a typical urination in less than five minutes. Credit: Karen Morales

Astronauts have too much pee and not enough water 

The process for relieving oneself during a spacewalk isn’t glamorous. Current spacesuits feature what’s called a “Maximum Absorbency Garment,” (MAG) that can retain around 300 times its weight in fluids. MAGs, which despite their abbreviated title are essentially highly absorbent diapers, can hold around two liters of urine, blood, and feces. That might sound like a lot until one realizes just how much time space explorers may have to spend away from a toilet. Astronauts are expected to have around seven urinations a day and a typical spacewalk for repairs or scientific research, on average, lasts six and a half hours. (Excursions topping out over eight hours aren’t unheard of either). 

To put it mildly, many astronauts aren’t thrilled about the idea of conducting that crucial, often high-stakes work with a sagging bottom. In some cases, researchers say astronauts have opted to eat smaller, calorie light meals to cut down on the amount of waste created in their suit. But that strategy can simultaneously impair their ability to perform at their mental and physical best. Prolonged time spent in a filthy MAG diaper also inherently increases the odds of skin irritation or even infection. 

“This is undoubtedly an environment not conducive to optimal performance or the maintenance of heath,” the researchers write. 

But wet diapers are only half of the problem. Spacewalks are physically demanding operations and can easily lead to dehydration if astronauts aren’t properly hydrated. Current spacesuits come equipped with an In-Suit Drink Bag (IDB) filled with just 32 ounces of water. Past simulations of astronauts responding to a hypothetical rover failure in space resulted in the astronauts chugging through 50%-100% of their allocated water supply. And that’s just now. Future planned Artemis missions to the Moon and Mars will require astronauts to spend far greater lengths of time on spacewalks and exploratory missions than they do currently. They will need access to much more water to survive in those environments. 

“Astronauts currently have only one liter of water available in their in-suit drink bags,” Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University Research Staff Member Sofia Etlin said. “This is insufficient for the planned, longer-lasting lunar spacewalks, which can last ten hours, and even up to 24 hours in an emergency.” 

The Cornell researchers believe they may have found a solution with a prototype “Urine Collection Device” (UCD) that could help address both of those problems at the same time. The device would absorb exuded by astronauts, filter it, and then add back in nutrients to create viable drinking water. The process notably would not apply to feces or sweat. All told, the entire process of filtering a typical urination of 100-500mL should take under five minutes.  If any of that sounds familiar, it’s probably because the device sounds similar, in concept, to the “stillsuits” used in Frank Herbert’s 1965 sci-fi novel turned Hollywood blockbuster Dune. In that case, the novel’s Fremen are clad head-to-toe in fabric and tubes capable of turning moisture into highly valuable water. The UCD is modest by comparison. Shaped like a rigid backpack, the device has an area of  38X23 and adds eight kilograms (17 pounds) of additional weight. 

How a urine filtration device would work 

In practice, the new filtration system would replace the previous diaper with several layers of fabric meant to easily allow for the passage of urine. Unlike the previous MAG system, which is intended to absorb copious quantities of urine, the UCD needs to do the opposite and absorb as little plant liquid as possible. Astronauts using the new system would wear a gender specific silicone external catheter that resembles a “cup” some athletes wear atop their genitals. An RFID tag attached to an absorbent hydrogel uses a humidity detector to know when the cup is filled with liquid. When the up is full, a vacuum pump is triggered to move the urine into the filtration device. 

Researcher created two silicon catheter ‘cups’ that collect urine before a vacuum pump sends it off to a filtration device. Credit: Luca Bielski

Once initiated, the pee passes through an antimicrobial fabric layer before being pumped to limit the amount of contact it may have with an astronaut’s skin. The device then uses an integrated forward and reverse osmosis system to filter out salt and other solutes from the urine. The resulting purified water is finally enriched with electrolytes and pumped back into the suit’s drink bag, where the astronaut can take a sip. Researchers say the filtration system recycles the urine to water with an efficiency of 85% and a minimum of 75% water recovery. That entire process is powered by a 20.5 volt battery.

Initial prototyping for the UCD is already underway. Cornell University Professor of Physiology and Biophysics and study lead author Christopher Mason says the device can be tested in simulated microgravity conditions similar to what future Artemis astronauts might experience. And while the device does add additional weight and battery considerations that could complicate a spacesuit, the researchers argue the tradeoff in terms of hygiene and water storage are “well worth it.” 

This actually isn’t the first instance of some trying to realize some elements of Dune-style stillsuits. Just last month, engineers from the YouTube channel Hacksmith Industries used a combination of personal protective equipment (PPE) and spare computer parts to create a suit capable of somewhat effectively transforming the wearer’s sweat into drinkable water. In that case, the engineers used a thermoelectric cooler embedded into the suit to turn the surrounding moisture into a liquid. Neither the Hacksmith prototype nor the UCD filtration device are one-to-one stand ins for the types of suits featured in Dune but the are both proof theoretical designs once reserved to the dense pages of sci-fi literature could play a role in reimagining real-world scientific endeavors. 

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Popular Science – https://www.popsci.com/science/astronauts-drink-urine-dune/

Tags: astronautsFuturescience
Previous Post

AI Outperforms: Stunning 82% Accuracy in Predicting Alzheimer’s Progression

Next Post

The 5 best writing apps that help avoid distractions

Some birds are left behind in a race to beat the heat – Nature

Some birds are left behind in a race to beat the heat – Nature

June 1, 2025
A passing star could fling Earth out of orbit – Science News

A passing star could fling Earth out of orbit – Science News

June 1, 2025
John Hancock Multimanager Lifestyle Moderate Portfolio Q1 2025 Commentary (JALMX) – Seeking Alpha

Unlocking Potential: Insights from the John Hancock Multimanager Lifestyle Moderate Portfolio Q1 2025

June 1, 2025
Editorial: The world promised by AI isn’t necessarily a better one – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Editorial: The world promised by AI isn’t necessarily a better one – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

June 1, 2025
Little Rock economy growing faster than other similarly-sized cities, study shows – thv11.com

Little Rock’s Economy Outpaces Peers: A Promising Growth Story!

June 1, 2025

Unveiling the Enigmatic: First Looks at Destruction and Puck in ‘The Sandman

June 1, 2025
Why Gen Z Will Demand Crypto-Enabled Health Systems – Forbes

How Gen Z is Shaping the Future of Crypto-Enabled Health Systems

June 1, 2025
State Sen. Skoufis declares war on en­ter­tainment ticketing practices in closing days of session – Spectrum News

State Senator Skoufis Takes a Stand Against Unfair Ticketing Practices in Final Session Push!

June 1, 2025
Bajeed Pattan Joins Forbes Technology Council as Innovation Leader – PRWeb

Bajeed Pattan Takes the Helm as Innovation Leader at Forbes Technology Council!

June 1, 2025
With college sports in limbo and key issues coming to a head, the spotlight is on the SEC: ‘It’s going to get heated’ – Yahoo Sports

SEC Showdown: Tensions Rise as College Sports Face Uncertain Future

June 1, 2025

Categories

Archives

June 2025
MTWTFSS
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30 
« May    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (656)
  • Economy (671)
  • Entertainment (21,577)
  • General (15,254)
  • Health (9,713)
  • Lifestyle (673)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (672)
  • Politics (679)
  • Science (15,891)
  • Sports (21,175)
  • Technology (15,658)
  • World (659)

Recent News

Some birds are left behind in a race to beat the heat – Nature

Some birds are left behind in a race to beat the heat – Nature

June 1, 2025
A passing star could fling Earth out of orbit – Science News

A passing star could fling Earth out of orbit – Science News

June 1, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version