HackerTube.dev

FREE water from AIR device: BUSTED

Thunderf00t · 579K views · 2017-05-05 · 42:44

Open on YouTube ↗

If playback is restricted in your region, try opening the original video. Use Mark watched to add it to your marked videos.

Overview

Thunderf00t critiques the MIT and Berkeley metal-organic framework device that claims to pull water from air using only solar heating. He argues the energy accounting does not work and that such devices are essentially fancy dehumidifiers.

On Hacker News

HN uses it as the standard debunking to cite whenever a new water-from-air device is announced.

Discussed on HN; no positive recommendation is recorded in this export · HN mentions 2019–2026

Topics

Fundamental physicsEnvironment, agriculture & food systemsScientific method & science communication
Search by tags
water from airdebunkingdehumidifierthermodynamicsthunderf00t

What people said

jojobas · 2026-06 · Criticism

You can wear silica gel since about 1918 - only needs some heat to get the water out and cold to condense it. Then again, why would you want to wear your dehumidifier (ok ok water harvester)? Is it for excursions into damp areas, so that you can then return to your dry home to extract water? Then, I believe everything in this video still applies. [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗
jojobas · 2026-06 · Criticism

It is a dessicant dehumidifier, useless for the same reason as this MIT/Berkley thing from 9 years ago. [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗
RaiausderDose · 2022-10 · Reference

These dehumidifiers produce half a liter a day and need around 72 watt which is maybe 1€ per liter drinking water for my area The tech is cool but not really new or a solution to all water problems, the energy cost is relatively high. More about it here: [VIDEO]

Read the original HN comment ↗

Sources

Video by Thunderf00t, played through YouTube.

Data and selection notes

HN summaries and labels may contain AI errors. HN dates refer to discussions, not video publication.

HN Library: HackerTube export (2026-10-31) and open-index/hacker-news. Upstream summaries and classifications may contain AI errors.

Views, duration and playback status refresh separately from the published catalog. When an update fails, existing data remains visible.

Selection checks
  • SaaS & AI candidates: Topic keywords do not match
  • Editor-approved picks: Editorial review is required

Rule matches identify candidates. They do not guarantee video quality or financial results.

About the library and its sources