Turns out humidity is good for something after all

June 18, 2015 8:15 PM

"Researchers [at Columbia University] have built devices that harness changes in atmospheric humidity to generate small amounts of electricity, lift tiny weights, and even power a toy car. In the grand scheme of things, that captured energy is not free, but it’s pretty darn close."
posted by Quietgal (21 comments total)

If they can figure out how to harness this power to run blow driers and flat irons they'll really be onto something.
posted by phunniemee at 8:19 PM on June 18, 2015 [7 favorites]

Dr. Horrible looks over at his henchman... "You hear that? Endless free energy, from humidity. He who controls the damp, controls the universe! Your hour is now, Moist!"
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:29 PM on June 18, 2015 [23 favorites]

My co-workers in DC will be happy to hear it's good for something at last!
posted by rtha at 8:33 PM on June 18, 2015 [2 favorites]

And those fools said my overbalanced wheel would never work!
posted by ckape at 8:37 PM on June 18, 2015

Dr. Horrible looks over at his henchman... "You hear that? Endless free energy, from humidity. He who controls the damp, controls the universe! Your hour is now, Moist!"

Five hundred years into the post-oil, humidity-based civilization, linguistic drift has caused the conversation “How are you today?” “I’m feeling quite moist, thanks.” to become common smalltalk.
posted by D.C. at 8:43 PM on June 18, 2015 [7 favorites]

I always wondered if you could mount energy-harvesting devices in air vents, seems this might be a perfect place for these too.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:47 PM on June 18, 2015

I know this is a somewhat simplistic reaction, but:

SCIENCE!
posted by clockzero at 8:51 PM on June 18, 2015 [2 favorites]

I've been trying to figure out how to lift these tiny weights and now I can. Thanks, science!
posted by axiom at 9:06 PM on June 18, 2015 [6 favorites]

someone please install this in my basement. i'm emptying the fucking dehumidifier 4+ times a day and my hair is still ridiculously curly.
posted by Jacqueline at 9:32 PM on June 18, 2015 [2 favorites]

Do you even condense bro?
posted by smidgen at 9:32 PM on June 18, 2015 [7 favorites]

Didn't John Galt make something like this? What happened to going on strike, huh?
posted by Rangi at 9:58 PM on June 18, 2015 [2 favorites]

Wow Science Magazine, this is the view I get to read your article on my mobile device?
posted by oceanjesse at 10:09 PM on June 18, 2015 [4 favorites]

You can buy clocks that are powered by changes in air pressure; similar devices appear to have been made for more than 250 years. The use of humidity is novel, but I don't know whether it should count as a conceptual leap.
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:57 PM on June 18, 2015 [1 favorite]

Send me humidity! It makes my stick-straight hair luscious and wavy! It's nice for this fat, middle-aged chick to feel glam from time to time!
posted by MissySedai at 11:02 PM on June 18, 2015

Moisture is the essence of wetness electricity.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 11:35 PM on June 18, 2015 [1 favorite]

So you mean that the constant 70% to 100% relative humidity means Ireland is sitting on the equivalent of an enormous oil field? In your face, Norway!
posted by kersplunk at 2:37 AM on June 19, 2015

Don't gloat too much, Midwesterners. If your mildewy basements suddenly become valuable natural resources, Southern California will find a way to assert rights to them for compensation below your actual cost.
posted by ardgedee at 3:21 AM on June 19, 2015 [3 favorites]

Hell, New Orleans could power the entire Gulf Coast, with Houston acting as an emergency back-up...
posted by jim in austin at 5:03 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]

In our defense, ardgedee, we want it more than them, and learned a lot from rocket raccoon.
posted by flaterik at 6:15 AM on June 19, 2015

If they can figure out how to harness this power to run blow driers and flat irons they'll really be onto something.

Get thee behind me, Satan.
posted by asperity at 6:17 AM on June 19, 2015

I misread the lead as "Turns out humanity is good for something after all." I was dubious. Humidity makes much more sense.
posted by slipthought at 9:58 AM on June 19, 2015 [2 favorites]