Lunar thirst-quencher? University of Colorado Boulder’s Anthony Straub is making waves in the world of water purification. His cutting-edge nanotechnology membrane process is catching NASA’s eye for future Moon bases, the university reports. Straub, an assistant professor of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, has snagged a NASA Small Business Innovation Research grant to develop a pilot water purification system for our future lunar neighbors.

Honey, I shrunk the water filter! Straub’s revolutionary membrane operates on a scale that would make even Ant-Man jealous – a mere 100 nanometers, which is 160 times smaller than a human hair. This tiny titan traps a thin layer of air, forcing water to play a game of evaporation limbo before re-condensing on the other side. The result? Nearly pure H2O that leaves impurities in the dust. « What we’ve designed traps a very small layer of air inside a membrane, » Straub explained on the University of Colorado Boulder’s website, « and the only way for the water to cross the barrier is by evaporating and then re-condensing on the other side, which impurities inherently cannot do. »

From Moon Rocks to Silicon Valley

While NASA dreams of lunar hydration stations, this tech could make a splash right here on Terra Firma. Municipal water systems might get a refresh, but the real golden ticket could be in the semiconductor industry. Chip manufacturers are thirstier than ever for ultrapure water, demanding less than one 10-nanometer particle per milliliter. That’s like finding a single person on an empty Earth! However, scaling up this nano-wonder for widespread use could face some not-so-tiny hurdles in production costs and energy efficiency.

Water, water everywhere – and soon, every drop to drink? Spotting a tidal wave of potential, Straub and his PhD student, Kian Lopez, dove into the deep end of entrepreneurship. They founded Osmopure Technologies, Inc. in January 2023. As space agencies eye long-term lunar living and Earth-bound industries seek sustainable solutions, Straub’s nanotech membranes could be the key to unlocking a future where clean water flows freely – from the dusty Moon to the heart of Silicon Valley.