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| Columbia University |
Hard to believe, but here it is ~ an engine powered by room-temperature water. Even harder to believe is the main component of this engine ~ a new material called hygroscopy-driven artificial muscles, or HYDRAs, living spores whose outer shell reacts to moisture. How does it work? Well, according to the article, "The engine is
placed over a puddle of room-temperature water, creating a small
enclosure. As the water on the surface naturally evaporates, the inside
of the engine becomes slightly more humid. This triggers strips of
HYDRAs to expand as they soak up some of the new-found humidity.
Collectively, these HYDRAs pull on a cord which is attached to a small
electromagnetic generator, transforming the cord's movement into energy." Granted, we're talking small engine here, but the potential seems almost limitless (story, videos, GIFs):
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a16045/evaporation-engine/
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