This video describes a newly discovered photomolecular effect. While the video makes quite a few speculations about the use of this newly discovered effect, the science behind it offers even more new uses. I’ll summarize some of the key points.
- MIT scientists have discovered that light photos can evaporate water DIRECTLY and not by heating. The photon itself breaks the bonds of water molecules allowing them to evaporate without the need for heat.
- This is similar to the photoelectric effect that Einstein demonstrated that light can knock electrons off of metal surfaces.
- The Photomolecular effect was up to four times greater than the thermal only evaporation ability, meaning that light can evaporate water much faster than heat alone.
- The Photomolecular effect also describes how water vapor in air actually cools the air.
- The light wavelength that seems to be the best for the photomolecular effect seems to be a green light wavelength at 520 nanometers at a 45 degree angle in respect to the water surface.
- The photomolecular effect not only evaporates water faster, but when the water vapor collides with air it cools the air as the air molecules give up some of their energy to break the water’s molecular bonds. This technology will help to develop new advances in desalination of sea water and in environmental cooling systems.
- The photomolecular effect may also help explain why clouds seem to absorb more light than it seems they should. If the light is used to break water molecules and the air is cooling down because of more rapid evaporation, then our weather forecasting climate models might be made more accurately.
- Was the photomolecular effect what Tesla intuited when he referenced “unlimited energy”? It is certainly probably a part of it!