Two glass of fresh pure water on white background with sunlight deep shadow of glass.

Before Brita: A Brief History of Water Filtration

From ancient Egypt to post-industrial London, societies have long recognized the benefits of clean water and—mostly—have done what they can to provide it.
Hydraulics: six different kinds of waterwheel, used for lifting weights. Engraving c.1861

The Scientists, the Engineers, and the Water Wheel

In the eighteenth century, a mathematician, an astronomer, and an engineer each tried to apply their expertise to increasing the efficiency of water wheels.
CNC machine drilling with coolant

Uneven Impacts: The Virtual Water Trade

The virtual water trade reveals significant disparities between water-rich states and their trade partners.
From Mundus Subterraneous by Athanasius Kircher, 1641

Where Does Water Come From?

And what does the early modern search for the answer to this question tell us about the “scientific method” we colloquially accept today?
Turquoise Blue River Flowing Along Hindu Kush Mountain Range In Ghizer Valley, Gb, Pakistan.

High Water and Its Discontents

About half of the world’s population depends on water from the Hindu Kush Himalayan region. Can India's hydro-hegemony help avoid war over this limited resource?
Mono Lake

The Imperiled Inland Sea

Twenty years ago, scholar W. D. Williams predicted the loss of salt lakes around the world.
People walk on the Jialing River bed during a drought period on December 12, 2007 in Chongqing Municipality, China.

How Can Cities Keep Water Clean Now and in the Future?

As "megacities" grow in Africa and Asia, assuring residents long-term access to clean water may require a multidisciplinary approach.
Central Arizona Project (CAP) Canal, Phoenix, AZ

What Desert Cities Can Teach Us about Water

Pushed by necessity, the country’s least sustainable region evolved to master its water use. As climate heats up, other cities may adopt similar tactics.
A river

The Controversial Core of the Clean Water Act

Proposed changes to the Clean Water Act would make it more difficult to define what bodies of waters are deemed worthy of protection.
Illustration of reservoir in Austrian mountains supplying water for storage in hydroelectric turbines

Renewable Resources Call For Increased Power Storage

Solar and wind power are great renewable options, but to store the energy that's produced, we're going to to need bigger batteries.