Archive · 3 Aug 2026
Teen Invents Air‑to‑Water Device to Aid Farmers in Dry Regions
Roy Kim is a 13‑year‑old student who made a small machine that can turn the air around it into water.
The machine uses a special part called a Peltier module that makes one side hot and the other cold.
Warm air goes over the cold side, and the moisture in the air turns into tiny water drops.
These drops are collected and poured straight onto plants.
Sensors in the machine watch how wet the soil is and how hot it is, so it only waters the plants when they really need it.
In tests, the machine made 10 milliliters of water in two hours, which is a good start for helping farmers who don’t have enough water.
Roy entered this project in a science competition run by 3M and Discovery Education, and he hopes his idea can grow into a big help for farmers all over the world.
13‑year‑old Roy Kim built a prototype that extracts water from ambient air using a Peltier module.
The device condenses moisture, collects 10 ml of water in two hours, and delivers it directly to plants via a valve.
Sensors monitor soil moisture, temperature, and humidity to adjust airflow and water delivery, improving irrigation efficiency.
The prototype achieved a peak efficiency of 135.8 g kWh⁻¹, demonstrating potential for low‑water‑use farming.
Kim entered the project through the 3M Young Scientist Challenge, hoping to scale the technology for water‑scarce regions.
- Who
- Roy Kim, a 13‑year‑old student in the United States
- What
- built a prototype that extracts water from ambient air for farmers
- When
- in 2023 during recent testing
- Where
- United States
- Why
- to address shrinking freshwater resources and help farmers in water‑scarce regions
- Inventor
- Roy Kim
- Device Type
- Air‑to‑water condensation system
- Prototype Output
- 10 ml in 2 hours
- Efficiency
- 135.8 g kWh⁻¹
- Competition
- 3M Young Scientist Challenge
- Goal
- Support farming in water‑scarce areas