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When youre on a camping trip, you might have to pack your own food and maybe something to filter or treat water that you find. But imagine your campsite is in space, where theres no water, and packing jugs of water would take up room when every inch of cargo space counts. Thats a key challenge engineers faced when designing the International Space Station (ISS). Before NASA developed an advanced water recycling system, water made up nearly half the payload of shuttles traveling to the ISS. I am an environmental engineer and have conducted research at Kennedy Space Centers Space Life Sciences Laboratory. As part of this work, I helped to develop a closed-loop water recovery system. Today, NASA recovers over 90% of the water used in space. Clean water keeps an astronaut crew hydrated, hygienic, and fed, as it can use it to rehydrate food. Recovering used water is a cornerstone of closed-loop life support, which is essential for future lunar bases, Mars missions, and even potential space settlements. A close-up view of the water recovery systems racks these contain the hardware that provides a constant supply of clean water for four to six crew members aboard the ISS. [Photo: NASA] NASAs environmental control and life support system is a set of equipment and processes that perform several functions to manage air and water quality, waste, atmospheric pressure, and emergency response systems such as fire detection and suppression. The water recovery systemone component of environmental control and life supportsupports the astronauts aboard the ISS and plays a central role in water recycling. Water systems built for microgravity In microgravity environments like the ISS, every form of water available is valuable. The water recovery systems on the ISS collect water from several sources, including urine, moisture in cabin air, and hygienemeaning from activities such as brushing teeth. On Earth, wastewater includes various types of water: residential wastewater from sinks, showers and toilets; industrial wastewater from factories and manufacturing processes; and agricultural runoff, which contains fertilizers and pesticides. In space, astronaut wastewater is much more concentrated than Earth-based wastewater. It contains significantly higher levels of ureaa compound from urinesalts, and surfactants from soaps and materials used for hygiene. To make the water safe to drink, the system needs to remove all of these quickly and effectively. The water recovery systems used in space employ some of the same principles as Earth-based water treatment. However, they are specifically engineered to function in microgravity with minimal maintenance. These systems also must operate for months or even years without the need for replacement parts or hands-on intervention. NASAs water recovery system captures and recycles nearly all forms of water used or generated aboard the space station. It routes the collected wastewater to a system called the water processor assembly, where it is purified into safe, potable water that exceeds many Earth-based drinking water standards. The water recovery and treatment system on the ISS consists of several subsystems. Recovering water from urine and sweat The urine processor assembly recovers about 75% of the water from urine by heating and vacuum compression. The recovered water is sent to the water processor assembly for further treatment. The remaining liquid, called brine, still contains a significant amount of water. So, NASA developed a brine processor assembly system to extract the final fraction of water from this urine brine. In the brine processor assembly, warm, dry air evaporates water from the leftover brine. A filter separates the contaminants from the water vapor, and the water vapor is collected to become drinking water. This innovation pushed the water recovery systems overall water recovery rate to an impressive 98%. The remaining 2% is combined with the other waste generated. The filter used in brine processing has helped achieve 98% recovery. [Photo: NASA] The air revitalization system condenses moisture from the cabin airprimarily water vapor from sweat and exhalationinto liquid water. It directs the recovered water to the water processor assembly, which treats all the collected water. Treating recovered water The water processor assemblys treatment process includes several steps. First, all the recovered water goes through filters to remove suspended particles such as dust. Then, a series of filters removes salts and some of the organic contaminants, followed by a chemical process called catalytic oxidation that uses heat and oxygen to break down the remaining organic compounds. The final step is adding iodine to the water to prevent microbial growth while it is stored. The output is potable wateroften cleaner than municipal tap water on Earth. Getting to Mars and beyond To make human missions to Mars possible, NASA has estimated that spacecraft must reclaim at least 98% of the water used on board. While self-sustaining travel to Mars is still a few years away, the new brine processor on the ISS has increased the water recovery rate enough that this 98% goal is now in reach. However, more work is needed to develop a compact system that can be used in a space ship. The journey to Mars is complex, not just because of the distance involved, but because Mars and Earth are constantly moving in their respective orbits around the Sun. The distance between the two planets varies depending on their positions. On average, theyre about 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) apart, with the shortest theoretical approach, when the two planets orbits bring them close together, taking 33.9 million miles (54.6 million kilometers). A typical crewed mission is expected to take about nine months one way. A round-trip mission to Mars, including surface operations and return trajectory planning, could take around three years. In addition, launch windows occur only every 26 months, when Earth and Mars align favorably. As NASA prepares to send humans on multiyear expeditions to the red planet, space agencies around the world continue to focus on improving propulsion and perfecting life support systems. Advances in closed-loop systems, robotic support and autonomous operations are all inching the dream of putting humans on Mars closer to reality. Berrin Tansel is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Florida International University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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E-Commerce
Whether youre sitting at your desk at work or shopping at the grocery store, you can feel it: the shared sense of uncertainty in the air. Economic indicators are shifting; tariffs have impacted trade flows, and experts predict the nations growth rate may be cut in half. Combined with broad geopolitical instability, this sense of economic uneasiness has seen consumer sentiment dip to its second-lowest point since 1952. In this challenging climate, even industry giants like Target, Walmart, and Apple are forecasting declines in profits and sales. Yet, history shows that periods of uncertainty often spark innovation and resilience. Brands that can adapt, communicate clearly, and build trust with their customers are well positioned not just to endure, but to lead. So, what can business leaders facing such turbulence do to persevere? Return to the compass that always points to a way to growth: delivering for the consumer. Showing up consistently, adapting with purpose, and becoming the steady heartbeat in their customers increasingly chaotic world. The Power of Purpose in Uncertain Times As a counterbalance to all the bad news, resilient brands can become a source of strength and reassurance by understanding their consumers and delivering positive impact. In times of uncertainty, brands can improve their customers day-to-day by bringing moments of joy and meaning into their lives. Whats more, they can also deepen those consumer connections by demonstrating alignment with customer values and aspirations for the future. New research supports this call to action: 86% of consumers say brands play an important role in delivering a positive human future. But only 15% of companies are actively investing in efforts aligned to that purpose, a gap that speaks volumes. Consumers are quite willing to reward brands they see as positive difference-makers. Theyre nearly three times more likely to pay a premium, try new products and services, and even forgive mistakes from brands they think are working towards a better world. This is especially true among Gen Z consumers and younger generations, who prioritize brands that align with their ethical and social principles. So, what does it really mean to deliver a positive human future, and how can brands demonstrate the commitment consumers are seeking? It doesnt mean you have to solve every global issueyou just have to show consumers that you understand their challenges and respond in ways that align to their values. When a single headline can shake markets and communities, consumers are looking for something steady to latch onto, and brands have the opportunity to hold strong. Think Big with Small Gestures For brands, this doesnt require a complete overhaul of business strategy or major new investments. It can start with a simple challenge: how can you show up in small, meaningful ways to brighten consumers days and give them something to look forward to? Consumers today are seeking more than transactions; they want relationships. Nearly 50% of U.S. consumers are willing to pay more for brands that understand and respond to their needsbrands that listen, learn, and use what they hear to deliver amazing experiences. Take Little Spoon, for example. The baby food company didnt build trust by making grand gestures, but instead took the time to collaborate with parents and scientists to ensure parents have a voice in their childs health. They put their money where their mouth is to provide consistent engagement with parents through its Is This Normal community platform. They created a winning product that reflects real needs and values, showing up consistently for their customers when and where they needed them. Theyve successfully become more than a packaged goodtheyre a partner in parenting, building ardent fans through shared values. To follow in similar footsteps, there are several actions brands can take, starting with active listening and reliability. By using customer insights to understand what matters most, brands can reflect those priorities in their messaging and offerings and then communicate those priorities regularly and consistently. This requires ongoing dialogue and genuine responsiveness to customer feedback and changing needs. By ensuring consumers feel seen and heard, brands will not only build a customer base but also a community. This alignment becomes particularly powerful when economic pressures mount, and consumers are making more deliberate choices about where to spend their money. Above all, its those small moments of joy that will make all the difference. Positive experiences dont require massive budgets, but they do require intentionality. Whether it’s unexpected customer service excellence, community-building initiatives, or simply consistent, reliable communication, these moments transform into lasting relationships. Building Tomorrows Resilient Brands The businesses that struggle during volatile times often share common characteristics: They become reactive rather than proactive, focus inward rather than on customer needs, or stop innovating to avoid risk. Its more important to show up for customers during times of turbulence than when the waters are calm. Every interaction becomes an opportunity to build trust. Every product decision becomes a chance to show values alignment. Every communication becomes a moment to provide clarity and reassurance. In a world where headlines shift by the hour, brands can emerge as a steady beacon. The brands that thrive arent necessarily the biggest or the loudest, but those that prioritize real connection with their consumers; those that are able to deliver impact in their day-to-day, and in the world they inhabit. When purse strings tighten, brands that build real relationships, spark joy in the uncertainty, and support a positive human future will build the kind of consumer loyalty that pays dividends through good times and bad.
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E-Commerce
Federal funding cuts have claimed their latest victim. On Friday, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced that it will wind down operations in light of a fatal federal funding shortfall. The Trump administration asked for the targeted cuts in a rescissions request coupled with a major pullback in spending on foreign aid earlier this year. Congress ultimately complied and in July voted to slash $1.1 billion in federal funding from the CPB. The Republican-led measure was split along party lines, with no Democrats voting in its favor. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit, was authorized by Congress in 1967 to manage funding for public media in the U.S. as part of President Lyndon Johnsons sweeping domestic policy agenda. Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country, CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison said. We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people. The organization funds the Public Broadcasting Service, National Public Radio, and 1,500 local TV and radio stations. Sesame Street and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, two icons of American public television, were made possible with funding through the CPB. While PBS and NPR rely less heavily on government funds, federal money is crucial to member stations in rural areas. Those outlets face an existential threat from the cutsthe latest death knell for local news in the U.S.
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E-Commerce
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