World's First Synthetic Tree for Heat Transfer, Soil Remediation

The world’s first synthetic tree was created in Abraham Stroock’s lab at Cornell University using a palm-sized clear, flexible hydrogel – similar to that found in soft contact lens. The research published in Nature confirms the theory that transpiration in trees and plants is a purely physical process, not requiring biological energy.

“The capillary action used in trees might be applicable to developing new passive heat-transfer methods”, Stroock said. More so, the principle used in the synthetic tree may also be the mechanism in better soil remediation systems such that instead of having to soak contaminated soil to pump contaminants out, transpiration could help pull the contaminated fluid out of the soil without the use of more liquid. For dry areas, this technology could also be used to draw water out of relatively dry soil without having to dig a well down to the water table.

For more details on the science behind the synthetic tree see the article at http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Sept08/stroock.trees.aj.html