World’s first synthetic treet

Researchers at Cornell have developed a synthetic ‘tree’ that simulates the capillary action that draws moisture up to the highest branches of a tree. It is a “long-standing theory that transpiration in trees and plants is a purely physical process, requiring no biological energy. It also may lead to new passive heat transfer technologies for cars or buildings, better methods for remediating soil and more effective ways to draw water out of partially dry ground.”