New solar desalination breakthrough makes fresh water without toxic brine

# Summary Scientists at the University of Rochester have developed a solar desalination system that converts seawater into fresh drinking water while capturing salt and minerals as solids, eliminating the toxic brine waste produced by traditional methods. The technology uses laser-textured black metal panels that absorb sunlight to evaporate water while automatically directing salt deposits away from the active evaporation zone, preventing clogging. The system was successfully tested with water from three oceans and could potentially recover valuable minerals like lithium for battery production.