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Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by m463 on Thursday November 02, 2023 @06:49PM (#38121489)
> I'm not really sure whether to even call it evaporation

I can't help but think of ultrasonic humidifiers/misters, which use vibration to do evaporation-adjacent kinds of things.

I also wonder if specific wavelengths of light are involved (sort of how 2.4ghz microwaves work on water)

Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by grishka on Thursday November 02, 2023 @10:27PM (#38123647)
Water particles produced by an ultrasonic humidifier are larger than those of real steam. I know it because I have one and if I run it for long enough, everything gets covered in a nasty white residue, probably salts from the water. Real evaporation doesn't do that.
Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by tjmc on Thursday November 02, 2023 @10:41PM (#38123779)
Most datacentres ban the use of ultrasonic humidifiers for exactly this reason.
Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by jordan_curve on Thursday November 02, 2023 @10:33PM (#38123712)
isn't it generally recommended to use distilled water in these humidifiers for exactly this reason?
Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by ponyboy123 on Friday November 03, 2023 @12:42AM (#38124620)
I think the difference is that evaporation creates water vapor, whereas an ultrasonic dehumidifier is creating water droplets, some of which are very small, but are still droplets that can carry minerals from the water
Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by Modified3019 on Friday November 03, 2023 @05:15AM (#38126254)
Yep, both the minerals, and the microorganisms breeding in the water get thrown into the air.

For constant use, I personally recommend "evaporation humidifiers" that use a wick and fan to induce evaporation. The wick will need to be replaced every several weeks.

Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by dr_dshiv on Friday November 03, 2023 @03:32AM (#38125602)
Cue “burning” salt water video: https://youtu.be/e8utkoK2DhA?si=t2cvuu4V-hFKFjM8

I’m still blown away that radio frequencies can dissociate hydrogen without an electrode. I haven’t read a good explanation of the phenomenon.

Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by _nalply on Friday November 03, 2023 @04:25PM (#38134519)
I wonder how strong the radiation was. If strong enough it dissociates and then by burning it gives back the energy... Looks like a fake perpetuum mobile...
Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by dr_dshiv on Friday November 03, 2023 @06:27PM (#38135879)
Yeah, obviously strong enough to make the energy balance. But still awesome.
Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by _nalply on Saturday November 04, 2023 @03:32AM (#38138922)
Yes it's awesomeness reminds me of the Tcherenkoff light I once saw with my own eyes. It was a deep pool of a test reactor and I even asked the guide if I am allowed to put my index finger into the water. It was warm. I looked long and deep at the fascinating white-blue light in the water.

It is so awesome that no public relations work is needed. The thing speaks for itself and is so convincing.

Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by sheepscreek on Friday November 03, 2023 @08:06PM (#38136642)
Ever heard of a Plasma gun? Or pressurized water cutting? Heck Lasers do the same thing.

In every case, it’s really a collision between different particles at various energy levels, leading to different results.

Take an extremely fast neutron and collide it with an atom, and you could alter the chemical composition of the atom/end up with a different element (basic principle of breeder reactors). Fascinating stuff.

Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by sheepscreek on Friday November 03, 2023 @08:02PM (#38136623)
This was also my first thought! And they seem to cool the air nearby. The above explanation makes sense (where bonds are broken in the air).
Re:In a surprising finding, light can make water evaporate w... by araes on Saturday November 04, 2023 @05:54PM (#38145575)
I suspect you're correct, at least partially.

My personal suspicion is that the light waves are hitting the extremely diffuse binder material and then ejecting the water light a billiard ball or a solar sail effect. It may have a resonance (vibration) with the binder structure. See below image for example of binder material.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Short-pe...