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Science of DIY Water Filter Animation

April 2, 2021 by Nicolle Fuller Leave a Comment

Science of DIY Water Filter Animation

Nanoscientist Krithika Ramchander studies wood’s water xylem pore dynamics at the nano-scale to engineer a cost-effective water filter.

Ok, so I am kind of a geek. Who am I kidding, I am really a geek! I love learning about science and technology from my science and engineering clients. But this water filtration project has a special place in my heart. Krithika Ramchander and Dr. Rohit Karnik (MIT engineering) have been studying how to make a DIY, free, effective water filter. To help them explain the science, SayoStudio created an animation to show the details of how bacteria are filtered through the wood’s xylem.

So how DO you make a free water filter? Essentially, take a pine tree branch, bind some tubing to it with a jug of dirty water, and let gravity do the rest for clean, drinkable water. Learn how to make your own filter here, and continue on to see our animation about how the science works.

pine xylem bodered pit water filter illustration, Nicolle R Fuller SayoStudio

Animation Showing DIY Water Filter Through Xylem

Normally, xylem—straw-like tubes in plant stems—carries water and nutrients UP the tree. Scientists wondered, what will happen if water flows down through a cut piece of wood? They found that the xylem traps diarrhea-causing bacteria, like E. coli and rotavirus, effectively filtering the water.

The animation we created shows how the xylem in a cut section of wood filters out bacteria. As water soaks into the wood, it flows downward and diagonally through pores in the side walls of the xylem. These pores, called bordered pits, are actually complex structures at the nanoscale. They have a membrane made up of porous fibers that allow water molecules to flow through, but capture the relatively large bacteria cells. The homemade filters remove 99% of bacteria, meeting the World Health Organization’s standards for clean, drinkable water.

Curious how we start a technical animation like this?
In this instance, we developed the story sequence.
We start with a simple pencil on paper sketch, AKA science story board.
https://sayostudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Xylem-Filtration_1.mp4

DIY Water Filter… more information

Basic research, or science for the sake of science, is absolutely essential. But this real-world application has the potential to save lives across the globe, especially in developing nations. Ramchander and Karnik first tested their filter in their lab, then improved upon it in real-world conditions in India. They made a few simple modifications, by boiling the wood and soaking quickly in alcohol, to improve the filter’s longevity so that it rivals commercial products.

Learn even more science, and how to make your own filter here (water filter science project anyone?).


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Related posts:

  1. 2013 AOI Science Illustration Awards
  2. Science Journal Cover Art – Why Hire an Illustrator?
  3. How to Find a Visual Science Communicator to Illustrate Your Story
  4. SayoStudio Science Animation

Animation,  Science,  Science Illustration,  Scientist Feature animation case study,  bacteria,  bioengineering,  border pit,  clean water,  DIY filter,  do-it-yourself filter,  ecoli,  pine xylem,  science animation,  scientific animation,  scientific illustration,  water filter,  xylem

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The Cancer Discovery Journal Collection was provid The Cancer Discovery Journal Collection was provided to the attendees of the @aacr_foundation's Annual Meeting this April. The KRAS gene, commonly mutated in cancer, was highlighted in this collection. 

Art for the Cancer Discovery Journal Collection by Claire Agosti, SayoStudio.
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#cancerdiscovery #aacr #americanassociationofcancerresearch #medicalart #medicalillustration #sciart #scicomm #scienceillustration #art #digitalart #kras #krasmutation #genetherapy #sciencecommunication
Did you know scientists sometimes test the Standar Did you know scientists sometimes test the Standard Model of physics using lasers? âš¡

In 2014, scientists at harvard zapped molecules with a laser and observed the way light reacted afterwards. It was thought that heavy particles would be surrounding the electrons, however none were observed. 

The experiment leads researchers to other avenues to explore the presence of dark matter particles, and the implications those might have on the Standard Model as a whole.

Art for @nsf_gov by Nicolle R. Fuller, SayoStudio. 
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#nsf #nsffunded #electronuncertainty #lasers #harvard #particlephysics #standardmodel #physics #physicsart #digitalart #sciart #scicomm #sciencecommunication #scienceart #scienceillustration #electron
Happy Friday everybody! Check out this opener illu Happy Friday everybody! Check out this opener illustration for @aacr_foundation's Cancer Discovery journal...👀

Our Art Director Claire Agosti makes fabulous tessellations (or repeating designs) to accompany the journal's latest medical research.
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#sciart #scicomm #scienceillustration #scientificillustration #scienceart #medicalart #medicalillustration #aacr #cancerdiscovery #art #artstudio #digitalart #vectorart #illustrator
Some project ideas don’t always make the cut…b Some project ideas don’t always make the cut…but we really liked this one! Should we finish it? 🤔

Work in progress time-lapse by Nicolle R. Fuller, SayoStudio.
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#timelapse #scienceillustration #scientificillustration #sciart #scicomm #artstudio #artistsofinstagram #digitalart #procreate #procreatetimelapse #scienceart #sciencecommunication
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