Australian Science Illustrated — Issue 54 2017

scienceillustrated.com.au | 45

from anything from factories to motorists.
Moreover, technology has lent a helping hand.
Particle filters and chemical purification of
smoke from diesel engines can remove some
90% of the harmful substances, before the
smoke escapes the exhaust pipe. In power
plants, sulphur is removed from coal, reducing
smog by at least 60 %.
But most importantly, the government has
realized that particle filters and sulphur
removal are band-aids at best. The long-term

solution involves halting the burning of coal

and fuel in cities. So, China has allocated more

than $400 billion to expanding renewable

energy towards 2020, and toward putting

more electric cars on Chinese roads than in any

other place in the world. Before the Chinese

know it, the problem could be solved, as the

hazardous particles have very short lives in the

atmosphere. If the pollution stops altogether,

the air will clear in a few weeks or months to

give Beijing its blue sky back.

Hovering jellyfi sh purify the air

A Chinese project is to relieve the severe smog problems in the

region of Chongqing by means of a fleet of air-purifying “jellyfish”,

which hover above the city.

1

An internal helium

balloon keeps the

“jellyfish” hovering 2-300

m above the ground, where

they are most efficient at

absorbing the air pollution.

2

Inside the “jellyfish”,

microorganisms help

convert the captured smog

particles into fertiliser and

pure water.

3

Via hoses, fertiliser and

water are sent down to

small farms in the city or on

the roofs of skyscrapers.

According to the team

behind the project,

one station can purify 2,800+ l

of water a year.

In 2016, a smog cleanser was

erected in Beijing. The 7-m-high

tower removed hazardous

particles from the air, compressing

them into small cubes. However,

subsequent studies showed that

the effect of the smog cleanser

was extremely local. A reduced

concentration of harmful particles

could only be measured very close

to the device.

HELIUM BALLOON

WATER LINE

MICROORGANISMS

CLEANSER WAS

INEFFICIENT

Wild

Vision

STUDIO ROOSEGAARDE

HAO TIAN, HUANG HAIYANG, SHI JIANWEI

IN 2015, INDUSTRY ACCOUNTED

FOR 40 % OF CHINA'S

TOTAL ECONOMY.