Water

There is an interesting piece of research coming out of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and the University of Ulster. One of the major issues in the world today is the lack of clean water. Kevin McGuigan of the RCSI. Is working on a technique to purify water by wait for it. Leaving the water out in the Sun. Basically the UV rays in combination with heat from the sun kill the bacteria in the water making it safe. They are still researching to find out if it can be used to kill hehepatitis and dysentry etc. However there is some bacteria that are more resistant to this "solar disinfection".

However a group from the UU have discovered that a chemical titania found in whitewash can be used to breakdown these more resistant bacteria into something killable. This material can be painted onto sheets and placed in bottles and acts as aphotocatalyst under ultraviolet light. Thus it is believed that with the 2 techniques combined can produce a dirt cheap, effective water cleaning system. That has the potential to save hundreds of Millions of lives. More here.