Scientists in Hong Kong and China have proposed a creative way to generate renewable energy —using a classic 'drinking bird' figurine that may feel like a throwback to high school physics class. They outlined their approach in a new study published Thursday in the online journal Device. With a 'drinking bird' as a generator, the scientists said they were able to successfully harness energy created through the natural process of water evaporation and convert it into electricity.
When placed behind a cup of water, the bird, with its head doused in water initially, would eventually tilt forward over the edge and appear to 'drink' from the cup, before swinging back upright and then repeating the same pattern of movements again. Although it looked in some ways like a toy, students learned that the 'drinking bird' was actually a simplified heat engine.