Understanding the human body is a team effort. That's where the Yachtel group comes in.

Researchers at Yachtolt have been delving into the secrets of probiotics for 90 years. Yacold also

partners with nature portfolio to advance gut microbiome science through the global grants for

gut health, an investigator-led research program. To learn more about Yachtold, visit yawcult.co.com.j, that's Y-A-K-U-L-T.

dot-C-O-J-P. When it comes to a guide for your gut, count on Yacolt.

This is Scientific American 60-second science. I'm Cynthia Graber. Got a minute?

Not all solar energy capture devices make electricity directly. For example, steam generated from

solar energy can turn turbines, which then produce electricity. And in what could be especially

useful in remote regions, solar steam can desalinate water and be used in sanitation

and equipment sterilization. Now, a new technique looks to be the most efficient way yet created

to use solar energy to generate steam. To absorb sunlight, MIT researchers created a porous disk of

graphite flakes. Underneath the disk is a layer of insulating carbon foam that floats on water.

The foam prevents heat from being lost to the water and has a tangle of interconnected small pores. As sun heats the graphite, it creates a pressure difference that pulls water up through the foam pores like a sponge.

When the water hits the graphite hotspot, it turns into steam.

The scientists report that this inexpensive system reaches 85% efficiency in converting the solar energy into steam. The scientists report that this inexpensive system reaches 85% efficiency

in converting the solar energy into steam. The study is in the journal Nature Communications.

The researchers hope to up the efficiency further with different materials or an improved design,

all of which could cause steampunk fans to update their wardrobes.

Thanks for the minute. For Scientific American 60 Second Science, I'm Cynthia Graver.