Researchers in Australia have come up with a new type of outdoor paint that can reduce surface temperatures by up to 6C while extracting fresh water from the atmosphere.

The invention, devised by a team from the University of Sydney and the startup Dewpoint Innovations, could help cool buildings during extreme weather, as well as tackle water scarcity in arid areas.

A six month trial of the material revealed that the coating can harvest 390ml of water per square metre each day, meaning that the daily drinking needs of one person could be met with a 12-square-metre surface coated in the paint.

"This technology not only advances the science of cool roof coatings but also opens the door to sustainable, low-cost and decentralized sources of fresh water – a critical need in the face of c

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