Droughts could be consigned to history after scientists invented a water harvester which can pull moisture out of the air using only the power of the Sun.

The prototype, designed by scientists at MIT and the University of California, works even in desert conditions and could eventually provide households with all the drinkable water they need, simply by extracting dampness from the surrounding atmosphere.

The solar-powered harvester can provide 2.8 litres of water from the air over a 12 hour period in conditions as dry as the Mojave Desert, where the average humidity is around 20 per cent.