Device Turns Coca-Cola Into Clean Drinking Water

Like a spectacular magic trick, a Dutch device called "the Real Thing" can take a bottle of Coca-Cola and turn it into drinking water. Using science, not magic, the device boils off water from a Coke, and then turns the resulting vapor back into water, adding minerals until it becomes clean, drinkable water.

So, what's the point of this device if you can just turn on your faucet and get the same end product without going through all the trouble? Netherlands-based multidisciplinary artist Helmut Smits actually has no plans to commercially sell his device, which is part of a museum exhibit meant to point out the sobering fact that in some areas of the world, it's easier to get a Coke than to get clean drinking water.

"I'm not planning on turning all the Coke in the world back into water, it's more to let people think about how we humans create the world around us and ask questions," Smits told Dezeen. "I just want people to laugh and then hopefully think about the sh*t that they consume."

Surprisingly, one liter of Coca-Cola can take up to nine liters of water to produce. His exhibit will be on-display at Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven until November 9. 

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Joanna Fantozzi is an Associate Editor with The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @JoannaFantozzi