🌊 How do you turn seawater into drinking water?
💧 What happens inside the membranes that quietly power cities, ships, and survival efforts?
🔬 Why is reverse osmosis one of the most important technologies of our time—and why don’t more people know about it?

In Through the Membrane: The Story of Reverse Osmosis and the Quest for Fresh Water, discover the fascinating science, history, and global impact of one of the most underappreciated breakthroughs in modern engineering.

From ancient salt-removal experiments and post-war desalination trials to cutting-edge nanomaterials and biomimicry, this deeply researched and accessible book walks readers through how reverse osmosis emerged, evolved, and now helps solve one of humanity’s most urgent challenges: access to clean water.

You’ll meet the pioneers—Sidney Loeb, Srinivasa Sourirajan, and others—who transformed a laboratory theory into a global lifeline. You’ll explore the physics of pressure, membranes, and molecules. And you’ll see how countries like Israel, Australia, and Saudi Arabia turned oceans into reservoirs, using reverse osmosis to fuel development, stability, and resilience.

Perfect for young adults, students, engineers, and curious minds of all kinds, this book offers:

• A clear, engaging introduction to the science of osmosis and membrane filtration

• The invention and refinement of reverse osmosis technology

• Real-world case studies from California to the Middle East

• The future of desalination: aquaporins, graphene, and renewable-powered systems

• No politics. No hype. Just science, history, and hope.

Whether you're interested in environmental engineering, sustainable technology, or simply how the modern world works, Through the Membrane will open your eyes to the invisible systems that keep our taps running and our future flowing.