Importance Score: 55 / 100 🔵
Four-and-a-half decades ago, filmmaker George Lucas began the “Star Wars” saga with the iconic phrase, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” However, several key elements in this space opera are surprisingly closer to reality than Lucas initially suggested.
For instance, flavoring milk with blue food coloring was feasible even at the time of the first film’s release. Fast forward to 2024, and “Star Wars”-inspired blue milk periodically hit grocery store shelves.
As environmental health and civil engineers, we recognize at least three more aspects of Lucas’ distant, ancient stories that, though they seem like science fiction, are grounded in scientific fact.
Atmospheric Water Harvesting
In “Episode IV: A New Hope,” Luke Skywalker’s uncle, Owen, was engaged in moisture farming on the desert planet of Tatooine, extracting water from the air.
While this may sound far-fetched, it was a topic of discussion at the second International Atmospheric Water Harvesting Summit, held by Arizona State University in March 2025.
The Need for Clean Water
Each individual requires roughly 0.8 gallons (3 liters) of water daily. With over 8 billion people on the planet, this translates to nearly 2.6 trillion gallons (10 trillion liters) of clean drinking water annually. Globally, rainfall could suffice, but it is distributed unevenly. Much of it ends up in oceans, becoming too salty for safe consumption.
Desert Dwellers and Water Harvesting
Deserts, covering about one-fifth of Earth’s land area, are home to approximately 1 billion people. Innovators at institutions like the University of California, Berkeley, have created solar-powered systems that produce potable water from the atmosphere. These systems use materials that capture water molecules from the air and convert them into drinkable liquid using sunlight. Nevertheless, these technologies are yet to be commercially viable and accessible to large populations.
Orbital Debris
In “Return of the Jedi,” the destruction of the second Death Star created an immense debris field. The film’s storyline conveniently explained away the mess with a hypothetical hyperspace wormhole.
Unfortunately, no such wormhole exists near Earth to dispose of space junk. Here, we face a burgeoning problem of orbital debris.
Satellite Population
By late April 2025, over 12,000 active satellites orbited the planet, with nearly 50,000 objects tracked and millions of untraceable fragments whizzing around.
Space vehicles, much like terrestrial traffic, can collide if congestion intensifies. However, spacecraft debris travels at extraordinary speeds, endangering other satellites and spacecraft.
Mitigation Efforts
Space programs, including NASA and the European Space Agency, are experimenting with technologies like nets, harpoons, and lasers to remove hazardous space debris and mitigate the clutter.
The Enigmatic Force
Midi-chlorians and Mitochondria
To most fans, the Force was an intangible energy field pervasive throughout the galaxy. The prequel trilogy, however, introduced midi-chlorians—microscopic, sentient life forms present in every living cell.
To biologists, midi-chlorians bear a striking resemblance to mitochondria, the cells’ powerhouses. Mitochondria likely originated from bacteria that coexisted symbiotically with other cells. They can communicate with various life forms, including bacteria.
There are numerous types of mitochondria, and medical professionals are exploring mitochondrial transplants to enhance cellular function and perhaps one day harness the “Force” for therapeutic purposes.
May the Fourth—and the Force—be with you.