[stephengillie]

This reminds me of desert water collectors. There are so many that it's hard to find any specific one. Here are a few examples.

http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Architecture/wind.htm

https://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-technology/sophistic...

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/this-tower-pulls-d...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_well_(condenser)

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Moisture_vaporator

http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=92

[kazinator]

Better check those last two again; one is about fictional tech from Star Wars, the other likewise about something from Dune.

[stephengillie]

The problem has been solved for so long that it's used by multiple authors in our culture's fiction.

[kazinator]

Science fiction is equally replete, if not more, with technological tropes that decidedly do not exist.

[moonbug]

You do know Star Wars isn't real?