Wave equations

The Burren, Ireland

La Nouvelle Vague, the New Wave sweeps the Shannon Estuary, south of the Burren. That deep, wide channel is perhaps witnessing the second remarkable occurrence in its long history, the first being its choice by the United States before the second world war as the terminus for flying boats on scheduled flights between the two continents, America and Europe. The war prevented its continued functioning and postwar planes no longer used water stretches for landing.

Now, all going well, the new venture, the McCabe water pump, MWP, may be a winner. Invented by Dr Peter McCabe, a scientist and civil engineer, it has been developed over 20 years. The MWP is 43 metres long and four metres wide. It can produce from 100,000 to 200,000 gallons of fresh drinking water each day. It uses wave power or ocean swell. Professor Michael McCormick of Johns Hopkins University in Maryland who helped with the project says, "Not only does the pump provide a steady supply of water to people who now must rely on rainfall, but it does it in a simple and cost-effective way."

The Indian government has ordered three. In the Middle East, using fossil-fuel production, drinking water costs $3.50 per cubic metre. Water from the MWP would cost 50 US cents. How good it would be if the poor and thirsty of parched regions could be provided with one of the most basic necessities of life.

· I have good news for readers. It is almost certain that the pine marten, which had been in decline, is now increasing in numbers, especially in the west. "In a short space, the generations of living creatures are changed." (Lucretius)