Interesting parting point? Bedol Water Powered Clock

http://incrediblethings.com/home/bedol-water-powered-clock/

If you're sick of buying batteries and want to find a more eco-friendly solution for as many devices as you can, then you'll love the ingenious design of the Bedol Water Clock. This marvel of modern science runs off of pure H20 and nothing else... no batteries, no wires, no chemicals and no gimmicks. Fill the tank with water and you won't have to refresh for almost 2 months. The translucent blue siding and silver face give this cool desk clock an attractive modern appeal.

http://www.dailygreen.de/2009/02/22/water-powered-clock-2-wasserbetriebene-uhr-ohne-batterie-670.html

Technology explanation in german...

PURDUE: Filter oil from water

http://esciencenews.com/articles/2008/11/18/new.filtering.technology.has.environmental.industrial.applications

Tokyo Fiber Sensewear

This was mentioned before as a reference for different textiles in the bathroom context. This surface can regulate wether the drops will come through from beneith, or just slide down the teflon-like surface.

http://www.triennale.it/index.php?id=1&tbl=0&idq=876

http://www.tokyofiber.com/en/

This post can be updated with more specific details, but I find this material very interesting.