Tag Archives: Fluid Dynamics

A Broader Stance Can Stop a Sandy Slide

Posted on July 25, 2023 by rberkowitz

Experiments show that an optimal distance between points of contact helps insects and other multilegged creatures avoid slipping down a steep granular slope. Continue reading →

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Gravity Alters the Shape of an Evaporating Droplet

Posted on May 24, 2023 by rberkowitz

Whether sitting or hanging, the surface of a protein-containing droplet changes as the water escapes, an effect researchers link to the pull of gravity. Read more in APS Physics…

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How a Leak Can Stop Itself

Posted on April 12, 2023 by rberkowitz

The mass-and-spring-like behavior of a water droplet helps explain its ability to seal the leaky pipe from where it came. Continue reading →

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How Microswimmers Push Through Solid-Like Fluids

Posted on March 16, 2023 by rberkowitz

If a helical bacteria’s tail propulsion is strong enough to deform the yield-stress fluid ahead of the swimmer, locomotion proceeds. Continue reading →

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High-Resolution Wind Detection

Posted on March 3, 2023 by rberkowitz

A phase-modulated lidar system can measure the speed of distant winds at submeter scales, potentially allowing detailed maps of turbulent flows. Continue reading →

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How Sea Spray Might Disperse Large Particles

Posted on February 3, 2023 by rberkowitz

Experiments reveal new details of the process by which contaminants in the ocean could reach the atmosphere through the bursting of bubbles in foam. Continue reading →

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A Nonlinear Cavity Cools a Cantilever

Posted on January 18, 2023 by rberkowitz

Photons in a nonlinear cavity perform “negative” work on a mechanical oscillator, cooling it toward its ground state. Continue reading →

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How Freshwater Mixes in a Winter Lake

Posted on January 5, 2023 by rberkowitz

An influx of warmer water mixing with a colder ambient volume can create a dense parcel that drives bottom currents and determines the resulting circulation patterns. Continue reading →

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Schrödinger Win for Extreme Waves

Posted on September 28, 2022 by rberkowitz

Researchers create the most realistic rogue waves to date, showing dynamics that follow those expected for extreme waves in more idealized systems. Continue reading →

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Wind Farms Perform Under Pressure

Posted on September 23, 2022 by rberkowitz

Simulations show that negative wind shear can reduce the power output of wind farms. Continue reading →

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