This image shows a composite X-ray (red, green, and blue) and optical (gold) view of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, located about 11,000 light years away. At the heart of Keep reading
Month: May 2023
Godspeed, Discovery!
The space shuttle, despite three decades of service, remains a triumph of engineering. Although it is nominally a space vehicle, fluid dynamics are vital throughout its operation. From the combustion Keep reading
Swimming Sandfish Lizards
Sandfish lizards can “swim” through granular flows like sand using an undulating, sinusoidal motion. Having studied this motion, engineers have built a robot that swims similarly through large glass beads Keep reading
Dancing Droplets
When a droplet falls onto a larger pool of the same liquid, it briefly sits on a layer of air that prevents coalescence. When that air drains away, the coalescence Keep reading
Shock Waves
Flow visualization really can be considered a form of art. Though we fluid mechanicians are looking for physics, we’re quite aware of the beauty of what we study. The clips Keep reading
Rafting for Rocks
Rafting for Rocks Another look at the science behind the roaming rocks of Death Valley.
Rocket Launch Phenomena
The launch of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) last year provided a rarely seen glimpse of how shock waves affect the atmosphere during launch, but only recently have researchers explained Keep reading
Reader Question: Rotor Ships
lazenby asks: Can you explain how the magnus effect makes rotor ships move? When a spinning body is placed in a flow, the body experiences a force perpendicular to the direction Keep reading
Hello, New Folks!
Lots of new faces around here at FYFD, so thanks, everyone, for spreading the word! As a reminder, you’re welcome to submit post ideas if you see something neat online Keep reading
Hole-Punch Clouds
These hole-punch clouds seen over Myrtle Beach, SC were probably caused by three aircraft flying in military formation. When airplanes pass through supercooled water vapor, the acceleration of air over Keep reading