Since the New Horizons probe visited Pluto in 2015, scientists have suspected that Sputnik Planitia (a.k.a. Pluto’s Heart), shown above, may hide a subsurface ocean. But it’s tough to explain Keep reading
Month: September 2024
Guiding Particles with Chladni Patterns
During the 19th century, Ernst Chladni and Michael Faraday independently explored the patterns formed by particles of different sizes placed on a vibrating plate. Faraday found that large particles accumulated Keep reading
Giving Chocolate that Smooth Finish
Anyone who’s tried to make chocolate confections at home can tell you that achieving that perfect smooth consistency isn’t easy. It was only after Rodolphe Lindt invented the process of Keep reading
Reader Question: Inside a Vortex
Reader embersofkymillo asks: Hey FYFD, could you do some analysis/explanations behind the physics of this vortex stuff? I love when you do spots on Slow Mo Guys vids and figured Keep reading
The Leidenfrost Crack
In 1756, Leidenfrost reported on the peculiar behaviors of droplets on surface much hotter than the liquid’s boiling point. Such droplets were highly mobile, surfing on a thin layer of Keep reading
Drinking Coffee in Space
You probably don’t give much thought to the forces involved in drinking here on Earth. That’s because gravity’s effects dominate over everything else. Our cups are designed to hold a Keep reading
Wrapping Rivulets
Tea lovers have long been frustrated by the tendency of liquid jets to adhere to solid surfaces – the so-called teapot effect that makes the last vestiges of every pour Keep reading
Inside an Evaporating Drop
The evaporation of a simple droplet holds far more complexity than one would expect. If you look closely at the edge of the drop, there’s a tiny, beautiful display at Keep reading
How Rain Can Spread Pathogens
Rainfall can help spread pathogens from an infected plant to healthy ones. This transfer can happen both through droplets and by dry-dispersal of pathogen spores (top). When a raindrop hits Keep reading
Fighting Resonance
Resonance is a funny creature, as Dianna discovered when she tried to sing a rising scale through a tube. At certain notes, everyone who attempted to do it had their Keep reading