Celebrating the physics of all that flows with Nicole Sharp, Ph.D.
- Profile
Spiderwebs and Stratocumulus Clouds
Stratocumulus clouds cover about 20% of Earth’s surface at any given time, and they form distinctive patterns of lumpy cells separated by thin slits. Because of their interconnectedness, researchers nicknamed these narrow regions spiderwebs. New simulations show that evaporative cooling along the cloud tops drives the formation of these spiderwebs (Image 2). Without it (Image…
The Unsinkable Pygmy Gecko
The Brazilian pygmy gecko is a tiny inhabitant of the Amazon rainforest, growing to no longer than 24 mm. But these tiny lizards have some incredible superpowers when it comes to surviving the rainforest’s deluges. The gecko’s surface is superhydrophobic — water repellent — thanks to millions of tiny hairs that create air pockets between…
The Fluidity of Worm Blobs
The aquatic blackworm forms blobs composed of thousands of individual worms for protection against evaporation, light, and heat. The worms braid themselves together (Image 1). Once a blob forms, it is extremely viscoelastic, displaying properties both solid and fluid in nature (Image 2). The worm blobs act like a collective; they bunch up to prevent…
“Flux Capacitor”
Sandro Bocci’s short film “Flux Capacitor” explores the geometry and dynamics of soap films. When you dip wire models into soapy solution, the films that cling to the model can form complicated shapes as surface tension works to minimize the overall surface area. Bocci’s macro photography highlights the intense flows going on in the narrow…
Gathering Droplets
In deserts around the world, plants have adapted to collect as much moisture as they can. Geometry aids them in this endeavor because droplets on the tip of a cone will move toward its thicker base. The motion takes place due to a imbalance in surface tension forces on either end of the droplet. As…
Jellyfish Make Their Own Walls
When we walk, the ground’s resistance helps propel us. Similarly, flying or swimming near a surface is easier due to ground effect. Most of the time swimmers don’t get that extra help, but a new study shows that jellyfish create their own walls to get that boost. Of course, these walls aren’t literal, but fluid…
Coastal Erosion
The same dynamic forces that make coastlines fascinating create perennial headaches for engineers trying to maintain coastlines against erosion. This Practical Engineering video discusses some of the challenges of coastal erosion and how engineers counter them. In a completely undeveloped coastline, waves and storms erode the shoreline while rivers and currents replenish sand through sedimentation.…
Why Food Sticks to Nonstick Pans
Whether you’re cooking with ceramic, Teflon, or a well-seasoned cast iron pan, it seems like food always wants to stick. It’s not your imagination: it’s fluid dynamics. As the thin layer of oil in your pan heats up, it doesn’t heat evenly. The oil will be hotter near the center of the burner, which lowers…
“Mini Planets”
In Thomas Blanchard’s “Mini Planets” oil-coated paint droplets swirl on colorful backgrounds. With band-like streaks, they truly do look like miniature planets rotating. I love that a few of them even have distinctive vortices! (Image and video credit: T. Blanchard)
When Honey Flows Faster Than Water
With its high viscosity, no one would ever pick honey to beat water in a race. But a new study shows there’s at least one circumstance where honey wins: inside a narrow, superhydrophobic tube with one or both ends closed. Inside these specially coated tubes a narrow cushion of air stays between the drop and…