Maine’s giant, spinning ice disk is taking shape again. In 2019, it reached about 91 meters across, rotating slowly in the Presumpscot River. How exactly these features form is still Keep reading
Category: Phenomena
Volcanic Shocks
A violent underwater eruption at the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai caldera on January 15th sent literal shock waves around the world. This animation, based on satellite images from Japan’s Himawari 8, Keep reading
Cracking Droplets
Droplets infused with particles — like coffee — can leave complex stains once they evaporate. Here researchers show the complex cracking pattern that develops as a droplet with nanoparticles evaporates. Keep reading
December’s Derecho
I confess I’d never heard the term derecho before moving to Colorado, but I’ve experienced a few of these wind storms now. They’re intense! Last December’s derecho formed when a Keep reading
Swirls in the Wake
Rocky islands make excellent atmospheric swirls, as seen here around Guadalupe Island. Winds blowing in from the ocean get forced up and around the island’s topography, resulting in vortices that Keep reading
The Hot Chocolate Effect
Stir hot chocolate powder into milk or water, and you can recreate this bizarre acoustic phenomenon. Once the powder is mixed in, tapping the side of the cup creates a Keep reading
Cavitation-Induced Microjets
In cavitation, tiny bubbles of vapor form and collapse in a liquid, often sending shock waves ricocheting. In most occurrences beyond the lab, cavitation bubbles aren’t a solo act; many Keep reading
How To: Ink Flow Photography
Ever wanted to try your hand at making these cool billowing ink photos? Photographer Jason Parnell-Brookes has a detailed tutorial over at PetaPixel laying out the necessary tools and set-up. Keep reading
A Colorful Fire Tornado
This one definitely belongs in the do-not-try-this-yourself category, but this Slow Mo Guys video of a colorful fire tornado is pretty spectacular. Using an array of different fuels and a Keep reading
Breaking Compound Ligaments
When pulled, viscous liquids stretch into ligaments that thin and then break into droplets. In this video, researchers investigate how these ligaments break up, depending on their composition. The initial Keep reading