Many mixed messages have been spread about the efficacy of masks in preventing transmission of COVID-19. Nevertheless, there is good evidence that they help, as discussed in this video from Keep reading
Category: Phenomena
Ejecting Water from a Smartwatch
Making electronics water-resistant can be a challenge, but as this Slow Mo Guys video demonstrates, engineers have some clever ways to deal with unwanted liquids. The Apple Watch, for example, Keep reading
Internal Waves in the Andaman Sea
Differences in temperature and salinity create distinct layers within the ocean. When combined with flow over submerged topography — underwater canyons, mountains, and reefs — it makes waves. But those Keep reading
Traffic Flow and Phantom Jams
We’ve all experienced the frustration of traffic jams that seem to come from nowhere — standstills that occur with no accident, construction, or obstacle in sight. Traffic shares a lot Keep reading
New Details on the Sun’s Surface
As part of its shakedown, the new Inouye Solar Telescope has captured the surface of the sun in stunning new detail. Seen here are some of the sun’s turbulent convection Keep reading
Celebrating Turbulence
Laminar flow is easy to love, but turbulence is a far richer phenomenon. That’s the premise behind Veritasium’s new video (and, yes, I agree with him). In the video Derek Keep reading
Toad Singing
With spring heading into summer, many parts of the United States enjoy a nighttime chorus of frogs and toads. These amphibians are singing to attract mates and delineate territory. Some, Keep reading
How Did Pterosaurs Fly?
One of my favorite aspects of fluid dynamics is how well it pairs with so many other fields, from mathematics and space exploration to biology, medicine, and even paleontology. That Keep reading
The Eerie Singing of the Golden Gate Bridge
Recent changes to the Golden Gate Bridge’s guardrails have created a new soundscape in the Bay Area. Under high winds, the bridge gives off an eerie, otherworldly wail that can Keep reading
A Lenticular Cloud With a Curl
Lens-shaped lenticular clouds are not terribly rare in mountainous areas, but observers at Mount Washington caught a very unusual cloud near sunrise in late February. This lenticular cloud had an Keep reading