[original media no longer available]
In this stunning video of a solar flare and prominence captured by NASA’s SDO mission, plasma erupts from the surface of the sun preceded by a massive shockwave (near center of frame, heading downward). The motion of the plasma is dictated not only by classical fluid mechanics but by the influence of the sun’s magnetic field in what is known as magnetohydrodynamics. (submitted by Caleb)
This computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation shows the start-up of a two-dimensional, ideal rocket nozzle. Starting a rocket engine or supersonic wind tunnel is more complicated than its subsonic counterpart because it’s necessary for a shockwave to pass completely through the engine (or tunnel), leaving supersonic flow in its wake. Here the situation is further complicated by turbulent boundary layers along the nozzle walls. (Video credit: B. Olson)