So much of fluid dynamics comes down to finding the right way to observe a flow. This image of a swirling tropical system was captured by an astronaut aboard the Keep reading
Tag: astronaut
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
“The World Below”
Since the first cosmonauts and astronauts entered orbit around our planet, they’ve held a unique perspective. Thanks to the timelapse photography of recent astronauts aboard the ISS and the editing Keep reading
Hair-Washing in Microgravity
I imagine that the most common questions astronauts get come in the form, “How do you do X in space?” In this video, astronaut Karen Nyberg demonstrates how she washes her Keep reading
Blowing Bubbles in Space
Blowing bubbles in your fruit juice is a bad idea when you’re in space, as astronaut Jack Fischer demonstrates. On Earth, gravity dominates water’s behavior, except when things are very Keep reading
Sloshing in Space
Last month, French astronaut Thomas Pesquet posted a video of some experiments he did on the International Space Station exploring the movement of fluids in microgravity. He filmed the experiments Keep reading
Microgravity Can Change Vision
In recent years, astronauts have reported their vision changing as a result of long-duration spaceflight. Pre- and post-flight studies of astronauts’ eyes showed flattening along the backside of the eyeball, Keep reading
Avoiding Coalescence
If you watch closely as you go about your day, you may notice drops of water sometimes bounce off a pool of water instead of coalescing. Fluid dynamicists have been Keep reading
Coffee-Making in Space
In this video, Kjell Lindgren demonstrates his technique for making coffee aboard the Space Station. Astronauts usually drink coffee reconstituted from powder, or, on special occasions, enjoy a beverage from Keep reading
Drinking in Space
Earlier this year, the Capillary Beverage experiment launched to the International Space Station with new open-topped “Space Cups” for astronauts to test. Now those of us back on Earth are Keep reading