Some rocky planetary bodies, like Jupiter‘s moon Ganymede, generate magnetic fields through snow-like, solid precipitation that falls in their liquid metal cores. To study this peculiar and complex arrangement, researchers Keep reading
Tag: buoyant convection
Mixing Fresh and Salty
Earth’s oceans are a complex and dynamic environment, but fortunately, we can simulate some of their physics on a smaller scale in the laboratory. The time series of images above Keep reading
Convection from a Heat Source
Convection is a major driver in many flows in nature. In this film, the UCLA Spinlab demonstrates buoyant convection caused by a local heat source. They deposit dye on a Keep reading
Convective Impressionism
Buoyant convection, driven by temperature-dependent changes in density, is a major force here on Earth. It’s responsible for mixing in the oceans, governs the shape of flames, and drives weather Keep reading
Testing Flames in Space
In microgravity, flames behave very differently than on earth due to a lack of buoyant forces. On earth, a flame can continue burning because, as the warm air around it Keep reading
Microgravity Combustion
Combustion in microgravity is markedly different than that on earth, due to a lack of buoyant convection. The combustion of a droplet of heptane is shown here as a composite Keep reading
Boiling in Microgravity
This week’s edition of the ISS research blog focuses on the Boiling Experiment Facility (BXF) and the goals of unlocking the secrets of boiling in microgravity. Without gravity to provide Keep reading
Thermal Convection
This video turbulent convection in a vertical channel. Buoyancy and the density variations caused by small differences in temperature are what drive the behavior.
Microgravity Marangoni
Astronauts are preparing an experiment on the Marangoni effect, in which a variation in surface tension can cause mass flow, for flight aboard the International Space Station. The effect, also Keep reading
Combustion in Microgravity
‘Hot air rises.’ It’s common knowledge. But we usually forget that this is only true thanks to Earth’s gravity. On Earth, a candle flame’s distinctive pointed shape is due to Keep reading