On their own and in groups, some humpback whales enclose their prey in bubbly columns before feeding. The whales build these bubble nets intentionally, swimming in a ring at a Keep reading
Tag: humpback whales
Whale Feeding
Whether in groups or as individuals, humpback whales are canny hunters. They herd prey together by encircling them and releasing bubbles that form a “net” that bars escape. Then, the whales Keep reading
Turning Sound Into Imagery
The acoustic signatures of many animals contain features we humans cannot appreciate, given the limited range of frequencies we can hear. In fluid dynamics and many other fields, scientists and Keep reading
Humpback-Inspired Turbine Blades
The bumps–or tubercles–on the edge of a humpback whale’s fins have important hydrodynamic effects on its swimming. Here dye is used to visualize flow over a hydrofoil with tubercle-like protuberances–a Keep reading
Tubercles and Turbines
The flippers of humpback whales include bumps–called tubercles–on their leading edges. The tubercles create vortices that prevent the boundary layer from separating, which causes stall and a loss of lift. Keep reading