Getting wet can be a problem for many animals. A wet insect could quickly become too heavy to fly, and a wet bird can struggle to stay warm. But these Keep reading
Tag: hydrophobic
Kicking Droplets
Moving the surface a droplet sits on creates some interesting dynamics, especially if the surface is hydrophobic. That’s what we see here with these droplets launched off an impulsively-moved plate. Keep reading
Rattlesnakes Sip Rain From Their Scales
Getting enough water in arid climates can be tough, but Western diamondback rattlesnakes have a secret weapon: their scales. During rain, sleet, and even snow, these rattlesnakes venture out of Keep reading
The Sharpshooter Insect
The sharpshooter is a small, sap-sucking insect capable of consuming more than 300 times its body weight in fluid each day. To sustain that level of intake, the insect also Keep reading
Bouncing, Floating, and Jetting
Get inside some of the latest fluid dynamics research with the newest FYFD/JFM video. Here researchers discuss oil jets from citrus fruits, balls that can bounce off water, and self-propelled Keep reading
Corrugating Water
The characteristics of a surface can have a major impact on the form a flow takes. The photo above shows a corrugated, almost pinecone-like water surface. It’s the result of Keep reading
When Fire Ants are a Fluid
Substances don’t have to be a liquid or a gas to behave like a fluid. Swarms of fire ants display viscoelastic properties, meaning they can act like both a liquid Keep reading
Water Skiing Beetles
Waterlily beetles employ an unusual method of getting around: they skim across the water surface. The beetles are mostly covered in tiny hairs that help make their body hydrophobic (water-repellent) Keep reading
Daily Fluids, Part 4
Inside or outside, we encounter a lot of fluid dynamics every day. Here are some examples you might have noticed, especially on a rainy day: Worthington Jets After a drop Keep reading
“Bubble Circus”
The “Bubble Circus” is a delightful outreach device equipped for all manner of physics demos, as seen in the video above. Many of its exercises explore surface tension, a force Keep reading