In nutrient-poor soils, carnivorous plants like the cape sundew supplement their diets by eating insects. To entice their prey, the cape sundew secretes droplets of sugary water. But unwary insects Keep reading
Tag: plants
Mossy Vortex Rings
Many plants have evolved an ability to move remarkably quickly. Often, this capability is driven by water. Here we see the moss Sphagnum affine, which disperses its spores explosively. The process Keep reading
The Best of FYFD 2019
2019 was an even busier year than last year! I spent nearly two whole months traveling for business, gave 13 invited talks and workshops, and produced three FYFD videos. I Keep reading
Dandelion Flight, Continued
Not long ago, we learned for the first time that dandelion seeds fly thanks to a stable separated vortex ring that sits behind their bristly pappus. Building on that work, Keep reading
“-N- Uprising”
Although Thomas Blanchard’s latest short film, “-N- Uprising”, is less overtly fluid dynamical, fluids underlie almost every aspect of it. The blossoming of flowers is often driven by osmosis and water pressure. Keep reading
Plant Week: Bunchberry Dogwood
The bunchberry dogwood, unlike its taller relatives, is a low-lying subshrub that spreads along the ground. But it sports some of the fastest action of any plant, requiring 10,000 frames Keep reading
Plant Week: Citrus Jets
Bartenders and citrus lovers the world over are familiar with the mist of oil that bursts from a bent citrus peel. These microjets are about the width of a human Keep reading
Plant Week: Jumping Spores
You might think that plants are pretty stationary, but they have evolved a myriad of ways of moving, especially when it comes to spreading their seeds and spores. Shown above Keep reading
Plant Week: Bladderworts
Carnivorous plants live in nutrient-poor environments, where clever techniques are necessary to keep their prey from getting away. The aquatic bladderwort family nabs their prey through ultra-fast suction. This starts Keep reading
Plant Week: Dandelions in Flight
To kick off Plant Week here on FYFD, we’re taking a closer look at that ubiquitous flower: the dandelion. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, these little guys manage to get just about Keep reading