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American Institute of Physics


How to find a cryptic animal: Recording the elusive beaked whale in the Foz do Amazonas Basin

Beaked whales are recorded in the Foz do Amazonas Basin using passive acoustic monitoring, demonstrating their first documentation in Brazilian waters. The study contributes to understanding cetacean biodiversity and showcases the effectiveness of acoustic monitoring for categorizing elusive sea creatures.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·DateSep 9, 2025

A serve with serious swerve

Using 3D computational fluid dynamics simulations, researchers explored the impact of pre-spin on shuttlecock trajectories during spin serves. They found that pre-spin can prolong the oscillation phase and affect the stability of the serve, offering insights for players to refine their serving skills.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateAug 19, 2025

Charging devices with indoor lighting

Researchers have developed perovskite solar cells that can effectively convert indoor lighting into electrical power. The cells achieved a power conversion efficiency rate of 38.7% under dim light conditions, making them suitable for charging devices in various environments, including offices.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAPL Energy·DateJun 24, 2025

Do manta rays benefit from collective motion?

A study by Northwestern Polytechnical University and the Ningbo Institute modeled manta ray group dynamics to understand their propulsion. The researchers found that tandem formation significantly improves middle manta ray's performance but two triangular setups decrease overall efficiency compared to a single swimmer.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateMay 6, 2025

Coffee too weak? Try this!

Researchers optimized pour-over coffee brewing by maximizing pour height and laminar flow, resulting in stronger coffee with fewer beans. The study suggests using thick water jets, like those from standard gooseneck kettles, to achieve optimal mixing between water and grounds.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateApr 8, 2025

A step toward plant-based gelatin

Researchers from the University of Ottawa develop films containing gum tragacanth and gelatin, finding an optimal 3-to-1 ratio for maintaining gel-like behavior. The plant-based alternative reduces animal-derived products and has potential applications in candy, food packaging, and more.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateApr 1, 2025

The best butter for a vegan shortbread

Researchers from the University of Strathclyde examined the properties of several vegan butter alternatives and found that those with higher fat content produced biscuits closest to traditional shortbread. The study recommends choosing a vegan butter with similar consistency to dairy butter for optimal results.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateMar 25, 2025

Heat from the sun affects seismic activity on Earth

Researchers found a correlation between solar heat and seismic activity, suggesting that incorporating solar activity predictions into detailed Earth temperature models can improve earthquake forecasts. This study sheds light on the role of solar heat in triggering earthquakes, potentially providing a more accurate prediction method.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalChaos An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science·DateMar 4, 2025

Listening for multiple mental health disorders

Researchers developed a machine learning tool that screens for comorbid depression and anxiety disorders using acoustic voice signals. The study confirmed that a one-minute verbal fluency test can reliably identify subjects with comorbid AD/MDD, who tend to use simpler words and exhibit reduced variability in phonemic word length.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJASA Express Letters·DateFeb 4, 2025

Music can touch the heart, even inside the womb

Researchers found that playing classical music can smooth variations in fetal heart rates, indicating potential benefits for fetal development. The study used mathematical analysis tools to identify patterns in heart rate variability and found that exposure to music resulted in more stable and predictable patterns.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalChaos An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science·DateFeb 4, 2025

Salt deposit ring inside your pasta pan?

Scientists from the University of Twente and INRAE discovered that releasing small particles of salt into a tank of water creates a circular pattern due to gravity-induced wake drag. The experiment reveals that the optimal amount of water and particle size affect the shape and size of the salt ring.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateJan 21, 2025