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The science of sweating still holds surprises

Researchers at Arizona State University have discovered an overlooked physical process that significantly impacts sweat's cooling effect in hot, dry environments. The study found that temperature and humidity can create an opposing upward flow near the skin, canceling out airflow and increasing body heat storage.

SourceArizona State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 19, 2026

Crude oil decimates sea otter buoyancy

Research reveals that crude oil pollution dramatically reduces sea otter fur buoyancy, placing newborn pups at risk due to their larger surface area relative to body mass. After cleaning, the buoyancy of the fur improves but not fully recovers, highlighting the need for thorough detergent rinsing.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 12, 2024

Flow research on the outskirts of space

A European research team conducted experiments in weightlessness to isolate the classic diffusion phenomenon, closing the gap with experimental validation. The study used a sounding rocket to create a state of almost complete weightlessness, allowing researchers to run their experiments automatically.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·Journalnpj Microgravity·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 4, 2024

The science behind skipping stones

The study of fluid dynamics involved in forming horizontal air cavities and the transition between floating and skipping, reveals complex interactions at the air-water interface. The pulling angle plays a significant role in shaping hydrodynamics, with larger angles resulting in different air-cavity lengths and skipping distances.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateJul 11, 2023

Study points out errors in illustrations of one of the most famous scientific experiments

A study by researcher Breno Arsioli Moura investigated the depictions of Benjamin Franklin's famous kite experiment in illustrations published in the 19th century. The study found several inaccuracies, including the incorrect location where the experiment was performed and the method used to harness electricity from the clouds.

To be heavy or not - that is the question

Researchers studied the bones of an extinct amphibian species and found that its shoulder girdle was densely compact, similar to modern manatees. This adaptation allowed the creature to sink and hunt underwater, while its smaller legs and rounded skull suggest it may have only surfaced occasionally.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalJournal of Anatomy·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 29, 2022

Characterising complex flows in 2D bubble swarms

In 2D simulations, researchers found that the pseudo-turbulence relationship changes within larger-scale flows in less viscous fluids. The team discovered an inverse energy cascade and a different mathematical relationship between flow energy and frequency.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateDec 4, 2020

Older than the moon

Scientists have discovered a primordial soup in the Earth's mantle older than the moon, containing helium-3, a vestige of the Big Bang. Only the hottest and most buoyant mantle plumes draw from this reservoir, suggesting it may be preserved due to its density.

Supervolcanoes likely triggered externally, study finds

A new study suggests that massive magma chambers in supervolcanoes may erupt when the roof above them cracks or collapses, rather than building up internal pressure. The researchers found that the size of the magma chamber is a key factor in triggering eruptions, and that external forces such as earthquakes or faults may play a role.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research·DateNov 4, 2015

Paramecia need Newton for navigation

Research by Brown University scientists found that paramecia's buoyancy affects their ability to navigate flat surfaces. Under normal conditions, they use their sensory systems to turn and swim away, but with altered buoyancy, they get stuck at an angle, unable to complete the turn.

SourceBrown University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 18, 2014

Ants build raft to escape flood, protect queen

Researchers observed that worker ants and broods were extremely resistant to submersion during floods. The ants protected the queen by placing her in the center of the raft, with workers using the brood's buoyancy and their own recovery ability to minimize injury or death.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 19, 2014

Supervolcano eruptions are triggered by melt buoyancy

Researchers at ETH Zurich and ESRF have identified a trigger for supereruptions, finding that the overpressure generated by density differences in the magma chamber alone can trigger an eruption. The study suggests that supervolcanos are not triggered solely by overpressure due to magma recharge.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJan 5, 2014

How hypergravity impacts electric arcs

A new study reveals that hypergravity significantly affects the dynamic changes of electric discharges, causing the plasma channel to move due to external forces. The research has potential applications in improved safety precautions for manned space flights and ion thruster design.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateDec 18, 2013

VIMS team glides into polar research

Researchers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science deployed an underwater glider in the Ross Sea near Antarctica, collecting data on water temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll concentrations. The glider's continuous sampling allows for a better understanding of short-term physical changes and their impact on ocean biology.