A coral’s Swiss Army knife: The numerous powers of cilia
Black corals' cilia perform various roles, including food transport and internal nutrient circulation. Cilia facilitate oxygen delivery and waste removal through ventilation.
Fluid Flow
Articles tagged with Fluid Flow
Microscale roughness breakthrough defies 80 years of fluid dynamics
A research group at Tohoku University has overturned the long-standing assumption that smoother surfaces produce less aerodynamic drag. By applying Distributed Micro-Roughness, they achieved a world-first experimental demonstration of up to 43.6% drag reduction.
Researchers put “silly sprinklers” in reverse to further unravel decades-old physics puzzle
A team of mathematicians used custom-designed 'silly sprinklers' to experimentally answer the long-standing Feynman's Sprinkler Problem. They found that the momentum flux theory provides a clear solution, supporting its applicability for both forward and reverse modes, as well as variously shaped sprinklers.
SourceNew York University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJul 13, 2026
It’s hard to espresso how pressure affects brewing
Researchers from the University of Warsaw studied the physical properties of espresso brewing and found that at higher pressures, the coffee behaves like a poroelastic material, exhibiting nonlinear pressure dynamics. This effect affects the dissolution rate of coffee and can be used to improve the brewing process.
How do flocking birds and schools of fish move? New research offers crystal-clear answer
A new study by New York University mathematicians shows that flocks and schools behave like soft crystalline materials, with individual birds and fish serving as “atoms” that are evenly spaced in a lattice-like formation. This understanding offers insights into the hydrodynamic and aerodynamic interactions crucial in aerospace and auto...
Prone positioning in infants with acute bronchiolitis
A recent study published in JAMA found that prone positioning in infants with moderate to severe bronchiolitis receiving high-flow nasal cannula support did not significantly reduce escalation of care. The study suggests that further research is warranted due to the wide confidence interval around the observed odds ratio.
Scientists create water tweezers to move small “surfers”
Researchers at New York University have created a method to manipulate particles and structures using water waves, allowing for the transverse transport and trapping of submerged objects. By controlling the shape of the wave field, objects can be moved perpendicularly to the direction of wave propagation.
AI reveals how the brain clears harmful waste
A new approach combines MRI scans and AI tools to measure fluid flow in the brain, shedding light on the glymphatic system’s mechanics. The study reveals two main ways the system washes away particles, with one way moving faster than the other.
Texas A&M opens world’s largest academic controlled-explosions lab
The new facility enables scientists to observe and measure detonation forces in unprecedented detail, shedding light on industrial safety risks and potential breakthroughs. Researchers aim to develop safer designs and protocols by examining detonation disasters like the Buncefield Fire.
New research brings machine‑learning‑based physics a step closer to solving real engineering challenges
A new machine-learning method detects sudden changes in fluid behavior, improving simulation capabilities for everyday applications like weather prediction and nuclear reactor safety. This enables faster design testing, real-time adjustments, and reduced computational burden.
SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalJournal of Computational Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 9, 2026
Simulations suggest a breakthrough in understanding how turbulence develops
Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology found that small vortices can create larger swirls of flow, challenging the traditional view of turbulence development. The study could impact industries such as aircraft engineering and mechanical heart valve design.
National Cancer Institute grants support efforts to understand how fluid flow drives deadly brain cancer
Researchers at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute are studying how fluid flow contributes to the spread of glioblastoma tumors. They will use focused ultrasound and advanced MRI techniques to build a map of fluid flow in the whole brain and test the effectiveness of drug delivery.
Join thousands of researchers in Houston as they share the latest developments in fluid dynamics
The scientific program features nearly 300 sessions and thousands of presentations on various fluid dynamics topics. The conference will also include a visual arts competition, Gallery of Fluid Motion, with a traveling exhibit on display until January 2026.
Press registration now open for one of the world’s largest fluid dynamics meetings
Thousands of scientists will gather to present new research on fluids at the 78th American Physical Society meeting. The conference features a scientific program with thousands of presentations on various fluid dynamics topics.
Predicting where deadly brain cancer may spread next
Virginia Tech researchers create method combining MRI, fluid dynamics, and algorithm to identify hidden glioblastoma cells. The technique uses fluid flow patterns to predict tumor re-growth, allowing for more aggressive surgical approaches. This technology has potential to improve cancer treatment outcomes
Physics advance details new way to control solid objects in liquid
Researchers have developed a technique to create spin in liquid droplets using ultrasound waves, concentrating solid particles suspended in the liquid. This allows for the creation of novel technologies for biomedical applications and research on rotating systems.
SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 21, 2025
Unlocking the Earth’s magnetic field's impact on fluid flow
Researchers at Flinders University demonstrate how the Earth's magnetic field influences fluid flow, creating exciting possibilities for nano-processing and sustainable green chemistry. The study reveals that fluid flow coupled with magnetic fields can result in the preference of one chirality over the other.
On-chip multi-channel near-far field terahertz vortices with parity breaking and active modulation
Researchers from Nankai University developed an on-chip liquid crystal integrated terahertz vortex metasurface enabling multi-channel near-far field control with parity breaking. The device generates multiple vortex modes, improving device freedom and tunability.
Simulating the fluid dynamics of moving cells to map its location
Kyushu University researchers have successfully recreated the fluid dynamics of flowing biological cells using numerical simulations. The study reveals that capsule position depends on deformation and pulsation frequency, enabling precise cell manipulation in research and potential applications in artificial heart development.
SourceKyushu University·JournalJournal of Fluid Mechanics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 9, 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.
Enhancing heat transfer using the turbulent flow of viscoelastic fluids
Viscoelastic fluids exhibit a unique relaxation time that interacts with turbulence, resulting in an unexpected meandering motion. This interaction leads to three distinct flow states: low, middle, and high diffusivity states, with the high-diffusivity state significantly enhancing heat transfer efficiency.
SourceDoshisha University·JournalInternational Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 4, 2025
Riding the AI wave toward rapid, precise ocean simulations
Researchers developed a machine learning-powered fluid simulation model that significantly reduces computation time without compromising accuracy. The new surrogate model maintains the same level of accuracy as traditional particle-based simulations while reducing computation time from approximately 45 minutes to just three minutes.
SourceOsaka Metropolitan University·JournalApplied Ocean Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 3, 2025
The van Gogh masterpiece ‘The Starry Night’ is more art than science, researchers report
Researchers Mohamed Gad-el-Hak and James J. Riley from VCU and the University of Washington found that Van Gogh's painting does not adhere to Kolmogorov's theory of turbulent flow. Instead, they argue that the swirling patterns in 'The Starry Night' are a result of its abstract nature.
“She loves me, she loves me not”: physical forces encouraged evolution of multicellular life, scientists propose
A study from the Marine Biological Laboratory proposes that physical forces, such as fluid dynamics, played a key role in the evolution of multicellular life. The researchers found that cooperative feeding among Stentor cells increased the flow rate of water into their mouths, allowing them to capture more prey. However, the benefits o...
A new clue to how multicellular life may have evolved
Researchers explore fluid dynamics of stentors' cooperative feeding behavior, discovering that grouping together generates more powerful flows to sweep in food from a greater distance. This finding could provide insight into how single-cell organisms evolved into complex organisms like humans.
Advancing energy through research in porous media
Dr. Rita Okoroafor's research integrates geochemistry, geomechanics, and reservoir engineering to improve understanding of fluid-rock interactions in subsurface technologies. Her work enhances hydrogen storage efficiency, optimizes geothermal reservoir performance, and improves CO2 storage security.
Engineers redefine how heat transfers on advanced surfaces
A team of engineers at the University of Texas at Dallas has developed a new surface design that collects and removes condensates rapidly, challenging conventional theory. The discovery reveals a limitation in existing heat transfer models and inspires a new theory to explain the phenomenon.
Hypersonic simulation in 3D exposes new disturbances
Deborah Levin and her Ph.D. student Irmak Taylan Karpuzcu conducted the first 3D simulations of hypersonic flows, exposing new disturbances in the interaction between gases and surfaces. The findings provide insights into the design considerations for hypersonic vehicles.
SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·DateMar 26, 2025
The secret behind pedestrian crossings – and why some spiral into chaos
Researchers discovered that pedestrians form neat lanes in crossing roads only until people start veering off at extreme angles, after which the flow becomes disordered. The team's theory predicts that critical angle of 13 degrees marks the point where crowds collapse from order to disorder.
SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 24, 2025
Mathematicians uncover the logic behind how people walk in crowds
A team of mathematicians studied crowd flow and developed a way to predict when pedestrian paths become disorganized. They found that an angular spread of around 13 degrees is the threshold for transition, beyond which the flow becomes less efficient and potentially more dangerous.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 24, 2025
To overcome antibiotic resistance, new research says to let it flow
A new study using a microfluidic device found that certain infections may not be as resistant to antibiotics as previously thought. The researchers tested three different antibiotic agents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and found a gradient of antibiotic activity dependent on the flow rate.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 18, 2025
From order to chaos: Understanding the principles behind collective motion in bacteria
Researchers discovered how bacterial swarms transition from organized movement to chaotic flow as confinement radius increases. The study reveals intermediate states between order and turbulence through large-scale experiments, computer modeling, and mathematical analysis. These findings provide insights into the universal properties o...
SourceInstitute of Science Tokyo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 17, 2025
Left-right symmetry-breaking of a cellular flow occurs earlier than node formation
Researchers from Kumamoto University and colleagues found that left-right symmetry-breaking occurs prior to node formation, indicating a tightly regulated program for asymmetry. This study demonstrates the involvement of physical mechanisms in biological patterning using quantitative biophysical parameters.
SourceKumamoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 16, 2025
Researchers quantify the way rivers bend, opening up the possibility for identifying origins of channels on other planets
Scientists have discovered that channels carved by rivers have distinct curves compared to those cut by lava or ice. The research could be used as a diagnostic tool for sinuous channels on other worlds with unknown fluid origins.
For better quantum sensing, go with the flow
Researchers have developed a new technique for quantum sensing using nanodiamonds in microdroplets, which can detect trace amounts of certain ions and molecules. This method uses flowing droplets and carefully modulated microwaves to ignore unwanted background noise and add precision.
SwRI, U-Michigan engineers create more effective burner to reduce methane emissions
Researchers at SwRI and U-M have created a new methane flare burner using additive manufacturing and machine learning that eliminates 98% of methane vented during oil production. The burner's design, with a complex nozzle base and impeller, allows for efficient combustion even in challenging crosswind conditions.
SourceSouthwest Research Institute·JournalIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry Research·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 3, 2025
A hot droplet can bounce across a cool pan, too
Researchers discovered that hot and burning droplets can bounce off cool surfaces due to the formation of an invisible air cushion. This phenomenon has potential applications in slowing fire spread and improving engine efficiency.
Longest-runout undersea sediment flows analysed in unprecedented detail
A team of scientists has developed a new method to monitor undersea sediment flows, allowing them to track the longest-runout sediment flows ever recorded. The study reveals that turbulent mixing with seawater influences the behavior of these powerful canyon-flushing turbidity currents over long distances.
SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 25, 2025
Eddy-mean flow energy exchange depends on three variables
Researchers found that the eddy-mean kinetic energy exchange term is separated into three parts: one associated with cross-stream variation, one with along-stream variation, and one with mean flow direction. This new framework describes eddy-mean energy exchange without accounting for forces or physical properties.
SourceOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research (OLAR)·JournalOcean-Land-Atmosphere Research·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 19, 2025
Mini flow battery speeds energy storage research
Researchers at PNNL developed a mini flow battery test system that requires less starting material while delivering comparable performance to standard lab-scale systems. This innovation reduces time and resources needed for testing new battery materials, accelerating the discovery of grid energy storage technology.
SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalJournal of The Electrochemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2025
Mini flow battery speeds energy storage research
Researchers have designed a compact, high-efficiency flow battery test system that requires an order of magnitude less starting material while delivering results comparable to standard lab-scale systems. The mini flow cell design is geared towards rapid screening and development of new battery materials, reducing the time and resources...
SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalJournal of The Electrochemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 13, 2025
Encoding many properties in one material via 3D printing
Researchers have developed a 3D printing technique to create liquid crystal elastomers with controllable alignment, leading to new possibilities for shape-morphing materials. By tuning nozzle design, print speed, and temperature, they achieved uniform molecular-scale alignment, translating to prescribed mechanical behavior.
SourceHarvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 5, 2025
New research helps eliminate dead zones in desalination technology and beyond
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new technique to eliminate fluid flow dead zones in electrodes used for battery-based seawater desalination. The tapered flow channel design improves fluid flow by two to three times, making it more efficient than current reverse osmosis methods.
SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalElectrochimica Acta·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 15, 2025
Harnessing microwave flow reaction to convert biomass into useful sugars
Kyushu University researchers create a microwave flow reaction device that converts complex polysaccharides into simple monosaccharides, producing glucose. The device utilizes a continuous-flow hydrolysis process, where cellobiose is passed through a sulfonated carbon catalyst heated using microwaves.
SourceKyushu University·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 10, 2025
Researchers demonstrate self-assembling electronics
A new technique has been demonstrated for self-assembling electronic devices, enabling faster and less expensive production. The method uses a directed metal-ligand reaction to create semiconductor materials with tunable properties.
SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalMaterials Horizons·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 2, 2024
ODS FeCrAl alloys endure liquid metal flow at 600 °C resembling a fusion blanket environment
Researchers tested ODS FeCrAl alloys in a liquid LiPb environment and found that they form durable γ-LiAlO2 layers, which provide strong resistance to corrosion. The study's findings are crucial for improving material durability in fusion reactors and high-temperature energy systems.
To design better water filters, MIT engineers look to manta rays
The MIT team fabricated a simple water filter modeled after the mobula ray's plankton-filtering features and studied its performance. They found that the ray's filtering features are broadly similar to industrial cross-flow filters, which could inform design of water treatment systems.
SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 25, 2024
Engineered additive makes low-cost renewable energy storage a possibility
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison have invented a water-soluble chemical additive that improves the performance of bromide aqueous flow batteries, making them more efficient and long-lasting. The additive solves issues such as ion leakage and gas formation, enabling the use of these batteries for grid-scale storage.
Seed slippage: Champati cha-cha
A team of physicists studied the unique motion of Champati seeds rolling down slopes, revealing a spread-out, then collapse-like behavior akin to rock avalanches. The research may provide valuable insights into geological flows and contribute to resolving challenges in this area.
New discoveries to be shared at the world’s largest fluid dynamics conference
Scientists will present new research on bio-inspired floating offshore wind farms, harbor seals' whisker sensing abilities, and Manu jumping. The conference features over 300 sessions and nearly 2,800 presentations.
Optimal standing positions and ventilation in airport smoking lounges
Research in Physics of Fluids reveals that smokers seated farther from ventilation inlets experience lower levels of pollution. Body heat causes more absorption of cigarette pollution, suggesting empty spaces are the best to choose.
To make fluid flow in one direction down a pipe, it helps to be a shark
A team of researchers from the University of Washington has developed a flexible pipe with an interior helical structure inspired by shark intestines, which can keep fluid flowing in one direction without flaps. The design rivaled and exceeded Tesla valves, a one-way fluid flow device invented over a century ago.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 25, 2024
Being able to see inside a flow battery
Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology, in collaboration with MIT and PSI, developed a new method to visualize the inner workings of redox flow batteries using neutron imaging. The technique provides extraordinary moving images that help understand the battery's performance and durability.
SourceEindhoven University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2024
HSE scientist optimizes solution of hydrodynamics problems
Roman Gaydukov developed a method to model fluid flow around rotating disks with small surface irregularities, reducing computational time and cost. The approach can accurately predict fluid flow behavior in chemical reactions and has potential applications in industry.
SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalRussian Journal of Mathematical Physics·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 27, 2024