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Why do Champagne bubbles rise the way they do? Scientists’ new discovery is worthy of a toast

Researchers from Brown University and the University of Toulouse found that surfactants make Champagne bubble chains stable. The experiments showed that larger bubbles and surfactants help reduce tensions between liquid and gas, creating a smooth rise. This discovery has implications for understanding bubbly flows in fluid mechanics.

SourceBrown University·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 3, 2023

Two-organ chip to answer fatty liver questions

Researchers created the integrated-gut-liver-on-a-chip platform to examine how gut and liver cells interact, particularly in relation to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The study showed significant changes in gene expression and DNA damage when free fatty acids were introduced, leading to cell death similar to severe cases of NAFLD.

SourceKyoto University·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 7, 2023

Creating a blueprint for optimized ear tubes and other implantable fluid-transporting devices

Researchers have developed a new ear tube design that combines liquid-infused materials with optimized geometry to improve treatment outcomes for patients with ear infections. The design enables better performance and reduces complications such as impaired hearing and scarring of the eardrum.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalScience Translational Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 5, 2023

Novel immunotherapy delivery approach safe and beneficial for some melanoma patients with leptomeningeal disease

Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have developed a novel approach to administer intrathecal and intravenous immunotherapy to treat leptomeningeal disease (LMD) in melanoma patients, showing promising results in improving survival rates and quality of life for some patients.

Some stirring required: fluid mixing enables scalable manufacturing of soft polymer structures

The new technique allows for the production of a dozen different soft polymer material morphologies, including ribbons, nanoscale sheets, rods, and branched particles. By precisely controlling three sets of parameters during manufacturing, researchers can fine-tune the morphology of polymeric materials at the micro- and nano-scale.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 10, 2023

Complex seismic tremor detected at Italy’s Mefite d’Ansanto gas field

Researchers have detected a complex variety of seismic tremor signals at Mefite d'Ansanto, a non-volcanic carbon dioxide emission site in southern Italy. The analysis reveals three main types of tremor signals over different frequencies, which may be related to fluid discharge and changes in flow velocities.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 27, 2023

New pumping strategy could slash energy costs of fluid transport by 22%

A new pumping strategy has been developed to slash energy costs of fluid transport by up to 22%. By switching pumps on and off, turbulent flows can be reduced, resulting in more efficient fluid transport. This approach could bring significant economic and environmental benefits, particularly for the transition to green energy.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 17, 2023

Overweight and obesity prevalent and poorly managed among adults with type 1 diabetes

A recent study found that adults with type 1 diabetes are at a high risk of being overweight or obese, but only half receive lifestyle recommendations to manage their weight. The study also highlighted the importance of individualized patient education in improving weight management for these patients.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 13, 2023

New models shed light on life’s origin

Researchers studied lithospheric fluids billions of years ago to infer the presence of metals that could have supported life. Manganese was found to be a likely candidate, while copper was not detected in high concentrations. The study provides new insights into the origin of life and will inform future experiments.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalScience·DateFeb 10, 2023

‘Liquid windows’ inspired by squid skin could help buildings react to changing environments, save on energy costs

A multilayered fluidic system inspired by squid skin can optimize the wavelength, intensity, and dispersion of light reaching building interiors. This could lead to significant savings on heating, cooling, and lighting energy costs, with annual reductions of up to 50%.

SourceUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 1, 2023

A new way to identify stresses in complex fluids

Purdue University researchers have discovered a new mathematical framework that measures stress and stretching field topologies for complex fluids. This breakthrough applies to polymeric fluids used in groundwater remediation and other industries, enabling more accurate predictions of fluid transport.

SourcePurdue University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 27, 2023

Getting under your skin for better health

Biomedical engineers at the University of Cincinnati are investigating the potential of interstitial fluid for early disease diagnosis and long-term health monitoring. The study proposes sampling interstitial fluid just under the skin using tiny microneedles, offering a more accessible and less painful alternative to blood testing.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalNature Biomedical Engineering·TypeLiterature review·DateJan 20, 2023

Dartmouth-led study finds that team-based coaching reduces risks of acute kidney injury after heart procedures

A Dartmouth-led study found that team-based coaching significantly improves the risk of acquiring post-procedural acute kidney injury (AKI) when compared to other interventions. The Collaborative with Surveillance intervention reduced the odds of AKI by 46 percent, making it a promising approach to address this prevalent adverse event.

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 19, 2023

Leonardo da Vinci’s paradox cracked

Researchers from the University of Seville and Bristol have discovered a mechanism to explain the unstable movement of air bubbles rising in water. The simulations closely match high-precision measurements, revealing that bubbles deviate from straight-line motion when their spherical radius exceeds 0.926 millimeters.

SourceUniversity of Seville·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 16, 2023

A precision arm for miniature robots

Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a device that uses ultrasound to automate laboratory analysis tasks. The device combines microfluidics and robotics, allowing for the mixing, pumping, and trapping of tiny amounts of liquid. This innovation enables the automation of previously custom-designed systems.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 13, 2023

Why chocolate feels so good – it is all down to lubrication

A team of scientists at the University of Leeds has decoded the physical process behind chocolate's sensation in the mouth. They found that fat plays a key role in creating the smooth emulsion, and by understanding this mechanism, they hope to develop healthier luxury chocolates with the same feel and texture.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 12, 2023

Moving water and earth

A new understanding of how particle shape controls grain flow can help engineers plan for downstream impacts of restoring a river or removing a dam. The MIT team's better formula estimates bed load transport by considering a grain's drag and friction, rather than its exact shape.

Experimentalists: Sorry, no oxygen required to make these minerals on Mars

Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis found that manganese oxides can be formed without atmospheric oxygen under Mars-like conditions. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, used kinetic modeling to show that halogens like chlorate and bromate can convert manganese into minerals thousands of times faster than by oxygen.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 22, 2022

Going with the flow

Lei Fang's NSF-funded project models interactions between active matter and transport barriers to improve understanding of ocean currents and drone technologies. The study uses a laboratory flow system with tiny zooplankton, brine shrimp, to examine the effect of their movement on transport barriers.

Warmer brain-irrigation fluid in surgery more efficacious

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg found that using warmer brain irrigation fluid can halve the number of repeat operations needed to remedy bleeding under the cranium. This method involves replacing room temperature irrigation fluid with body temperature fluid, resulting in a significant reduction in surgical interventions.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalJAMA Neurology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateNov 22, 2022

New wind field models accurately describe wind gusts

Researchers at the University of Oldenburg have developed a new statistical model that accurately describes wind turbulence and generates fully three-dimensional wind fields using limited measurement points. This breakthrough enables precise wind turbine load estimation and improves wind farm planning, with applications in various fiel...

SourceUniversity of Oldenburg·JournalPRX Energy·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 15, 2022

The theory of micro-hairs

Researchers have developed a continuum theory of micro-hairs, allowing for the study of collective movements and fluid flows. The theory reveals that even random movement is unstable and leads to synchronisation, while perfect unison is also unstable, resulting in specific patterns of movement.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 9, 2022

High levels of sweet and fruit-flavour chemicals in ‘tobacco-flavoured’ e-cig liquids

Research found high levels of sweet and fruit-flavour chemicals in 'tobacco-flavoured' e-cigarette liquids, particularly fruity and caramellic flavour chemicals. The study suggests manufacturers are getting around regulations by using these flavour chemicals in products marketed as 'tobacco-flavoured', raising concerns about their safety.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalTobacco Control·TypeObservational study·DateNov 3, 2022

Teams of sperm swim more smoothly against the current

A recent study found that sperm clustering in viscoelastic fluid offers three biological benefits: reduced direction changes, improved alignment, and increased safety from strong flows. This research may inform studies on infertility and provide better selection of sperm for assisted-reproduction technologies.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 22, 2022

Mixing things up: optimizing fluid mixing with machine learning

A team of Japanese researchers used reinforcement learning to study fluid mixing during laminar flow, achieving exponentially fast mixing without prior knowledge. The method also enabled effective transfer learning, reducing training time for new mixing problems, and has potential applications across various industries.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 29, 2022