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Fiber tracking method delivers important new insights into turbulence

A new experimental method tracks the motion of fibers instead of particles to reveal previously hidden information about turbulent flows. The researchers developed an innovative solution using rigid fibers, which allowed them to measure the speed and direction of flow at two points a fixed distance apart.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalPhysical Review X·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 17, 2021

UCF researchers identify food products that could reduce COVID transmission

Researchers at the University of Central Florida have identified food products that can alter a person's saliva to reduce the transmission potential of airborne pathogens. By adding ingredients like ginger, cornstarch, and xanthan gum to food products, people may be able to make masks more effective or even reduce their need for them.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 16, 2021

Dragged along by micro-swimmers

Researchers have developed a new model for micro-swimmer-based transport, which shows that a swarm of micro-swimmers can transport particles more efficiently than traditional methods. The study's findings suggest that this phenomenon could be useful in biological applications, such as delivering drugs to specific locations in the body.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2021

Deletion of single gene promotes growth of functional lymphatic valves

A USF Health study found that deleting a single gene, Foxo1, promotes the growth of functional lymphatic valves in both young and adult mice. This discovery offers a promising early treatment approach for hereditary lymphedema, a chronic condition characterized by fluid accumulation under the skin.

SourceUniversity of South Florida (USF Health)·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 10, 2021

Revisiting rangely: New mechanistic model uncovers earthquake processes at Colorado oil field

Earthquakes generated by controlled fluid injection at the Rangely oil field were caused by destabilizing fault pore pressure changes, according to a new mechanistic model. The study revisits data from the decades-old project in light of increased seismicity due to fluid injection.

SourceSeismological Society of America·JournalBulletin of the Seismological Society of America·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 10, 2021

Finding the cause of a fatal problem in rocket engine combustors

Researchers found significant periodic flow velocity fluctuations in fuel injector ignite combustion oscillations, leading to high mechanical stress on the combustion chamber. The findings provide a reasonable answer for why these oscillations occur and have significant implications for preventing fatal damage in critical engines.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalPhysics of Fluids·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 2, 2021

Simulating microswimmers in nematic fluids

The study reveals that microswimmers propel themselves through nematic liquid crystals with non-random trajectories to minimize elastic energy. The speed of a microswimmer varies depending on whether it pushes or pulls the surrounding fluid, and becomes slower when pushing with a stronger force.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateJul 13, 2021

Wider applications for Vortex Fluidic Device

Researchers have discovered the VFD's capabilities in controlling chemical reactivity, materials processing, and probing self-organised systems. The device has shown promise in synthesizing various compounds and could lead to more efficient and environmentally friendly production methods.

SourceFlinders University·JournalNanoscale Advances·DateJun 7, 2021

Clues from soured milk reveal how gold veins form

Researchers find that hyper-enriched gold deposits form like soured milk, with butterfat particles clumping together to form a jelly. This process explains the rapid formation of these rare and valuable deposits, solving a decades-old scientific puzzle.

SourceMcGill University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 21, 2021

Geoscientists find that shallow wastewater injection drives deep earthquakes in Texas

Researchers found that shallow wastewater injection is linked to widespread deep earthquake activity in the Delaware Basin. The study used data analytics and computer modeling to mimic fluid extraction from shale reservoirs and identified a causal link between deep stress increases and shallow fluid injection. This finding has signific...

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 10, 2021

Living foams

A team of researchers has developed a computational framework that captures cell interactions and their impact on embryonic tissue dynamics. They found that dynamic forces and tension fluctuations are responsible for the fluid state of tissues during development.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Physics·DateApr 12, 2021

Rice model offers help for new hips

The study incorporates fluid dynamics and roughness of joint surfaces to evaluate artificial hips, aiming to advance the design of more robust prostheses. The model could help clinicians personalize hip joints for patients depending on gender, weight, age, and gait variations.

SourceRice University·JournalBiotribology·DateJan 11, 2021

Two, six, many

Researchers at Heidelberg University observed a phase transition with six atoms, showing signatures of a superfluid state. This finding reveals the emergence of collective behavior in microscopic systems.

SourceHeidelberg University·JournalNature·DateDec 11, 2020

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