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Injection strategies are crucial for geothermal projects

A new study analyzed temporal evolution of seismicity and growth of maximum observed moment magnitudes in various stimulation projects. The results show a clear linear relation between injected fluid volume and cumulative seismic moments for most projects, indicating that seismicity can be managed by changes in injection strategy.

SourceGFZ GeoForschungsZentrum Potsdam, Helmholtz Centre·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMar 10, 2020

UCLA engineers develop miniaturized 'warehouse robots' for biotechnology applications

The researchers created disc-shaped magnets about 2 millimeters in diameter, called ferrobots, which can move and manipulate droplets of fluid with precision. These robots could transform various biotech-related industries, including medical diagnostics, drug development, genomics, and the synthesis of chemicals and materials.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalScience Robotics·DateFeb 26, 2020

Discovery of a new liquid-liquid interfacial deformation by partial miscibility

A team of international researchers has discovered a new phenomenon where partially miscible liquids deform the liquid-liquid interface. This finding is significant for oil recovery and CO2 injection processes, as it challenges traditional understanding of fluid dynamics in such systems. The study's results have implications for improv...

SourceTokyo University of Agriculture and Technology·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·DateJan 27, 2020

Self-moisturizing smart contact lenses

Researchers developed self-moisturising smart contact lenses to tackle dry eye syndrome, a common problem associated with contact lens wear. The new system uses electroosmotic flow to maintain moisture levels, powered by biobatteries and showing promise for future applications.

SourceTohoku University·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·DateJan 22, 2020

Mathematics reveals new insights into Marangoni flows

Researchers found that impurities swept away in deeper water decrease in size with surface elasticity, while counterflows cancel out fluid movement. In shallow water, the boundary becomes blurred, revealing new processes in well-studied physics experiments.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateOct 28, 2019

Unearthing history

A team of researchers has identified a fingerprint of oxidizing fluids in ancient subducted oceanic crust found on the Greek island of Sifnos. The discovery, published in Nature Geoscience, reveals that garnet crystals can preserve zonation of iron isotopic composition from early formed core to later forming rims.

SourceBoston College·JournalNature Geoscience·DateOct 28, 2019

Hovering closer to the secrets of hummingbird flight

A team of researchers is working on understanding the agility of hummingbirds to develop robotic systems that can mimic their complex escape maneuvers. By studying the aerodynamics, perception, motion planning, and control of hummingbird flight, the team hopes to create robots that can achieve high agility in fluid environments.

Charge change: How electric forces vary in colloids

The study highlights the importance of zeta potential in colloid surface chemistry and its effect on dispersion stability. The Navier boundary condition, considering relative velocity, is applied to particles with hydrophobic surfaces, leading to increased electrophoretic mobility and sedimentation potential.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalAdvances in Colloid and Interface Science·DateSep 12, 2019

The vagina monocultures

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed a universal screening approach for vaginal microbiota transplantation (VMT) donors to ensure only beneficial microbes are transferred. The pilot study found that 35% of participants might be eligible VMT donors, and the success rate may depend on a small number of willing 'super donors'.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology·DateSep 10, 2019

Marathoners, take your marks...and fluid and salt!

A new study suggests that marathon runners are at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) due to fluid and salt losses, rather than core body temperature. Researchers found that managing fluid volume and salt losses with a personalized regimen during training may help reduce the incidence of AKI.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateAug 29, 2019

Strike three

A team of researchers has discovered a previously unrecognized mechanism that accelerates cystogenesis in polycystic kidney disease (PKD), leading to rapid cyst growth and kidney failure. The study suggests that increasing water intake and avoiding certain foods may slow the progression of ADPKD.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 26, 2019