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Rolling with the waves

Roll waves play a crucial role in hydraulic engineering, but current design standards overlook their formation. Researchers at Kyoto University discovered a fundamental flaw in existing standards, revealing the importance of understanding unsteady flows like roll waves.

SourceKyoto University·JournalPhysics of Fluids·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 15, 2026

Magnetic fields reveal thermal signatures of hydrodynamic electron flow in graphene

Kinetic simulations distinguish collective from diffusive charge and heat transport in a graphene Corbino disk, revealing magnetic-field-induced deflection of charge and heat flux. The hydrodynamic regime shows a substantially larger temperature rise under electric-field driving, associated with reduced momentum relaxation.

SourceScience Exploration Press·JournalThermo-X·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 24, 2026

The Tungsten-Silicone contact lens curing underwater drone blindness

Researchers have developed a soft, custom-molded acoustic contact lens that actively corrects outgoing sound waves before they pass through an autonomous drone's protective shell. The lens boosts sonar signal strength by up to 10 decibels while cutting background reverberation without draining extra battery power.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateJun 16, 2026

Why dolphins swim so fast: the secrets of eddies

A team of researchers from The University of Osaka used supercomputer simulations to study how vortices generated by dolphin kicks power fast swimming. They found that large, powerful vortices created by the movement of the dolphin's tail are responsible for most of the propulsion, while smaller ones contribute little to forward motion.

SourceThe University of Osaka·JournalPhysical Review Fluids·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 27, 2026

When heat flows like water

EPFL researchers have theoretically shown that heat can flow toward warmer regions in highly ordered materials, enabling the design of electronics with minimized heat loss. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient thermal management across multiple sectors, from consumer electronics to energy storage and data centers.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 13, 2026

Paradox of rotating turbulence finally tamed with world-class ‘hurricane-in-a-lab’

Researchers at OIST develop world-class 'hurricane-in-a-lab' setup to study turbulent Taylor-Couette flows. By re-examining Kolmogorov's framework, they find that the power law predicts universal behavior across all small-scale flows, resolving a long-standing inconsistency.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 5, 2025

Miniscule wave machine opens big scientific doors

University of Queensland researchers have developed a microscopic 'ocean' on a silicon chip, allowing for the study of wave dynamics at an unprecedented scale. The device, made with superfluid helium, enables the observation of striking phenomena, including waves that lean backward and shock fronts.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 23, 2025

“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...

SourceMarine Biological Laboratory·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 31, 2025

From classical hydrodynamics to quantum hydrodynamics and back again – how the Navier-Stokes equations describe quantum systems

Researchers from the University of Warsaw have shown that Navier-Stokes equations can be generalized to quantum systems, specifically quantum liquids with restricted particle motion. This discovery opens up new possibilities for research into transport in one-dimensional quantum systems.

SourceUniversity of Warsaw, Faculty of Physics·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMar 4, 2025

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

A surprising way to trap a microparticle

Researchers at Northwestern University have discovered a surprising way to trap microparticles using the combined effects of electrostatics, hydrodynamics, and random Brownian motion. This phenomenon enables the capture of particles in complex environments, such as winding channels, and could revolutionize microfluidic applications and...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 8, 2023

Deformable pump gives soft robots a heart

A team of researchers from Cornell University has developed a deformable pump for soft robots, mimicking the human heart's functionality. The pump uses hydrodynamic and magnetic forces to provide soft robots with a circulatory system, allowing them to store energy and power their movements more efficiently.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 15, 2022

Fine Sediment in Open Water

This book provides a fundamental understanding of the physical, biological, and chemical processes governing fine sediment transport in open water. It covers various spatial and temporal scales, from micro-scale to system-wide, and discusses interactions between disciplines such as hydrodynamics and soft soil mechanics.

Superfish

Fish schools operate like superorganisms, with individual fish optimized for maximum surveillance and energy efficiency. Researchers discovered a 'perfect efficiency curve' in tail beats, allowing schools to conserve energy while monitoring their surroundings.

New method reveals minimum heat for Leidenfrost effect

Physicists developed an electrical technique to study the Leidenfrost effect, revealing the temperature at which vapor layers form and collapse. The results show that stable vapor layers can be sustained at 240 degrees Celsius, with a minimum heat of 140 degrees Celsius required for their existence.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 10, 2021