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Robotic bird helps uncover the mysteries of flight turbulence

A bio-inspired robotic bird is helping researchers unravel the mysteries behind kestrels' exceptional hovering capabilities. By mimicking key movements, the team discovered unique techniques that could improve manoeuvrability of small aircraft and enhance their ability to cope with turbulence.

SourceRMIT University·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·TypeObservational study·DateJun 28, 2026

Stars like our Sun may maintain the same rotation pattern for life, contrary to 45 years of theoretical predictions

Researchers at Nagoya University found that magnetic fields keep the equator spinning faster than the poles in stars, preventing a rotation flip even as they slow down with age. This contradicts 45 years of theoretical predictions and could help scientists solve stellar mysteries.

SourceNagoya University·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 4, 2026

Frontier simulations test turbulence theories at record 35 trillion grid points

Researchers used the Frontier supercomputer to perform a record-breaking direct numerical simulation of turbulence in three dimensions, achieving a resolution of 35 trillion grid points. The study offers new insights into turbulent fluid flows, which govern various natural and engineered phenomena.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Fluid Dynamics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 12, 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

Information entropy untangles vortices and flows in turbulent plasmas

Researchers develop a novel analytical method to capture localized structures and reveal the intertwined behavior of multiple fluctuating fields. They introduce two new measures based on information entropy, which quantify structural complexity and degree of coupling between turbulent structures.

SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalPhysical Review Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 1, 2025

Astrophysicists explore our galaxy’s magnetic turbulence in unprecedented detail using a new computer model

A new computer model simulates magnetism and turbulence in the interstellar medium, providing unprecedented detail on the Milky Way Galaxy's overall magnetic field. The model also helps understand star formation and the propagation of cosmic rays, offering insights into astrophysical phenomenon.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature Astronomy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 13, 2025

Tying light from lasers into stable “optical knots”

Engineers at Duke University have demonstrated a method to create stable optical knots using laser beams, which could be used to transmit encoded information or measure turbulence in pockets of air. The team found that by adding more squiggles to the knot's features, they could make it stable for longer and resist degradation.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 17, 2025

Development of a chaotic light receiver for secure communication in hostile environments

A team of researchers from Télécom Paris and Politecnico di Milano has developed a system of optical micro-antennas integrated into a programmable photonic chip, which can adapt in real time to restore chaotic signals. This innovation paves the way for chaos-based encryption for secure high-speed communication in hostile environments.

SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalNature·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 8, 2025

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

Recover chaos for secure communications

A recent study overcomes challenges of turbulence in free-space optical links by using a multi-aperture system combined with a photonic chip. This allows for the recovery of chaotic signals even under harsh turbulence conditions. The technology mimics a smart eye to capture light from several angles and reconfigure it into a clear signal.

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

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

Optical imaging technique offers more precise diagnosis of sleep apnea

A recent study has explored a new imaging approach that uses swept-source optical coherence tomography to visualize the upper airway with high precision. By integrating computational fluid dynamics, researchers were able to identify areas of turbulence and pinpoint obstruction sites, leading to more accurate diagnoses and treatment pla...

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalBiophotonics Discovery·DateJan 7, 2025

Study highlights complex ocean conditions facing world’s most powerful tidal turbine

Researchers used aerial drone technology and boat-based surveys to map complex tidal flows around the world's most powerful tidal turbine, O2. The study provides new insights into optimal turbine placement and site-specific assessments to address uncertainties surrounding interactions with marine habitats and environments.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalNature Communications·TypeSurvey·DateSep 27, 2024

Climate change will bring more turbulence to flights in the Northern Hemisphere

Researchers predict a rise in clear air turbulence over most northern mid-latitude regions due to climate change, particularly in North Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East. The study found that the probability of clear air turbulence will increase with each degree of warming, posing a significant threat to aviation safety.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalJournal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres·DateJul 25, 2024

Underwater mountains have a big impact on ocean circulation

Researchers at University of Cambridge discovered that underwater turbulence around seamounts significantly influences ocean mixing, contributing to a third of global ocean mixing. This finding has implications for climate models used in policymaking, potentially improving forecasts of the ocean's response to global warming.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 26, 2024

New research casts doubt over cryptocurrencies’ ‘safe haven’ properties

A recent study published in the International Review of Financial Analysis suggests that cryptocurrencies are not completely disconnected from economic risks. The research found that during turbulent periods like the COVID-19 pandemic and Ukraine war, cryptocurrency prices experienced increased volatility.

SourceBangor University·JournalInternational Review of Financial Analysis·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 21, 2024

Earth and space share the same turbulence

A team of researchers found that air turbulence in the thermosphere exhibits the same physical laws as wind in the lower atmosphere, leading to a new unified principle for Earth's environmental systems. This discovery can potentially improve future forecasting of both Earth and space weather.

SourceKyushu University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJun 7, 2024

Surprising properties of elastic turbulence discovered

Elastic turbulence, a chaotic fluid motion in non-Newtonian fluids, exhibits universal power-law decay of energy and intermittent behavior. This study reveals its unexpected similarity to classical Newtonian turbulence, paving the way for developing a complete mathematical theory and predicting flow patterns.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 27, 2024

New method for detecting unusual air turbulence holds promise for aviation safety

A new study proposes a novel approach to detecting turbulence anomalies directly from quick access recorders (QARs) aboard aircraft, enhancing civil aviation safety. The method leverages symbolic classifiers and QAR data, offering a reliable and efficient solution for identifying turbulence anomalies.

SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAdvances in Atmospheric Sciences·DateApr 8, 2024

You didn’t see it coming: the spontaneous nature of turbulence

Researchers have discovered that a tiny disturbance in a fluid system can amplify into large-scale patterns of randomness, making it difficult to predict turbulent flows. This phenomenon, known as spontaneous stochasticity, occurs regardless of the initial disturbance and has implications for weather forecasting and astrophysics.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 12, 2024