Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Commemorating 30 years of optical vortices: A comprehensive review

The development of optical vortices has been divided into three stages: fundamental theories, application development, and technology breakthrough. The recent stage has seen significant advancements in metasurface and OAM-multiplexing, enabling high-capacity optical communication and novel nonlinear phenomena.

Researchers find best classroom shapes for fish swimming in schools

A team of researchers at New York University's Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences found that fish swimming in orderly groups or formations spend less energy and move faster than when swimming alone. The best arrangement, diamond-shaped lattices, yielded the greatest speeds and largest energy savings, confirming a long-held belief.

Scientists tame Josephson vortices

Researchers from MIPT Laboratory of Topological Quantum Phenomena discovered a way to locally control and manipulate Josephson vortices using a magnetic force microscope. This breakthrough enables the creation of future superconducting quantum computing machines.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Dynamic pattern of Skyrmions observed

Scientists have observed dynamic patterns of Skyrmions in a material called Cu2OSeO3, which can be controlled and manipulated using an external magnetic field. The research team used a novel technique to measure the dynamics of these skyrmions in detail for the first time.

Getting an 'eel' for the water: The physics of undulatory human swimming

A research team led by the University of Tsukuba created the most complete recording of a human swimming underwater like an eel or lamprey. The study found that jets produced by coalescing vortices help explain the efficiency of this swimming method, which might be applied to novel propulsion systems.

Researchers verify 70-year-old theory of turbulence in fluids

A University of Queensland study confirms a 70-year-old theory on fluid turbulence, which causes inefficiency in transporting fluids through pipes and affects ship movements. The research uses ultra-cold atom systems to control and measure the phenomenon.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Twisting whirlpools of electrons

Scientists at EPFL demonstrate for the first time that it is possible to use light to dynamically twist an individual electron's wave function. This enables the creation of an ultrafast vortex electron beam that can be used to encode and manipulate quantum information, as well as control magnetic materials.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Let's not make big waves

A team of researchers has successfully generated ultra-short spin waves in an astoundingly simple material, opening up new possibilities for the development of spintronics. The achievement uses a magnetic material shaped into circular disks to create spin waves with wavelengths as short as 80 nanometers.

'Aneurysm Number' may help surgeons make treatment decisions

Researchers developed a simple nondimensional parameter called 'aneurysm number' to classify the flow mode in both sidewall and bifurcation aneurysms. The parameter can substitute flow factors, potentially reducing the need for cumbersome measurements and simulations.

Unlocking the untapped potential of light in optical communications

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology develop a novel multiplexing technique using the optical vortex to encode independent signals, enabling high-speed data transmission with low energy consumption. The device has been fabricated and demonstrated its potential in improving optical networks.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

How raindrops disseminate plant pathogens

A study reveals that raindrop impact liberates thousands of dry dispersed spores, increasing their height and exposure to wind. This phenomenon enables the transport of plant pathogens beyond leaf boundaries and across several kilometers.

Understanding dynamic stall at high speeds

Researchers have discovered that dynamic stall at high speeds is characterized by tiny flow structures within a vortex, making it difficult to control. By understanding these turbulent fluctuations, they aim to develop ways to interact with and control the flow field, potentially leading to improved aircraft performance.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

The crazy dance of falling knots

Researchers studied knotted steel chains in a viscous fluid, reproducing Kelvin's vortex atoms. The chains formed stable, toroidal structures with intertwined loops that swirled around each other.

Thin films can enhance vorticity in the ocean

Researchers found that thin liquid and insoluble films on the surface of water enhance horizontal eddy currents by interacting with surface waves. This enhances vertical vortex flows near the surface, which affects surface wave amplitude. The study's results have potential applications in materials science, geophysics, and ocean analysis.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Superconducting vortices quantize ordinary metal

Scientists have observed superconducting vortices in an ordinary metal when it is brought into contact with a superconductor, demonstrating the existence of induced quantum coherence. This discovery enables a better understanding of the processes occurring at the interface between superconducting and normal phases.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Research examines wing shapes to reduce vortex and wake

New research at the University of Illinois reveals that wing geometrics can be designed to reduce or eliminate wingtip vortices almost entirely. The study simulated flow about three classic wing configurations, finding that Jones and Prandtl wing designs had weaker wakes. The findings hold implications for aircraft design, flight safet...

The view from inside supersonic combustion

Researchers used numerical modeling to study the dynamics of supersonic flow, revealing two induced combustion modes and a local quasi detonation mode due to incident shock waves. The simulations provide valuable insights for scramjet engine design, enabling the optimization of mixing and combustion processes.

Warm Arctic means colder, snowier winters in northeastern US, study says

A Rutgers University study finds that warmer Arctic temperatures cause extreme winter swings in the US, leading to colder winters in northern Europe and snowier conditions. The research suggests a strong connection between Arctic warming and severe winter weather patterns in the eastern United States.

Polar vortex defies climate change in the Southeast

The Southeast US has experienced colder winters despite global warming, according to a Dartmouth-led study. The polar vortex allows arctic air to plunge into the region, resulting in persistently cooler temperatures. This phenomenon, known as the U.S. warming hole, is linked to natural climate cycles and potentially to climate change.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

X-rays reveal 'handedness' in swirling electric vortices

Scientists at Berkeley Lab study exotic material's properties, revealing chirality in polar vortices. This property could enable new forms of data storage by controlling left- or right-handedness in materials, similar to magnetic materials storing data as ones or zeros.

Taming charybdis: Controlling a vortex using polymers

Researchers at OIST created a device to study small-scale whirlpools and found that adding polymers reduces vortex intensity, saving energy. The discovery has implications for optimizing flows in lab-on-a-chip devices and improving inkjet printer resolution.

A strange new world of light

Scientists at Harvard have created a new tool to study novel aspects of light, enabling more complex operations and applications. The metasurface connects two aspects of light, allowing for the creation of any structured beam, including spirals, corkscrews, and vortices.

A better understanding of space -- via helicopter

Yale researchers Darryl Seligman and Greg Laughlin have created a new model for understanding how black holes, planets, and galaxies emerge from the vortex-rich environments of space. They found that vortices may shed Rossby waves as they spin and that the number of orbits between two vortices is different in their model.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

New thruster design increases efficiency for future spaceflight

Researchers developed a new inlet design for Hall thrusters that significantly increases thrust by creating a vortex in the discharge channel. The design improvement resulted in higher gas density and uniformity, leading to improved performance and increased specific impulse of up to 53.5%.

Jackdaws flap their wings to save energy

Researchers at Lund University discovered that jackdaws minimize energy consumption when flapping their wings by creating multiple small vortices. This unique phenomenon could lead to more efficient flight in birds and potentially influence aircraft design.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Researchers crack the 'Karakoram anomaly'

A summer 'vortex' of cold air over the Karakoram mountain range is inducing an anomalous cooling that causes glaciers to grow in spite of global warming. This unique temperature control system has significant implications for ice melt rates and river flows in the region.

Clever experiment documents multiscale fluid dynamics

University of Chicago physicists create thin-core vortices and measure total helicity for the first time, showing it maintains a constant value during viscous fluid flow. The study overcomes experimental challenges by precisely positioning dye using a Sharpie marker, advancing understanding of vortex behavior.

Approaching to autonomous controlling swarm of UAVs

A new control technique has been developed to achieve tight formation control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), reducing power requirements by minimizing vortices effects. The technique uses an adaptive control scheme to estimate and suppress the aerodynamic interference caused by closely flying UAVs, improving overall performance.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Vortex photons from electrons in circular motion

Researchers at IMS have shown theoretically and experimentally that high-energy electrons in circular/spiral motion radiate vortex photons across a broad wavelength range. This discovery indicates that vortex photons are ubiquitous in the universe, paving the way for a new research field.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Ancient Mars impacts created tornado-like winds that scoured surface

Research by Brown University geologists reveals that ancient Mars impacts generated tornado-like wind vortices that scoured the surface, exposing blockier surfaces beneath. The winds, which reached speeds of up to 500 miles per hour, were responsible for creating bright streaks on the Martian surface.

Information storage with a nanoscale twist

A team of scientists has discovered a new rotational force inside magnetic vortices that makes it easier to design ultra-high capacity disk drives. The finding was made using intense x-rays and revealed a non-adiabatic spin-transfer torque that is crucial for electrical manipulations.

Magnetic fields at the crossroads

Scientists investigate the motion of vortex domain walls in ferromagnetic nanowires driven by magnetic fields. The research aims to improve control and reliability for spintronic devices, enabling logic gates and data storage.

Researchers coax particles to form vortices using magnetic fields

Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory created tiny swirling vortices out of magnetic particles using magnetic fields. The discovery provides insight into the behavior that governs such systems and opens up new opportunities for materials and devices with new properties.

HSE experts investigate how order emerges from chaos

Researchers uncover link between vortices and statistical properties of hydrodynamic fluctuations, enabling prediction of pollutant advection and mixing. The study provides valuable insights into emergence of coherent structures like cyclones and anticyclones from chaotic conditions.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Researchers discovered elusive half-quantum vortices in a superfluid

Scientists at Aalto University discovered half-quantum vortices in superfluid helium, a topological defect that overcomes limitations of circulating currents. This breakthrough may enable access to isolated Majorana modes and exotic solitary particles, crucial for quantum information processing.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Physicists spell 'AV' by manipulating Abrikosov vortices

Researchers use laser tweezers to control and arrange Abrikosov vortices in a superconductor, creating an AV-pattern. This technique has potential applications in quantum computation and optically controlled rapid single flux quantum logic elements.

UMD physicists discover 'smoke rings' made of laser light

Researchers have discovered 'spatiotemporal optical vortices,' or STOVs, which are 3-D ring structures generated by high-intensity lasers. These structures have the potential to manipulate particles moving at the speed of light and may be useful for designing powerful microscopes and more efficient telecommunication lines.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.