Espresso in Space
November 24, 2014 - Espresso-loving astronauts, rejoice! You may soon be able to enjoy your beloved beverage in space, thanks to a new cup designed specifically to defy the low-gravity environments encountered aboard the International Space Station (ISS). |
Tropical Parasite Uses Swim Stroke Not Shared by Any Other Creature
November 25, 2014 - For many bacteria and parasites looking to get a load of the fresh nutritional bounty inside your body, the skin is the first and most important gatekeeper. Schistosomas, however, scoff at this barrier and burrow right on through. |
When Dogs Drink Water
November 25, 2014 - If you've ever watched a dog drink water, you know that it can be a sloshy, spilly, splashy affair - in other words, adorable. |
How to Save Billions of Gallons of Gasoline
November 25, 2014 - Each year, the more than 2 million tractor-trailer trucks that cruise America's highways consume about 36 billion gallons of diesel fuel, representing more than 10 percent of the nation's entire petroleum use. That fuel consumption could be reduced by billions of gallons a year through the use of drag-reducing devices on trucks, according to studies by researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. |
Artist and Scientist Team up to Explore Stunning Whisky Art
November 24, 2014 - If you've ever looked closely at the dried rings whisky leaves behind in a glass, you may be among the few who've noticed just how stunningly beautiful they can be. But what's behind whisky's "particle patterning"? |
The Physics of Jackson Pollock
November 24, 2014 - Jackson Pollock, one of the greatest American artists of the 20th century, revolutionized abstract expressionist painting in the mid-20th century with his unique "drip" technique -- masterpieces of densely tangled lines of color that Pollock often created from thinned household enamel paints. Now, an experimental technique developed by fluid dynamicists at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City may help reveal exactly how Pollock produced certain features in his paintings. |
Full Speed Ahead: The Physical Art of Sailing
November 24, 2014 - A typical Olympic sailing race is a lot more energetic than a pleasurable afternoon cruise on the lake. Olympic sailors tip their masts precariously close to the water's surface while turning, right their vessels at what looks like the last possible moment, and bounce up and down over the edge of their boats on the straightaways. These unsteady sailing techniques, called "roll-tacking," "roll-jibing," and "flicking," propel boats faster through the racecourse. |
The Secret of Dragonflies' Flight
November 23, 2014 - Dragonflies can easily right themselves and maneuver tight turns while flying. Each of their four wings is controlled by separate muscles, giving them exquisite control over their flight. |
Tropical Inspiration for an Icy Problem
November 23, 2014 - Ice poses major impediments to winter travel, accumulating on car windshields and airplane wings and causing countless unsuspecting pedestrians to dramatically lose their balance. |
The Physics of Fizziness
November 23, 2014 - If you’ve ever raised a glass of champagne in celebration, you may have noticed tiny bubbles bursting on its surface. But did you know this little event, which is commonly seen in much greater scale on the ocean’s surface, involves a fascinating facet of physics? |
