Simulating microswimmers in nematic fluids
New research shows how control over self-propelled microswimmers could be achieved using exotic materials named 'nematic liquid crystals' - whose viscosity and elasticity can vary depending on the direction of an applied force......»»
To uncover new fluid flow laws, researchers turn to drinking straws
A team of researchers has uncovered new laws governing the flow of fluids through experiments on a technology thousands of years old: a drinking straw. This knowledge could be useful for improving fluid handling in medical and engineering application.....»»
An on-chip viscoelasticity sensor for biological fluids
A research paper by scientists at the Hebei University of Technology and Shenzhen University developed an on-chip viscoelasticity sensor for biological fluids......»»
Life in the smoke of underwater volcanoes
Deep down in the ocean at tectonic plate boundaries, hot fluids rise from hydrothermal vents. The fluids are devoid of oxygen and contain large amounts of metals such as iron, manganese or copper. Some may also transport sulfides, methane and hydroge.....»»
Researchers develop a new way to identify bacteria in fluids
Shine a laser on a drop of blood, mucus, or wastewater, and the light reflecting back can be used to positively identify bacteria in the sample......»»
A new way to identify stresses in complex fluids
Fluid dynamics researchers use many techniques to study turbulent flows like ocean currents, or the swirling atmosphere of other planets. Arezoo Adrekani's team has discovered that a mathematical construct used in these fields provides valuable infor.....»»
Laser-controlled synthetic microswimmers show swarm intelligence can be caused by physical mechanisms
Seemingly spontaneously coordinated swarm behavior exhibited by large groups of animals is a fascinating and striking collective phenomenon. Experiments conducted by researchers at Leipzig University on laser-controlled synthetic microswimmers now sh.....»»
Passing Time: A Clock Made from Beer Bottles
Rick Stanley makes very special clocks. He makes clocks out of beer bottles (over 300 Yuengling beer bottles to be exact), clocks with bicycle bells, clocks featuring coins, dominoes, and fluids. He makes novelty clocks of great complexity alongside.....»»
What are mud volcanoes?
Mud volcanoes form when a combination of mud, fluids, and gases erupt at the Earth’s surface. Enlarge / Engineers have tried to corral a mud volcano in Indonesia that has covered more than 1,700 acres with mud (credit: Eka Dhar.....»»
A new computational system streamlines the design of fluidic devices
Combustion engines, propellers, and hydraulic pumps are examples of fluidic devices—instruments that utilize fluids to perform certain functions, such as generating power or transporting water......»»
Researchers find junction is key in how pore space geometry impacts transport of substances through fluids
What laws govern how chemicals pass through filters? How do droplets of oil move through layers of stone? How do blood cells travel through a living organism? A team of researchers led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Max Planck In.....»»
Mathematicians resolve a longstanding open problem for the so-called 3D Euler singularity
The motion of fluids in nature, including the flow of water in our oceans, the formation of tornadoes in our atmosphere, and the flux of air surrounding airplanes, have long been described and simulated by what are known as the Navier–Stokes equati.....»»
New insights into how long-banned PCBs unleash their toxicity inside the body
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been widely used in industrial and commercial products including plastics, paints, electronic equipment and insulating fluids. Their manufacture was extensively banned from the late 1970s onwards due to their tox.....»»
Between light and darkness: How plants optimize photosynthesis under changing light conditions
For research, plants are frequently grown under stable lighting, which does not reflect natural conditions. In a series of experiments with changing light conditions, simulating the natural interplay of light and shadow, researchers from the Max Plan.....»»
How magnetism could help explain the Earth-moon system"s formation
There are several theories about how Earth and its moon were formed, most involving a giant impact. Now scientists at the University of Leeds and the University of Chicago have analyzed the dynamics of fluids and electrically conducting fluids and co.....»»
Simulating the shear destruction of red blood cells
Many medical devices for treating heart failure generate nonphysiological shear flow. This can trigger the destruction of red blood cells after implantation of ventricular assist devices (VADs), artificial heart valves, vascular stents, or interventi.....»»
Can serpentinite dehydration release sulfate-rich fluids into sub-arc mantle?
Serpentinite dehydration is essential for water recycling in subduction zones, the released fluids are considered to be a critical component in the oxidation of the sub-arc mantle. However, whether the serpentinite-derived fluids are oxidized or redu.....»»
When making a detour is faster: Optimizing navigation for microswimmers
Whereas the shortest way between two points is a straight connection, it might not be the most efficient path to follow. Complex currents often affect the motion of microswimmers and make it difficult for them to reach their destination. At the same.....»»
Why do I bleed after sex?
There are bodily fluids we expect to see during or right after sex, depending on who you are: discharge, semen, vaginal fluids, maybe even a little bit of saliva. But most of us aren’t expecting to see blood, and when it does happen, it can be.....»»
The cell sentinel that neutralizes hepatitis B
The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for one of the most serious and common infectious diseases. Transmitted through biological fluids, it attacks the liver cells. The chronic form of the disease can lead to serious complications, including cir.....»»
Capturing extracellular vesicles: A new technology for isolating disease markers
Biophysicists from Skoltech, MIPT and their colleagues from the company Prostagnost have created a new technology for isolating extracellular vesicles (EV) from biological fluids. Studying vesicles is essential for the diagnosis and treatment of vari.....»»