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......»»
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.....»»
Using a supercomputer to find the best way to mix two fluids
A pair of researchers, one with the Max Planck Institute of Brain Research, the other with Imperial College, has found more efficient ways to mix two fluids using simulations run on a supercomputer. In their paper published in the journal Physical Re.....»»
AI Learns What an Infant Knows about the Physical World
A computer model simulating how objects react to physical forces approximates how babies understand their surroundings -- Read more on ScientificAmerican.com.....»»
Designing surfaces that make water boil more efficiently
The boiling of water or other fluids is an energy-intensive step at the heart of a wide range of industrial processes, including most electricity generating plants, many chemical production systems, and even cooling systems for electronics......»»
Making the invisible visible: The remarkable journey of a powerhouse space microscope
Colloids are mixtures of microscopic particles suspended in fluids—substances that are part solid, part liquid. Colloids are found in products including toothpaste, ketchup, paint and liquid hand soap, and are part of a field of study known as soft.....»»
Improving the future of purification by using molecular silhouette to separate compounds in fluids
Impure chemical mixtures can now be separated based on differences in molecular silhouette. Membranes have been developed with nanoscale pores that match the shape of impurities in the mix so that only the impurity can pass through. KAUST researchers.....»»
Chemists create a sensor that accurately detects the saliva pH of humans
Chemists at the Ural Federal University have created a sensor for determining the pH of human saliva. This is a fluorophore with strong and stable emission, which picks up the smallest fluctuations in the pH in biological fluids. The analysis is perf.....»»
Examining the odd locomotion of microswimmers
Being odd can be a good thing, particularly when you are a microscopic cellular organism trying to go places......»»