Released: 28-Sep-2011 11:30 AM EDT
APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting: Highlights and Media Registration Baltimore, Maryland, Nov. 20-22, 2011
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Supernovas, the Swirling of Wine, Heart Valves, Mary Poppins’ Umbrella and Other Surprising Insights into Flight, and More. The 64th Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society's (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD) will include more than 2,000 compelling presentations from across the physical sciences, engineering, and medicine. Topics include: explosions -- from tiny experiments to massive stars; the quirks of flying; why coffee spills; and how rain contributes to the spread of disease among plants.

Released: 7-Nov-2011 4:00 PM EST
Compelling Research Will Flow at Fluid Dynamics Meeting: Wine Swirling, Heart Valve Action, Detonating Stars, and More
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

The latest news and discoveries from the science of fluid motion will be featured at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society’s (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD), held November 20-22, 2011, at the Baltimore Convention Center near the scenic Inner Harbor section of Baltimore, Md. Researchers from around the globe will present noteworthy research covering the intricacies of flight, the workings of the human heart, the spread of disease, explosions, wine swirling, and more.

Released: 18-Nov-2011 9:00 AM EST
From Turbine Erosion to Supernovae: Cavitation Bubbles’ Violent Collapse Gives Insight into a Wide Range of Fluid Phenomena
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

The formation and collapse of bubbles within fluids can be a big engineering problem. Called cavitation, the process may erode vital pieces of mechanical equipment such as turbines or propellers. Seeking to better understand the dynamics of cavitation bubbles within liquid drops, the EPFL team created this type of bubble in microgravity conditions aboard the ESA parabolic flight.

Released: 18-Nov-2011 9:00 AM EST
Building Better Flapping Fliers
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Flapping mini-robots that can maneuver in tight spaces could be ideal for search-and-rescue operations – say, in collapsed buildings. However, current versions of such micro-air vehicles are “violently unstable,” says fluid dynamicist Leif Ristroph of New York University. “Without some very good sensory feedback strategies, they quickly spin out of control and tumble from the air.”

Released: 18-Nov-2011 9:00 AM EST
How Mosquitoes Fly in the Rain
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Mosquitoes, which thrive in hot, humid climates, are as adept at flying in rainstorms as under clear skies. That’s puzzling: Why aren’t the bugs – which each weigh 50 times less than a raindrop – battered and grounded by those falling drops?

Released: 18-Nov-2011 9:00 AM EST
Rainfall Suspected Culprit in Leaf Disease Transmission
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Rainfalls are suspected to trigger the spread of a multitude of foliar (leaf) diseases, which could be devastating for agriculture and forestry. Instead of focusing on the large-scale, ecological impact of this problem, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge and the University of Liege in Belgium are studying the phenomenon from a novel perspective: that of a single rain droplet.

Released: 18-Nov-2011 9:00 AM EST
Robojelly Gets an Upgrade: Underwater Robot Learns to Swim More Like the Real Thing
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Engineers at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VirginiaTech) have developed a robot that mimics the graceful motions of jellyfish so precisely that it has been named Robojelly. Developed for the Office of Naval Research in 2009, this vehicle was designed to conduct ocean underwater surveillance, enabling it potentially to detect chemical spills, monitor the presence of ships and submarines, and observe the migration of schools of fish.

Released: 18-Nov-2011 9:00 AM EST
Engineers Devise Shoe Sampling System for Detecting Trace Amounts of Explosives
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

The ability to efficiently and unobtrusively screen for trace amounts of explosives on airline passengers could improve travel safety – without invoking the ire of inconvenienced fliers. Toward that end, mechanical engineer and fluid dynamicist Matthew Staymates of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and colleagues have developed a prototype air sampling system that can quickly blow particles off the surfaces of shoes and suck them away for analysis.

Released: 18-Nov-2011 9:00 AM EST
Ingredients Involved in ‘Splashing’ Revealed
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

“Splashing” plays a central role in the transport of pollutants and the spread of diseases, but while the sight of a droplet striking and splashing off of a solid surface is a common experience, the actual physical ingredients and mechanisms involved in splashing aren’t all that well understood.

Released: 18-Nov-2011 9:00 AM EST
Mechanism of Wine Swirling Explained
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Wine drinkers know that swirling a good vintage around in a glass aerates the wine and releases its bouquet. Just how the process – known as “orbital shaking” – works, however, has been something of a mystery.

Released: 18-Nov-2011 9:00 AM EST
Peering Inside the ‘Deflagration-to-Detonation Transition’ of Explosions
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Explosions of reactive gases and the associated rapid, uncontrolled release of large amounts of energy pose threats of immense destructive power to mining operations, fuel storage facilities, chemical processing plants, and many other industrial applications.

Released: 18-Nov-2011 3:30 PM EST
A Tiny Flame Shines Light on Supernovae Explosions
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Starting from the behavior of small flames in the laboratory, a team of researchers has gained new insights into the titanic forces that drive Type Ia supernova explosions. These stellar explosions are important tools for studying the evolution of the universe, so a better understanding of how they behave would help answer some of the fundamental questions in astronomy.

Released: 27-Feb-2012 8:00 AM EST
Experts Available: Fluid Dynamics and Ship Experts Discuss the Science of the Costa Concordia
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

When the cruise liner Costa Concordia drew too close to shore near the Italian island of Giglio, a large rocky outcrop quickly sliced through the ship’s hull. While many questions about the dynamics at play during that disaster remain unanswered, two experts in the fields of fluid dynamics and marine architecture offer insights into the types of unseen forces unleashed during this unfortunate incident.

Released: 8-Aug-2012 10:00 AM EDT
The Spin Racket: Ping-Pong Champs Are Intuitive Masters of Fluid Dynamics
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Curve balls may help a pitcher strike out batters in baseball; and some nasty spin can make an opponent sweat to return a tennis serve. But more so than in any other ball game, in table tennis – where the ball is so light and so small –dedicated players must master the physics of spin.

Released: 24-Oct-2012 8:00 AM EDT
APS Division of Fluid Dynamics Meeting: Highlights and Media Registration San Diego, California, Nov. 18-20, 2012
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Insights into Flight, the Knuckleball of Soccer, Penguin Dynamics and More The 65th Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society's (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD) will include more than 2,000 compelling presentations from across the physical sciences, engineering, and medicine. The meeting will take place Nov. 18 - 20, 2012, at the San Diego Convention Center near the historic Gaslamp Quarter of San Diego, Calif. Reporters are invited to attend the conference free of charge. Registration instructions and other information may be found at the end of this news release.

Released: 14-Nov-2012 1:00 PM EST
Media Webcast on Latest Discoveries in Fluid Dynamics
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Scientists will present some of the latest findings from the science of fluid dynamics at a webcast media briefing at 10 a.m. EST (7 a.m. PST) on Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. The briefing will cover select topics being presented at the American Physical Society’s (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD) meeting in San Diego, Calif., Nov. 18 – 20, 2012. Register: www.aipwebcasting.com

Released: 16-Nov-2012 7:00 AM EST
Creating a Coating of Water-Repellent Microscopic Particles to Keep Ice Off Airplanes
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

To help planes fly safely through cold, wet, and icy conditions, a team of Japanese scientists has developed a new super water-repellent surface that can prevent ice from forming in these harsh atmospheric conditions. Unlike current inflight anti-icing techniques, the researchers envision applying this new anti-icing method to an entire aircraft like a coat of paint.

Released: 16-Nov-2012 7:00 AM EST
Visualizing Floating Cereal Patterns to Understand Nanotechnology Processes
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Small floating objects change the dynamics of the surface they are on. This is an effect every serious student of breakfast has seen as rafts of floating cereal o’s arrange and rearrange themselves into patterns on the milk. Now scientists have suggested that this process may offer insight into nanoscale engineering processes.

16-Nov-2012 7:00 AM EST
Mosquitos Fail at Flight in Heavy Fog
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Mosquitos have the remarkable ability to fly in clear skies as well as in rain, shrugging off impacts from raindrops more than 50 times their body mass. But just like modern aircraft, mosquitos also are grounded when the fog thickens. Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology present their findings at the 65th meeting of the American Physical Society’s (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics, Nov. 18 - 20, in San Diego, Calif.

16-Nov-2012 7:00 AM EST
Owls’ Ability to Fly in Acoustic Stealth Provides Clues to Mitigating Conventional Aircraft Noise
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Owls have the uncanny ability to fly silently, relying on specialized plumage to reduce noise so they can hunt in acoustic stealth. Researchers from the University of Cambridge, England, are studying the owl’s wing structure to better understand how it mitigates noise so they can apply that information to the design of conventional aircraft. They present their findings at the American Physical Society’s (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics meeting, held Nov. 18 – 20, in San Diego, Calif.

Released: 16-Nov-2012 7:00 AM EST
What’s Behind the Success of the Soccer ‘Knuckleball’
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

What makes soccer star Christiano Ronaldo’s “knuckleball” shot so unpredictable and difficult to stop? At the American Physical Society’s (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD) meeting, November 18 – 20, 2012, in San Diego, Calif., a team of researchers investigating this phenomenon will reveal their findings.

Released: 16-Nov-2012 7:00 AM EST
Probing the Mystery of the Venus Fly Trap's Botanical Bite
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Plants lack muscles, yet in only a tenth of a second, the meat-eating Venus fly trap hydrodynamically snaps its leaves shut to trap an insect meal. This astonishingly rapid display of botanical movement has long fascinated biologists. Commercially, understanding the mechanism of the Venus fly trap's leaf snapping may one day help improve products such as release-on-command coatings and adhesives, electronic circuits, optical lenses, and drug delivery.

16-Nov-2012 7:00 AM EST
Sound Bullets in Water
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Sound waves are commonly used in applications ranging from ultrasound imaging to hyperthermia therapy, in which high temperatures are induced, for example, in tumors to destroy them. In 2010, researchers at Caltech led by Chiara Daraio, a professor of aeronautics and applied physics, developed a nonlinear acoustic lens that can focus high-amplitude pressure pulses into compact “sound bullets.” In that initial work, the scientists demonstrated how sound bullets form in solids. Now, they have done themselves one better, creating a device that can form and control those bullets in water.

16-Nov-2012 7:00 AM EST
Invisibility Cloaking to Shield Floating Objects from Waves
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

A new approach to invisibility cloaking may one day be used at sea to shield floating objects – such as oil rigs and ships – from rough waves. Unlike most other cloaking techniques that rely on transformation optics, this one is based on the influence of the ocean floor’s topography on the various “layers” of ocean water. At the American Physical Society’s (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD) meeting, being held November 18-20, 2012, in San Diego, Calif., Reza Alam, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, will describe how the variation of density in ocean water can be used to cloak floating objects against incident surface waves.

15-Nov-2012 2:00 PM EST
New Model Reveals How Huddling Penguins Share Heat Fairly
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Penguins that face the bitter cold and icy winds of Antarctica often huddle together in large groups for warmth during storms. Mathematicians have created a model that shows how the penguins share heat fairly in the huddle.

Released: 16-Nov-2012 9:00 AM EST
Mixing Processes Could Increase the Impact of Biofuel Spills on Aquatic Environments
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Ethanol, a component of biofuel made from plants such as corn, is blended with gas in many parts of the country, but has significantly different fluid properties than pure gasoline. A group of researchers from the University of Michigan wondered how ethanol-based fuels would spread in the event of a large aquatic spill. They found that ethanol-based liquids mix actively with water, very different from how pure gasoline interacts with water and potentially more dangerous to aquatic life.

Released: 21-Nov-2012 2:30 PM EST
Images and Animations Bring Science of Fluid Dynamics to Life
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

A rising bubble ring; a coiling stream of honey; droplets bouncing on the surface of a vibrating liquid; and what happens inside a kettle when the water boils are some of the images and videos on display in the 2012 Gallery of Fluid Motion, hosted by the American Physical Society’s (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD) in connection with their recent annual meeting.

Released: 7-Nov-2013 1:00 PM EST
The Tao of Pee
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Although we don’t often think about it, fluid dynamics touches almost every aspect of our lives, from a billowing breeze that buffets a flag, to swirling river currents that shape canyons to the surging blood that sustains our lives. One of the basest of bodily functions -- urination -- is governed primarily by the equations of fluid motion.

Released: 14-Nov-2013 11:00 PM EST
Penguin-Inspired Propulsion System
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

At the APS’s Division of Fluid Dynamics meeting, Nov. 24 – 26, Flavio Noca, who has explored leveraging penguins’ “rocket” properties to create new propulsion technologies with high maneuverability and improved hydrodynamic efficiency, will present a penguin-inspired propulsion system that uses a novel spherical joint mechanism developed and manufactured by Bassem Sudki, a research assistant within Noca’s aerodynamics group, under the supervision of Professor Michel Lauria who leads hepia’s Robotics Laboratory.

Released: 14-Nov-2013 12:20 PM EST
A Question for Jupiter
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Based on what scientists understand about fluid dynamics, Jupiter’s Great Red Spot should have disappeared centuries ago. Pedram Hassanzadeh, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard, and Philip Marcus, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, think they can explain why. Their work, which Hassanzadeh will present at the annual meeting of the APS’S Division of Fluid Dynamics this November, also provides insight into persistent ocean eddies and vortices that contribute to star and planet formation.

18-Nov-2013 1:00 PM EST
Great Lakes Waterfowl Die-Offs: Finding the Source
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

A deadly menace stalks the loons, gulls and other water birds of the Great Lakes region: Type E botulism. Cases of the disease are on the rise, and to understand die-off origin and distribution, ocean engineers from Florida Atlantic University are using their expertise in experimental hydrodynamics. They have teamed with the U.S. Geological Survey to help develop a novel way of tracking waterfowl carcasses to determine the source of lethal outbreaks.

18-Nov-2013 2:00 PM EST
The Physics of Beer Tapping
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

An old, hilarious if somewhat juvenile party trick involves covertly tapping the top of someone's newly opened beer bottle and standing back as the suds foam out onto the floor. Now researchers from Carlos III University and Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Institut Jean le Rond d'Alembert, have produced new insight into the science behind the foaming, exploring the phenomenon of cavitation. They present their explanation at the annual APS Division of Fluid Dynamics meeting.

18-Nov-2013 1:30 PM EST
Flexible, Stretchable Fire-Ant Rafts
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Fire-ant rafts aren’t just unusual in that they’re “viscoelastic,” like Jell-O and toothpaste, according to a new study presented in a talk at the upcoming APS’s Division of Fluid Dynamics meeting. Researchers found the rafts actively reorganize their structure, a feat that allows them to more effectively cushion themselves against applied forces, such as the battering of raindrops or the surges of waves.

18-Nov-2013 1:30 PM EST
Better Combustion Through Plasma
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Scientists know that by introducing plasma to combustion, new chemical species are produced that catalyze the reaction. But no one knows precisely what species are involved, what the reactions are, and what their rates are. To better understand plasma-assisted combustion and to develop future technology, researchers are conducting experiments and creating computer models to determine which chemical processes are involved.

18-Nov-2013 10:10 AM EST
The Mushrooms, My Friend, are Blowing in the Wind…
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Biologists have long thought that the spores produced by a mushroom’s cap simply drop into the wind and blow away. The problem with that notion, scientists say, is that spores can be dispersed even when the air is still. So how do the mushrooms do it? A team of researchers believe they have found the answer: mushrooms make their own wind.

18-Nov-2013 10:00 AM EST
The Secrets of Owls’ Near Noiseless Wings
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Many owl species have developed specialized plumage to effectively eliminate the aerodynamic noise from their wings – allowing them to hunt and capture their prey in silence. A research group working to solve the mystery of exactly how owls achieve this acoustic stealth will present their findings at the APS’s Division of Fluid Dynamics meeting, work that may one day help bring “silent owl technology” to the design of aircraft, wind turbines, and submarines.

18-Nov-2013 10:00 AM EST
A New, Flying Jellyfish-like Machine
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Up, up in the sky: It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a . . . jellyfish? That's what researchers have built -- a small vehicle whose flying motion resembles the movements of those boneless, pulsating, water-dwelling creatures. The work, which will be presented at the APS’s DFD meeting on November 24, demonstrates a new method of flight that could transport miniaturized future robots for surveillance, search-and-rescue, and monitoring of the atmosphere and traffic.

13-Nov-2014 1:00 PM EST
Artist and Scientist Team up to Explore Stunning Whisky Art
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

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"?

13-Nov-2014 2:00 PM EST
How to Save Billions of Gallons of Gasoline
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

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.

14-Nov-2014 8:00 AM EST
Espresso in Space
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

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).

14-Nov-2014 8:00 AM EST
The Secret of Dragonflies' Flight
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

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. Researchers are investigating the physics behind this ability by recording high-speed video footage of dragonflies in flight and integrating the data into computer models, and they will present their findings at the 67th annual meeting of the American Physical Society (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics.

14-Nov-2014 9:00 AM EST
Tropical Inspiration for an Icy Problem
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Ice poses major impediments to winter travel, accumulating on car windshields and airplane wings and causing countless unsuspecting pedestrians to dramatically lose their balance. A team of researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) has developed a new way to prevent ice buildup on surfaces like airplane wings, finding inspiration in an unusual source: the poison dart frog.

14-Nov-2014 10:00 AM EST
The Physics of Jackson Pollock
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

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.

14-Nov-2014 10:00 AM EST
When Dogs Drink Water
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

If you've ever watched a dog drink water, you know that it can be a sloshy, spilly, splashy affair -- in other words, adorable. Behind all of the happy, wet messes, however, lies the mechanical logic of carnivorous compensation -- dogs splash when they drink because they have the cheeks of a predatory quadruped. By studying the drinking habits of various dog breeds and sizes, researchers have recently identified and modeled the fluid dynamics at play when dogs drink water.

14-Nov-2014 10:00 AM EST
Tropical Parasite Uses Swim Stroke Not Shared by Any Other Creature
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

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, and burrow right on through. These waterborne blood flukes, responsible for 200 million total worldwide cases of Schistosomiasis, are driven by the powerful thrusts of their unique forked tails and chewing enzymes. The parasite's swimming patterns are crucial for its human-seeking chemotactic activity - and are the focus of researchers at Stanford University who ultimately seek to break the chain of infection.

14-Nov-2014 10:00 AM EST
The Physics of Fizziness
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

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?

14-Nov-2014 11:00 AM EST
Full Speed Ahead: The Physical Art of Sailing
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

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. Every aspiring Olympic sailor must master these unsteady sail propulsion techniques, but there is no scientific literature that explains exactly how the moves increase a boat's speed. A team of researchers from Cornell University is working to change that.

Released: 24-Nov-2014 10:00 AM EST
ONLINE EVENT TODAY: Aerodynamic Trucks, Espresso in Space, How Dogs Drink Water, Frog-Inspired Antifreeze and a Parasite's Unique Swim Stroke
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Journalists are invited to participate in as interactive webcast streamed live from the 67th annual meeting of the American Physical Society’s Division of Fluid Dynamics (APS-DFD), held November 23-25, 2014 in San Francisco, Calif.

13-Nov-2015 10:05 AM EST
Make Mine a Double-Shot, Zero-G Espresso
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Last year Italy sent an espresso machine up to the ISS, and this inspired a team of researchers to study the related strange fluids phenomena in low gravity, such as espresso crema formation and containment of potentially hazardous drinks within a spacecraft. To do this, the researchers designed a cup that exploits surface tension as opposed to gravity and during APS’s DFD Meeting they'll present their findings about how it's working aboard the Space Station.

13-Nov-2015 11:05 AM EST
A Flounder's Disappearing Act Explained by Physics
American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics

Simply oscillating its fins is all a flounder, a flat fish, needs to do to resuspend sand and quickly disappear beneath it to hide. By discovering the physics at play, researchers in France are hoping to provide a new flounder-inspired solution to a common technological challenge: the resuspension of granular material within a fluid. They'll discuss their findings at the American Physical Society's 2015 DFD Meeting.


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