The Physics of Ocean Undertow
WASHINGTON D.C. May 13, 2014 — People standing on a beach often feel the water tugging the sand away from under their feet. This is the undertow, […]
Working to Cure ‘Dry Eye’ Disease
WASHINGTON D.C. May 6, 2014 — The eye is an exquisitely sensitive system with many aspects that remain somewhat of a mystery—both in the laboratory and in […]
What Makes Flying Snakes Such Gifted Gliders?
WASHINGTON D.C. Mar. 4, 2014 — Animal flight behavior is an exciting frontier for engineers to both apply knowledge of aerodynamics and to learn from nature’s solutions […]
Bats Inspire “Micro Air Vehicle” Designs
WASHINGTON D.C. Feb. 18, 2014 — By exploring how creatures in nature are able to fly by flapping their wings, Virginia Tech researchers hope to apply that […]
Smooth Sailing: Rough surfaces that can reduce drag
WASHINGTON, D.C. Jan. 17, 2014 — From the sleek hulls of racing yachts to Michael Phelps’ shaved legs, most objects that move through the water quickly are […]
Whither the Teakettle Whistle
WASHINGTON D.C. Nov. 15, 2013 — Despite decades of brewing tea in a whistling kettle, the source and mechanism of this siren sound of comfort has never […]
The Secrets of a Bug’s Flight
WASHINGTON, D.C. Nov. 12, 2013 — Researchers have identified some of the underlying physics that may explain how insects can so quickly recover from a stall in […]
Cat’s Eyes: Designing the Perfect Mixer
WASHINGTON, D.C. Oct. 29, 2013 — As any amateur baker knows, proper mixing is crucial to a perfect pastry. Mix too little and ingredients will not be […]
Shifting Winds in Turbine Arrays
WASHINGTON, D.C. Oct. 22, 2013 — Researchers modeling how changes in air flow patterns affect wind turbines’ output power have found that the wind can supply energy […]