Aerodynamics as a research area investigates the behavior of gases, primarily air, and the forces and flow phenomena arising when bodies move through them or when gas flows around stationary objects. It encompasses theoretical, computational, and experimental study of flow regimes (incompressible, compressible, transonic, supersonic, hypersonic), boundary layers, turbulence, flow separation, and aerodynamic forces and moments (lift, drag, pitching, rolling, yawing). The field develops and applies governing equations (e.g., Navier–Stokes, Euler), turbulence models, and numerical methods (CFD), as well as wind-tunnel and flight-testing techniques, to optimize performance, stability, control, and efficiency of vehicles and structures interacting with fluid flows.
Logically, you would think a sleek surface has optimal aerodynamics—but recent research at Tohoku University turns this fundamental principle on its head. Applying an irregular microscale surface texture reduced the aerodynamic ...
General Physics
Jul 22, 2026
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Scientists have known for years that birds like geese and ibises gain an aerodynamic advantage from flying in a "V" formation. Now, researchers from Brown University have provided new insights into the nature of that advantage.
Plants & Animals
Jul 21, 2026
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Dragonflies are renowned for their remarkable flying abilities. Male dragonflies often compete for territory and mating opportunities, engaging in fascinating in-flight battles. Researchers at Imperial College London and ...
Elite athletes competing in the Tour de France could gain more than eight seconds in the individual time trial depending solely on the type of team car following them, a new study has revealed.
General Physics
Jul 16, 2026
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Not every World Cup goal is a classic. Sometimes a half-hearted shot goes in as a result of little more than a goalkeeper's error. And on those occasions, goalies may be inclined to find an excuse.
General Physics
Jul 13, 2026
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A new study in PLOS Biology of 133 species of flies, mosquitoes and their relatives shows that most species fly in surprisingly similar ways. Physical and aerodynamic laws shape the evolution of their flight behavior more ...
Evolution
Jul 10, 2026
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Red-tailed hawks can compensate for feather loss during molt by subtly changing their wing and tail movements, according to a new study by University of California, Davis, researchers in the College of Engineering and the ...
Ecology
Jun 29, 2026
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Flocking birds and schools of fish are a familiar sight. While previous research has uncovered the broad dynamics driving these movements, their underlying intricacies remain a mystery. Now a study by a team of New York University ...
Soft Matter
Jun 18, 2026
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When a person coughs or sneezes, they expel a cloud of microscopic particles capable of carrying viruses and bacteria that act as vectors for respiratory diseases such as flu, COVID-19 or tuberculosis. Understanding how these ...
Soft Matter
Jun 3, 2026
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When rockets fire into space, the insides of their engines become an extreme environment where temperatures soar and tiny particles are thrown around at hypersonic speeds. These particles behave in ways that break long-held ...
General Physics
Jun 2, 2026
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