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.
NASA researchers are developing the future of flight on Mars, laying the groundwork for helicopters with the ability to fly higher and farther while conducting science on the Red Planet. Using high-fidelity computer simulations ...
Space Exploration
Oct 20, 2026
0
121
The writer Malcolm Gladwell popularized the term "tipping points" to refer to the moment when a trend or social behavior crosses a threshold and rapidly spreads everywhere. In physics, tipping points occur when systems—say, ...
Earth Sciences
Oct 16, 2026
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127
An international study has overturned a longstanding textbook view of how much energy animals use to travel, revealing that flying can sometimes be cheaper than swimming.
Plants & Animals
Oct 15, 2026
1
206
Landing on a moving target is a challenge for all flying animals. For bumblebees, a flower swaying in the wind creates an erratic landing pad. Reaching it means matching its sideways motion while continuing to face it. When ...
Anyone who has had to share a room—or worse, a bed—with a loud snorer knows the effect unchecked snoring can have on sleep, sanity and emotional stability. An entire industry of products, technologies and treatments claims ...
General Physics
Aug 18, 2026
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24
Humans trust dogs to help find missing people, and bees to pollinate their crops. But scientists still don't fully understand how these animals use their extraordinary sense of smell to locate the source of an odor.
Ecology
Aug 11, 2026
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11
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
2
234
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
1
44
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
0
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