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.
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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Honeybees are among the widely studied insects, due to their sophisticated, hierarchical social organization and their essential ecological role. Bees can move swiftly in natural environments, passing through narrow openings ...
Many male hoverflies have bigger eyes than females, giving them the advantage of better optics and faster photoreceptors in high-speed pursuits to find a preferred partner to breed.
Plants & Animals
May 14, 2026
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NASA's home for experimental flight is welcoming more flyers to its already high-performing fleet as it continues to support science and aeronautics test missions—continuing the legacy of pioneers like Neil Armstrong.
Space Exploration
May 8, 2026
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The rotor blades that will carry NASA's next-generation helicopters to new Martian heights broke the sound barrier during March tests at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Data from the tests, which ...
Planetary Sciences
May 7, 2026
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When NASA's Orion capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean April 10, completing a successful Artemis II mission milestone, a critical piece of the spacecraft's safe return traced back to research at Rice University.
Space Exploration
Apr 14, 2026
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