Research news on Interfacial flows

Interfacial flows is a research area focused on fluid motion in the presence of interfaces separating immiscible phases, such as liquid–gas or liquid–liquid systems, where interfacial tension, wettability, and curvature critically influence dynamics. It encompasses fundamental and applied studies of capillarity, Marangoni effects, thin-film dynamics, droplet and bubble motion, and interface instabilities under various driving forces (gravitational, inertial, viscous, or electrohydrodynamic). The field integrates continuum mechanics, interfacial thermodynamics, and multiphase flow modeling, often using advanced numerical methods and high-resolution experiments to elucidate transport, mixing, and pattern formation in systems ranging from microfluidics to large-scale industrial or environmental flows.

Why jellyfish can't rise to the surface

Using box jellyfish as an example, researchers from Kiel University show how the physics of density, not behavior or physiology, can prevent animals from reaching the surface even as they actively swim upward.

Water-wave tweezers steer tiny 'surfers' without touching them

Summer brings with it the sight of surfers moving seamlessly across wave crests, with ocean waters carrying them along coastlines. A team of scientists has now created a similar phenomenon—with small objects rather than surfers—that ...

Building a better, more precise droplet

A humble droplet can be an immensely useful tool for a number of fields, from medicine to manufacturing. Controlling the size of the droplet, though, is an important—and very tricky—task. With unprecedented precision, a team ...

Tackling industry's burdensome bubble problem

In industrial plants around the world, tiny bubbles cause big problems. Bubbles clog filters, disrupt chemical reactions, reduce throughput during biomanufacturing, and can even cause overheating in electronics and nuclear ...

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