Video
Archive
2013
January
February
March
April
May
2012
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2011
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2010
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2009
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2008
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
2007
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Mar. 15, 2013
Tying Water in a Knot
|
Reporting in the journal Nature Physics, William Irvine and Dustin Kleckner, physicists at the University of Chicago, describe the knotted fluid vortex they created in the lab—a scientific first, they say. The knots resemble smoke rings—except these are made of water, and they're shaped like pretzels, not donuts. Understanding knottiness has extra-large applications, including untangling the dynamics of the sun.
videos courtesy of william irvine, dustin kleckner. additional photos from NASA SDO, Annette Heist, "Knots" 1918, and thanks to Dude, for smoke rings.
FEATURED READING
Brilliant Blunders
by Mario Livio
ADVERTISEMENT
RELATED BLOG POSTS
- Brilliant Blunders
Were the theories of illustrious minds such as Linus Pauling and Albert Einstein free of serious blunders? Absolutely not!
- What Lies Beneath
Using a scanning technology called terahertz imaging, scientist J. Bianca Jackson searches for hidden artwork behind paint and p...
- Alien Invaders, Baby Seal Brains, and More
Each week we’ll round up links to science stories or studies that blow our mind, tickle our funny bone, or generally strike our ...
- Are We Alone in the Universe?
It seems incredible that Earthlings could be the first technological society. So where is everyone?
Discussion