Gallery: Get Lost in These Trippy Fluid Dynamics GIFs
Alexise Duchesne et al/American Physics Society01tightrope-dancer-bubbles
Vapor bubbles form along a heated wire. These clusters with bubbles bouncing between them form when the ratio between the wire’s diameter and temperature reach a sweet spot. This video won a Milton van Dyke award.
Daniel M. Harris et al/American Physical Society02merger-of-bubble
A soap bubble placed on top of a soapy film pops, leaving a bubble about half the original’s size. This video won a Milton van Dyke award.
Jörn Callies/American Physical Society03Baroclinic-Instability
This is a computational simulation of the ocean’s surface. It would be roughly 600 miles per side, and 300 feet deep. Cold air above makes the surface water more dense. It sinks, which causes roiling (technically called “convection”).
Moritz Sieber, et al/American Physical Society04lagrangian-coherent
Fluids pushed through this specially designed chamber naturally oscillate as they exit. This video won a Gallery of Fluid Motion Award.
P.T. Brun et al/American Physical Society05molton-glass
Molten glass poured from a nozzle forms repeating patterns depending on the speed the nozzle moves, and the speed at which glass moves through the nozzle.
M. Saad Bhamla et al/American Physical Society06Placing-Marangoni
Marangoni flows are dynamics that happen on a fluid’s surface. Usually these colors and patterns collapse, but this video’s authors managed to stabilize them by controlling how fast a soap bubble rose through a fluid. This video won a Milton van Dyke Award.
Dan Harris et al/American Physical Society07Shedding-Light
Sound waves cause droplets to bounce atop an oily surface. Light reflected from a filtered lamp makes the micrometer-high waves clearly visible. The researchers are using this method to show how certain quantum particles behave.
Yan Ren et al/American Physical Society08turning-on-dime
Hummingbirds fly using unsteady vortex dynamics rather than aerodynamic lift. This visualization shows the wake coming of the wings during while the bird makes a turn. This video won a Gallery of Fluid Motion Award.
Silvestre Roberto Gonzalez-Avila et al/American Physical Society09InstabilitiesAndFragmentation
This gif shows ripples on a small droplet, an example of stable interference. It looks way better if you have a pair of 3D glasses. This video won a Gallery of Fluid Motion Award.
The Audacity Is the Broligarchy Takedown You Were Waiting For
AMC’s new black comedy about a manchild tech titan spinning out of control is a skewering Silicon Valley’s billionaire class deserves.
Miles Klee
A Lot of Shops Won't Fix Electric Bikes. Here's Why
Bike shop mechanics have lost fingers and their shirts while repairing ebikes of dubious origins. Make sure yours is repairable and third-party certified.
Stephanie Pearson
It’s a Tablet! It’s a Laptop! After Testing the Best 2-in-1s, Here’s What I Recommend
Whether you want a detachable tablet or a laptop screen that spins, these 2-in-1 devices manage to balance being both a tablet and a laptop.
Luke Larsen
There’s a Secret Ingredient to Making Luxury Ice at Home
Nice ice is big business, but you can get perfectly clear cubes at home without freezing your assets.
Jeremy White
The Screenmaxxers Who Spend Every Waking Hour on Their Phones
As debates over social media addiction rage, people with extreme screen times tell WIRED they have no plans to cut back.
Miles Klee
Mammotion’s Spino E1 Pool Cleaner Isn’t Bad for the Price—It's Just Not That Good
This compact pool robot keeps its price down, but its performance doesn’t match that of more capable cleaners.
Christopher Null
The Best Coffee Mug Warmers Are Smart. But They Don’t Need an App
The first rule of coffee is that it must stay hot. After weeks or even years of testing, these are the three coffee warmers that will best keep it that way.
Matthew Korfhage
Crimson Desert Is a Cat Dad Simulator
Step into the shoes of the strongest, goodest boy in a game that is beautiful, baffling, and impossible to put down.
This At-Home Hair Color Printer Raised My Blood Pressure
This hair dye printer promises hundreds of shades. It couldn't even manage two.
Louryn Strampe
I Tested the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air. Here's Which One You Should Buy
After conducting long-term testing on both the MacBook Neo and MacBook Air, I have a good idea who should buy which laptop.
Luke Larsen
The Best Electric Cargo Bikes for Carrying This and That Everywhere
You don't need a car to tote around kids and cup holders. I rode cargo ebikes for miles to find the best one for your buck.
Adrienne So
Your Push Notifications Aren’t Safe From the FBI
Plus: Iran’s internet blackout hits the 1,000-hour mark, cryptocurrency scams result in a record amount of money stolen from Americans, and more.
Matt Burgess