Read article: Bursts of embers play outsized role in wildfire spread, say physicists Environment and energy Research update Bursts of embers play outsized role in wildfire spread, say physicists Experiments on tracking firebrands could improve predictions of spot-fire risks
Read article: Flocking together: the physics of sheep herding and pedestrian flows Modelling and simulation Podcasts Flocking together: the physics of sheep herding and pedestrian flows Learn how the science of crowd movements can help shepherds and urban designers
Read article: Physics-based model helps pedestrians and cyclists avoid city pollution Modelling and simulation Research update Physics-based model helps pedestrians and cyclists avoid city pollution New immersive reality method could also inform policymakers and urban planners about risks, say researchers
Read article: Study finds preschool children form ‘social droplets’ when moving around the classroom Modelling and simulation Blog Study finds preschool children form ‘social droplets’ when moving around the classroom The movement of preschool children results in two distinct phases, find study
Read article: Field work – the physics of sheep, from phase transitions to collective motion Modelling and simulation Feature Field work – the physics of sheep, from phase transitions to collective motion Physics sheds a new insight on the behaviour of sheep flocks, helping with new tips on shepherding
Read article: Why North America has a ‘tornado alley’ and South America doesn’t Earth sciences Blog Why North America has a ‘tornado alley’ and South America doesn’t There’s a scientific reason why Twisters is set in the US Great Plains rather than Argentina, and it has to do with the Gulf of Mexico
Read article: Classical models of gravitational field show flaws close to the Earth Modelling and simulation Research update Classical models of gravitational field show flaws close to the Earth New gravitational field model quantifies the "divergence problem" identified in 2022
Read article: Simple equation predicts how quickly animals flap their wings Everyday science Research update Simple equation predicts how quickly animals flap their wings Relationship between mass, wing area and wingbeat frequency holds true for insects, bats, birds, whales and even a flapping robot
Read article: Nuclear physicists tame radius calculation problem Nuclear physics Research update Nuclear physicists tame radius calculation problem New "wavefunction matching" method correctly predicts nuclear radii of elements with atomic numbers from 2 to 58
Read article: Micro-tornadoes help transport nutrients within egg cells Biophysics Research update Micro-tornadoes help transport nutrients within egg cells New work sheds light on vortex flows involved in mixing and transporting ooplasmic components that cells need to develop