In the quest for more efficient renewable energy sources, scientists have found inspiration in an unexpected place: butterfly wings. A groundbreaking study, reported by The Verge, reveals how the unique structure of butterfly wings is paving the way for more efficient solar cells. Researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Karlsruhe Institute of … [Read more...] about How Butterfly Wings are inspiring Solar Cell Designs
Archives for October 2024
Small Minds, Smaller Sizes: Brandy Melville and Body Dysmorphia
In an industry where “fitting in” has both literal and metaphorical meanings, fashion brands like Brandy Melville have turned sizing into a struggle for self-worth. With their notorious “one-size-fits-all” business model, Brandy Melville not only sells clothes, but sells the idea that only one type of body is ideal. This approach not only marginalizes many consumers but also … [Read more...] about Small Minds, Smaller Sizes: Brandy Melville and Body Dysmorphia
Hydrodynamic Stability: Non-Normality and Transient Energy Growth
Welcome back. Last week, we derived the Orr-Sommerfeld equation, which governs the evolution of small disturbances in 2D parallel shear flows. This equation was cast as an eigenvalue problem, L𝜑 = c𝜑, that determined stream function amplitudes, 𝜑, and their associated complex wave speeds, c, that characterized the behavior of small perturbations. The governing Orr-Sommerfeld … [Read more...] about Hydrodynamic Stability: Non-Normality and Transient Energy Growth
From Shark Skin To Swimsuits
Sharks are one of nature's most efficient swimmers, gliding through water with remarkable ease. The secret to their aquadynamic prowess lies in their skin. Shark skin is covered in tiny structures called dermal denticles, which are tooth-like scales that create tiny vortices, reducing drag as the shark swims. Engineers and designers at major sportswear companies took … [Read more...] about From Shark Skin To Swimsuits
Breaking the Cycle: How the School-to-Prison Pipeline Disproportionately Impacts Black Children
The school-to-prison pipeline is a troubling pattern that disproportionately affects Black children, funneling them from schools into the criminal justice system. This pipeline is created through a combination of harsh disciplinary policies, racial bias, and unequal access to educational resources. For many Black students, school becomes a place of punishment rather than a … [Read more...] about Breaking the Cycle: How the School-to-Prison Pipeline Disproportionately Impacts Black Children