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Phase Change in Fluids Simulated

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the trying-for-real-life-in-a-lab dept.

brendotroy writes "After decades of work by the physics and computer science communities, scientists at the University of Rochester have finally created a mathematical model that will allow scientists to simulate and understand phase changes. This discovery 'could have an impact on everything from decaffeinating coffee to improving fuel cell efficiency in automobiles of the future.'"

4 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Too dense by texaport · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Can it show why lakes don't freeze from the bottom up as water approaches 0 Celsius?

  2. The decaf coffee by Douglas+Simmons · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I doubt I'm the only one who remembers an article about some breakthrough opening the doors to making decaffinated coffee beans. So far, hasn't happened. Between this and today's other scientific breakthrough of bumblebee flight, are we any closer to a safer and smoother cup of decaf coffee?

  3. Great but... by Matt+Edd · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This is all fine and dandy but does it help us understand the physics behind it? Long before we (the human race) had any idea what gravity was, we could predict the movement of the planets... but no understanding came of this. Same here. Just because we can write a program to simulate observables doesn't mean we understand them any better. This might be a step in the right direction but it just as easily could lead us away.

    In short... this does nothing for our "understanding" of phase changes.

  4. Applications... by HellYeahAutomaton · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Could this mean we could see a light emitting fluorescent liquid tube without a 60 (or 50)Hz hum?

    The effects of phase shif flickering are known to be horrible for ergonomics.