Mathematicians Show Why Bubbles Sink in Nitrogen-Infused Stouts

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Mathematicians Show Why Bubbles Sink in Nitrogen-Infused Stouts

Posted by Unknown on Wednesday May 30, 2012 @05:22AM from the don't-get-caught-in-the-beer-vortex dept.

SicariusMan writes "The age old question: do Guinness and other stouts' bubbles really sink, or is it an optical illusion? Well, some mathematicians have figured it out." Full paper via arXiv; From the article: "To analyze the effect of different glass shapes, the mathematicians modeled Guinness beer containing randomly distributed bubbles in both a pint glass and an anti-pint glass (i.e., an upside-down pint). An elongated swirling vortex forms in both glasses, but in the anti-pint glass the vortex rotates in the opposite direction, causing an upward flow of fluid and bubbles near the wall of the glass."

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Now that I know the theory by cristiroma · 2012-05-30 05:28 · Score: 5, Funny

Allow me to practice ...
Is it replicatable? by chill · 2012-05-30 05:39 · Score: 2, Funny

I believe this study will end up receiving more than its fair share of replication and confirmation studies.
In fact, I can see several follow-up studies on if (and possibly why) this is specific to stout. How about a nice lager "control group" for the lads at table 3?

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Learning HOW to think is more important than learning WHAT to think.
party pooper by G3ckoG33k · 2012-05-30 05:43 · Score: 4, Funny

That's an astout observation!
Hence, no stout for you, mister. ;)
1. Re:party pooper by Hognoxious · 2012-05-30 08:44 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  You sound bitter.
  
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  Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
DO NOT by Fned · 2012-05-30 05:50 · Score: 4, Funny

...I repeat DO NOT touch a pint glass and an anti-pint glass during a toast.
That is all.
1. Re:DO NOT by idontgno · 2012-05-30 07:00 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Only after a rather stout explosion, though.
  
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  Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
Location, location, location by Anonymous Coward · 2012-05-30 06:00 · Score: 2, Funny

Guiness is brewed in Ireland. The bubbles are made in Australia. When the can is opened the bubbles attempt to to up, but they are from Australia so they head the wrong way. Another pint of your finest, barkeep!
Re:late to the party by NatasRevol · 2012-05-30 06:07 · Score: 5, Funny

Yeah, but the new research had to make sure it wasn't the Coriolis force!

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Negative ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall. by neoshroom · 2012-05-30 06:23 · Score: 5, Funny

in the anti-pint glass the vortex rotates in the opposite direction, causing an upward flow of fluid and bubbles near the wall of the glass
Just don't drink too many anti-pints of beer. I tried it once and woke up with a hell of a hangunder.

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Re:Math by idontgno · 2012-05-30 07:13 · Score: 3, Funny

Science. It works, bitches.

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Re:late to the party by Geek70 · 2012-05-30 07:59 · Score: 3, Funny

The underlying principle in science is to form a model and then test for confirmation or error. Clearly these dedicated professionals were testing in the name of science in case other forces were involved! In fact, I should do my part and run some tests of my own. I might also test some principles regarding gravity while I'm at it....