Get the latest Science News and Discoveries

Gravity, flipped: How tiny, porous particles sink faster in ocean snowstorms


In a twist on conventional wisdom, researchers have discovered that in ocean-like fluids with changing density, tiny porous particles can sink faster than larger ones, thanks to how they absorb salt. Using clever lab experiments with 3D-printed agar shapes in a stratified water column, scientists demonstrated that porosity and particle shape are major factors in determining sinking speed. This finding could revolutionize how we understand carbon cycling, microplastic behavior, and even strategies for ocean-based carbon capture.

None

Get the Android app

Or read this on ScienceDaily

Read more on:

Photo of Gravity

Gravity

Photo of porous particles

porous particles

Photo of ocean snowstorms

ocean snowstorms

Related news:

News photo

Proposed NASA radio probe could use gravity 'lumpiness' to reveal the insides of alien worlds

News photo

Colliding Galaxies Tearing at Each Other with Gravity and Radiation

News photo

Could we build space-time computers that run on gravity?