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.
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.
