beverages

11.21.09

Fed Up With Tabletop Puddles, Scientists Engineer a High-Tech Dripless Teapot

By Paul Adams Posted 10.26.2009 at 1:43 pm 4 Comments

We've all experienced the fluid-dynamics phenomenon known as the "teapot effect." Every time you pour out a nice relaxing cup of tea, a little of the elixir dribbles down the outside of the spout of the teapot, dampening your doily and your spirits.

It happens because liquid clings to the lip of the spout instead of exiting neatly, especially at low rates of flow.

Cyril Duez and his team of fluid dynamicists could not tolerate one more dribble. They have identified the root cause, a "hydro-capillary effect" that makes the tea fail to leave the spout material gracefully. Two techniques can be used to combat this.

[ Read Full Story ]

READ MORE ABOUT > beverages, capillary action, drinks, drips, fluid dynamics, food, liquid, materials, pouring, tea

Will Drinking Carbonated Beverages Weaken My Bones?

Our FYI experts answer the science questions that haunt you

By Matthew Cokeley Posted 07.30.2008 at 11:49 am 3 Comments

Will drinking carbonated beverages weaken my bones?

Maybe—but only if you're drinking several gallons of seltzer a day. Here's the chemistry that has soda drinkers worried: As carbon dioxide hits the water in your blood, it turns into carbonic acid. Too much acid in the blood can lead to a condition called acidosis, which could intercept small amounts of calcium from food as it makes its way to your bones, or steal it from them directly. Your greater concern, though, says endocrinologist Robert Heaney of Creighton University, should be the vomiting, headaches and impaired organ function that result from extreme acidosis.

[ Read Full Story ]

READ MORE ABOUT > august 2008, beverages, bones, calcium, fyi, health, matthew cokeley