Best of Web // William Watkins

Best of Web // William Watkins

William Watkins
2022, 2022 Best of Web
This video is by National Geographic and featuring images from the photographer Paul Nicklen. These videos and images were taken of emperor penguins near Cape Washington, Antarctica. I truly admire the natural beauty and scientific phenomenon that can be seen in this photo. The penguins seem to use air bubbles forming around their bodies to propel themselves out of the water at high speeds. Due to the air having a lower viscosity than the water, the air that forms around the penguin allows the penguin to move much more quickly through the water. The aesthetics of this photo are truly fascinating. This gives a unique perspective on flow visualization as a naturally occurring phenomenon while the photographer did not have to alter any variables in the environment itself. Not only is this mind-boggling, it is a gorgeous display of fluid flow.

Reference: Davenport, J., R.N. Hughes, M. Shorten and P. S. Larsen. 2011. Drag reduction by air release promotes fast ascent in jumping emperor penguins—a novel hypothesis. Marine Ecology Progress Series 430: 171-182.

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2 Comments. Leave new

  • Martin Allsbrook
    Sep 14, 2022 21:46

    2rd Place: Wow I never knew that penguins did that! The results of evolution can be fascinating, and its funny to think that the penguin doesn’t even know of the physics it’s harnessing.

    Reply
  • Heider Iacometti
    Sep 14, 2022 20:01

    3rd Place: Honestly such a cool thing to be able to do, “dive” with the penguins and to be able to catch that footage is a rare occurrence.

    Reply

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