Surface of the Sun in a Petri Dish. In Art of Science

Caption: Bénard Cells, also observed on the surface of the Sun, appear in fluids heated from the bottom.
Participant category: Faculty
Department: Mechanical and Aerospce Engineering

Fluid instabilities, while fascinatingly pleasing to look at, are critical in understanding several natural and engineering systems, including breaking waves, atmospheric turbulence, and rocket engines. The image shows one of the instabilities, called Bénard Cells, created by heating oil in a Petri dish. When the oil thickness and heating are right, beautiful cells appear.