This week’s new questions
Is there such a thing as an olfactory illusion, and what forces make a particle of fluid start spiralling down a pipe instead of flowing smoothly?
Olfactory illusions, in which one is deceived into perceiving a scent inaccurately, do indeed exist. While similar phenomena like optical and audio illusions are well-known, the concept of olfactory illusions remains less understood.
The forces driving a fluid particle's transition from smooth flow to spiral or helical movement down a pipe are complex and multi-faceted. Factors such as pipe geometry, fluid viscosity, and external disturbances all play a role in this intriguing phenomenon.
Written by urgent.news from New Scientist's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
