To convey the essence of the ubiquitous influence of turbulence, researcher Antonino Ferrante of the William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics of the University of Washington, Seattle, quotes Greek philosopher Heraclitus: “’Everything flows and nothing abides; everything gives way and nothing stays fixed.”

“As I sit and look around me, I notice several examples of turbulent flows: the air moving in and out of my lungs, the air moving around me in my office, the smoke flowing out of a chimney, the wind moving between the leaves and branches of trees, massive clouds moving in the atmosphere, the air surrounding a flying bird and an airplane,” Ferrante says. “No matter how big or small, or how close or far you look, you will see fluids in motion. To read further, please visit http://www.nics.tennessee.edu/ferrante-4-2013