Birds gliding through helium bubbles reveal an aerodynamic trick

A cloud of tiny helium-filled soap bubbles hovers in the air. When a barn owl glides through them, the bubbles are illuminated and recorded. The experiment is repeated with a tawny owl and a northern goshawk. With this setup, researchers can see, track, and analyze the vortices in each bird’s … Continue reading Birds gliding through helium bubbles reveal an aerodynamic trick