How quantum friction explains water’s strange flows in carbon nanotubes, and the latest from the Nature Briefing.

In this episode:

00:53 A theory for water’s baffling behaviour in carbon nanotubes

At large scales, water flows faster through a wider pipe than a narrower one. However, in tiny carbon nanotubes flow-rate is flipped, with water moving faster through the narrowest channels. This week, researchers have come up with a new explanation for this phenomenon: quantum friction. If validated, it could allow material designers to fine-tune flows through tiny channels, which could be useful in processes such as water purification.

Research Article: Kavokine et al.

06:43 Research Highlights

Creating soap bubbles that last 200,000 times longer, and hippos’ habit of aggressively spraying dung when they hear a stranger.

Research Highlight: No bursting for these record-breaking bubbles

Research Highlight: Hippos know strangers’ voices — and make a filthy reply

09:08 Briefing Chat

We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, a global study reveals how antibiotic-resistant infections have led to millions of deaths, and a genetic mutation that plays a big role in a dog’s size.

Nature News: The staggering death toll of drug-resistant bacteria

Nature News: Big dog, little dog: mutation explains range of canine sizes

Nature Video: