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This NASA wind tunnel test is absolutely gorgeous

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Say hello to your new desktop wallpaper. In the psychedelic scene shown here, researchers at NASA’s Langley Research Center have used fluorescent oil to assess airflow over a novel wing design.

Click here for hi-res [4752 × 3168]

Via NASA:

Researchers at [Langley] use all sorts of tools and techniques to learn more during the development of aircraft and spacecraft designs.

In this photo, engineers led by researcher Greg Gatlin have sprayed fluorescent oil on a 5.8 percent scale model of a futuristic hybrid wing body during tests in the 14 by-22-Foot Subsonic Wind Tunnel.

The oil helps researchers “see” the flow patterns when air passes over and around the model. Those patterns are important in determining crucial aircraft characteristics such as lift and drag.

Sweet googly moogly those are some fine flow lines.

https://gizmodo.com/a-giant-fiery-mustache-makes-this-already-awesome-phot-5924073

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