Ars Technica has compiled six intriguing scientific discoveries that nearly escaped notice. The roundup covers dolphin swimming physics, Roman ship repairs, and mushroom communication via urine. Published on May 2, these stories span physics, archaeology, and biology.
In a monthly feature, Ars Technica spotlighted research from April that might have gone under the radar. Among the highlights, Japanese scientists at the University of Osaka used supercomputer simulations to explain dolphin speed. They found that large vortex rings from tail flaps generate most thrust, while smaller vortices are turbulent byproducts. 'Our results show that the hierarchy of vortices in turbulence is crucial for understanding dolphin swimming,' said co-author Susumu Goto. The team aims to apply this to underwater robots, as detailed in Physical Review Fluids (2026).