In geology, honeycombs are an intriguing pattern of small cavities on rock surfaces found in coastal regions, wet areas, deserts, and even on Mars. They are fascinating to look at in natural objects and a bane of historic buildings and monuments. Despite a hundred years of research, scientists are still not sure how honeycombs come about.
by two Skoltech researchers describes a computer simulation of rock weathering that reproduces the puzzling hollows-and-ridges pattern and pinpoints the conditions that promote—or deter—its formation. The main factor at play is saltwater evaporation.
"In terms of monument conservation, our findings may help pinpoint the particular spots on historic buildings, statues, etc. that are most vulnerable to honeycomb erosion, as well as identify safer locations for positioning these objects. Estimating the life span of a projected structure is another possibility."
Honeycomb formation in Apolena Rock City, Czech Republic. The values on white rectangles describe how much moisture per unit volume the rock is likely to contain at a given height above the ground. The team's simulation shows that honeycomb formation is favored by a moderate moisture content. Credit: Alexander Safonov et al.The simulation is two-dimensional and assumes certain standard evaporation conditions, reported in prior research.
In the simulation, honeycombs form when there's an initial dent in the rock and the baseline moisture content falls into a certain window.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Perseverance rover climbs Martian peak with 'computer pilot'Perseverance is equipped with an autonomous navigation system to enhance its Mars exploration capabilities.
Read more »
From Healthcare To Space: Top 10 Transformative Computer Vision Trends In 2024Delving into the transformative world of Computer Vision for 2024, this article highlights pivotal trends, including generative AI.
Read more »
Star Wars Fans Sue Over Cancelled Knights of the Old Republic 2 DLCStar Wars fans are suing Saber Interactive and Aspyr Media over cancelled KOTOR 2 DLC.
Read more »
Banana Republic Opened its First Home Store With Olivia Wilde, Chris Appleton, and More in AttendanceHollywood stars came out to fete the brand’s new home collection.
Read more »
With some tinkering and a monitor, iPhone 15 Pro can be used as a PCDeveloper shows that it's possible to use the iPhone 15 Pro as a desktop computer.
Read more »