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Rivers5 min read

The sediment a reservoir holds back

A reservoir slows a river enough to store sand, gravel and silt. That deposit takes up water-storage space and changes the supply reaching channels and coasts downstream; surveys show why the outcome differs from one dam to another.

Sauces5 min read

Why a sauce thickens as it cools

A starch-thickened sauce can look loose in the pan and hold a spoon mark on the plate. Heating opens and swells starch granules; cooling gives their released chains and swollen remnants another chance to build structure.

Yarn5 min read

The twist inside a strong thread

A spun thread holds together because its short fibers grip one another. Twist increases that grip, but too much turns the fibers away from the line of a pull. The strongest yarn balances both effects.

Wool5 min read

Why wool changes shape in water

A damp wool garment can swell, relax, or felt. The three changes happen at different scales and for different reasons, so the shape you see after washing tells only part of the story.

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