WASHINGTON — Foamy beer and creamy lattes are less likely to spill than less bubbly versions of the beverages, and new research is showing there could be safety benefits that can be applied outside bars and cafes.
New research shows foam prevents sloshing. Five layers of foam can decrease the height of waves by a factor of 10, a study published in the journal Physics of Fluids found.
Sloshing is prevented only if the foam in question touches the sides of the container that’s holding the liquid lying under the bubbles.
The research may lead to safer ways to move potentially hazardous liquids such as oil and liquefied gas.
An explosive crash locally in December 2004 shows the potential for danger from tanker trucks carrying sloshy fuel.
The accident was dramatic enough for some area residents to think the Pentagon was under attack, The Washington Post reported at the time.
The fuel tanker overturned while navigating a highway ramp underneath I-395 and caused fiery explosions and burning rivers of fuel to wash down Washington Boulevard and into storm drains. The truck’s driver was killed in the wreck.
