"Mathematicians Crack Feynman's Reverse Sprinkler Puzzle"
Mathematicians at New York University have solved the long-standing "reverse sprinkler" problem, which has puzzled physicists since the 1940s. Their study, published in Physical Review Letters, combines lab experiments and mathematical modeling to reveal that a reverse sprinkler spins in the opposite direction when taking in water as it does when ejecting it, challenging conventional wisdom. This achievement adds to the lab's track record of addressing colorful real-world puzzles, including perfect bubble formation, stone forest formation processes, Tesla valve construction, and paper airplane aerodynamics.