In 1949, famous physicist Lars Onsager published a paper discussing the potential implications of superfluids and turbulence.

Now, 70 years later, a team of Australian researchers has conducted an experiment to back his theory – using a tiny quantum version of Jupiter’s ‘Great Red Spot’ to do it. Unlike the Great Red Spot, for this experiment, the researchers went small: microscopically small.

They used superfluid cooled down to just above absolute zero, and held it in place using digital micro mirror devices and lasers, before creating a vortex just 100 micrometres across. TheThe team then generated two vortex clusters and spun them in opposite directions, which demonstrates the stability of the configuration. (1)

Ephemeral change.

Eternal vortices.

In a cosmos constantly stable…

In a cosmos momentarily changing…

The vortices will die at the end.

And the universe will stay silent.

Whispering…

Ephemeral vortices.

Eternal change…