Not Just Blowing Smoke Rings Up There

September 25, 2011 8:29 AM

You're probably most familiar with the phenomenon when it appears like this (well until that wizard starts showing off) but did you know that vortex rings can also be created by dolphins?

..and whales? And even bigger whales? And volcanoes?

Original SLYT I found that led me to create this post.

posted by PapaLobo (21 comments total)

Neat!
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:37 AM on September 25, 2011

blowhole
blowhole
bloooooowhole
posted by nathancaswell at 8:38 AM on September 25, 2011

It's their way of telling us that the Vogon construction ships will be here soon.
posted by jimmythefish at 8:39 AM on September 25, 2011 [4 favorites]

Yes, I did know that, and yes it's still freaking awesome.
posted by Chekhovian at 8:45 AM on September 25, 2011

Hah, I was going to make a very similar post last week - do you read the TYWIKIWIDBI blog? That's how I stumbled on the videos.
posted by Think_Long at 8:48 AM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]

I didn't read the TYWIKIWIDBI blog ... until now. It's awesome! Thanks, Think_Long.
posted by PapaLobo at 8:50 AM on September 25, 2011

More dolphin bubble rings
posted by memebake at 8:59 AM on September 25, 2011

I think this was already once a FPP, but it's still frakkin' cool.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:00 AM on September 25, 2011

I first heard about the phenomenon here.
posted by Jode at 9:01 AM on September 25, 2011

Ah yeah, previous post about how Dolphins teach the technique to each other.
posted by memebake at 9:08 AM on September 25, 2011

A beluga with a halo bubble
posted by homunculus at 9:24 AM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]

There are two types of YouTube comments...

(via reddit)
posted by charlie don't surf at 10:45 AM on September 25, 2011 [2 favorites]

give that dolphin some weed
posted by p3on at 11:25 AM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]

aw dangit
posted by p3on at 11:25 AM on September 25, 2011

Dwight Whittaker at pomona studies ultrafast plant motion ; mosses use vortex rings in an explosive motion to scatter seeds.

Yes, it is sphagnum moss, and yes, he did use the pun when introducing himself and his grant activity as "Sphagnum P.I.".
posted by lalochezia at 11:58 AM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]

Actually, yes, I did know this.
posted by Eekacat at 12:59 PM on September 25, 2011

I just had a strange experience.

After watching several of these dolphin vortex videos I dialed up a hip-hop video on youtube and was forced to watch an advertisement for an insurance company which featured a dolphin blowing vortex bubbles
posted by kuatto at 1:50 PM on September 25, 2011

I liked vortex rings before the dolphins sold out.
posted by homunculus at 3:03 PM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]

I used to do that as a kid. Humans blowing bubble rings.
posted by TheBones at 3:30 PM on September 25, 2011 [1 favorite]

beautiful. thanks for sharing.
posted by roger ackroyd at 4:15 PM on September 25, 2011

Wild orca tries to communicate with humans by imitating their boat's motor
posted by homunculus at 11:14 AM on September 30, 2011 [1 favorite]