Science: Jupiter’s gas is thought to occupy cylindrical zones that are nested around the planet’s axis and rotate at different rates. Compositional stratification and the planet’s spherical shape would give rise to the planet’s famous stripes, but what is responsible for creating the cylindrical zones in the first place? A new lab experiment by a team from Paris and Göttingen, Germany, has found support for one answer: the tides exerted by Jupiter’s moons. The experiment involved water, a flexible silicon container, metal rollers, plastic tracers, and lasers.
For the UNESCO section chief, “striking a balance between global coherence and respect for national ownership and cultural diversity is both essential and complex.”
May 13, 2026 01:46 PM
Get PT newsletters in your inbox
PT The Week in Physics
A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.
One email per week
PT New Issue Alert
Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.
One email per month
PT Webinars & White Papers
The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.