Taking this traditional idea of using air friction and refining it to control the speed of automatic winding, Urwerk has replaced the traditional rotating mechanisms of the past with miniature twin turbines that can be seen spinning on the back of the watch and are connected to the rotor.

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The Obama administration fears that whenever Rokkasho starts operating, it will add a new dimension of friction in the region, prompting other countries to seek greater nuclear capabilities and more control over them.

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The friction caused by the gas bubble pushing up the pipe and displacing the drilling mud used to control the pressure could have created a static charge that ignited the gas into a fireball.

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By registering the amount of friction between the tyre and the road, the system warns the car's computer-control equipment if the car is in danger of aquaplaning on a large puddle or skidding on ice.

ECONOMIST: MONITOR