Jon Nelson, of Ritsumeikan University, in Japan, has calculated that the most important property involved is the surface tension of the tiny clusters of water molecules from which snowflakes form.

ECONOMIST: Atmospheric science

Siphons, exploiting surface tension, remove a discrete amount of plasma to another chamber, where it is spun again and diluted.

FORBES: Medicine Man

Surface tension in the water can sling the craft out of control or cause it to bounce violently.

FORBES: A Wing and a Prayer

Pros have always varied their string tension a little based on the court surface, weather conditions and their opponent's style of play.

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