There's a way for a whirlpool to basically explode while leaving a tiny, perfectly still 'eye' right in the middle of the chaos.
March 27, 2026
Original Paper
Self-similar finite-time blowups with singular profiles of the generalized Constantin-Lax-Majda model: theoretical and numerical investigations
arXiv · 2603.25104
The Takeaway
Researchers discovered a new way that fluid equations can reach a 'singularity'—a point where the math breaks down and speeds become infinite. They found that even as the outer layers of the fluid reach this chaotic breaking point, a tiny inner core remains smooth and stable, creating a two-scale explosion never before seen in these models.
From the abstract
We investigate novel scenarios of self-similar finite-time blowups of the generalized Constantin-Lax-Majda model with a parameter $a$, which are induced by a new setting where the smooth initial data satisfy certain derivative degeneracy condition. In this setting, our numerical study reveals distinct self-similar blowup behaviors depending on the sign of $a$. For $a>0$, we observe one-scale self-similar blowups with regular profiles that have not been found in previous studies. In contrast, for