The Nile Delta in northern Egypt—the 22,000 km2 area where the mouth of the Nile River meets the Mediterranean Sea—is one of the world’s most fertile agricultural regions, despite the surrounding desert landscape. The fertile soil of the delta developed over millions of years, as mineral and nutrient sediments accumulated over time.1 Slow moving parts of a river often exhibit a property of fluid dynamics called laminar flow, during which water flows in smooth layers with minimal mixing. As a result, substances previously suspended in faster moving water settle on the riverbed.2 It is no coincidence that slow moving water appears clear, whereas turbulent water looks muddy.
Cell Sedimentation in the Laboratory
In a crude approximation of natural sedimentation, scientists use centrifuges to separate and collect cells suspended in fluid for a wide range of research and medical applications. Originally designed in the 19th century to process dairy, centrifuges have ...
