Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) say they have found a way to drastically minimize vehicle dag by controlling the so-called aerodynamic separation -- a technical dilemma scientist refer to as "a century-old problem in the field of fluid mechanics."

The phenomenon affects not only cars, but airplanes, ships, and submarines. It is even a factor in sports. It frequently occurs when moving objects change speed and direction, causing the lagging airflow to detach and induce extra drag. By devising new mathematical and experimental models George Haller, a visiting professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Thomas Peacock, the Atlantic Richfield Career Development Associate Professor say they will soon be able to control the effect.

"Instead of flowing smoothly past the object, the air tends to dramatically part from the surface, or separate," said Peacock. "And that adversely affects the lift [or vertical forces] and drag [or horizontal forces] of the object."

As it stands, few details are available. However, the report is being published in the Sept. 25 issue of the Journal of Fluid Mechanics and in the September issue of Physics of Fluids. Once in print, the study is said to provide theoretical and experimental basis for reducing losses and increasing efficiency. Learn more about MIT energy research here.