Van Gogh’s 'The Starry Night' Reveals Accurate Atmospheric Physics

Researchers find that the painting's swirling patterns align with real-world turbulence theories.

• Scientists from China and France analyzed Van Gogh's brushstrokes in 'The Starry Night' to uncover hidden turbulence.
• The study found the painting aligns with Kolmogorov's law, which describes energy transfer in turbulent flows.
• At smaller scales, the brushstrokes also matched Batchelor's scaling, related to fluid mixing and diffusion.
• Researchers suggest Van Gogh had an innate or observational understanding of atmospheric dynamics.
• The findings highlight the intersection of art and science, showing how artistic intuition can reflect complex physical principles.

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