Could a Growth Signal Hold a Clue to Autism? A New Hypothesis About Early Brain Development

Porous media are all around us! From natural materials like soil, sand and rocks, to everyday products like sponges, filters, diapers, and concrete, these materials contain tiny spaces – or pores – that hold liquids or gases. When you soak up water with a sponge, for example, the pores fill with liquid, pushing out the air. The same process happens underground, where porous rocks store water, oil, or even carbon dioxide. Understanding how fluids move through porous materials is essential for solving real-world problems, such as cleaning up oil spills, improving water filtration, developing better batteries for electric cars, and storing gases underground to fight climate change.