The collaboration between the ISS National Lab and the National Science Foundation has now supported nearly 100 research investigations, yielding over 350 peer-reviewed papers. The latest selections focus on fluid transport, a critical area for both manufacturing and thermal regulation.

Patricia Weisensee of Washington University in St. Louis will lead an investigation into the melting dynamics of small particles. On Earth, buoyancy-driven flows complicate the observation of surface tension. By studying how particles melt and mix in microgravity, the team expects to improve 3D metal printing processes and applications like targeted drug delivery.

Concurrently, Chen Li from the University of South Carolina will examine the "slip ratio" in two-phase flows. Efficient electronics cooling relies on flow boiling, where liquid turns to gas to dissipate heat. Because gas bubbles and liquids move at different speeds, heat transfer is often inefficient. Studying this behavior in space will allow engineers to build more precise thermal control systems for high-performance computing and refrigeration.