In the news
In the news
Physicists have argued over this problem since 1883. It may now be solved.
Brennan Sprinkle, assistant professor of applied mathematics and statistics, was co-author on a study that examined how a submerged lawn sprinkler would rotate if run in reverse, with the water flowing in through the sprinkler arms.
July 14, 2026
Solution to Feynman’s reverse sprinkler puzzle also applies to "silly sprinklers”
Brennan Sprinkle, assistant professor of applied mathematics and statistics, co-authored the "silly sprinklers" article in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences with Leif Ristroph, associate professor of mathematics at NYU.
July 13, 2026
Colorado School of Mines professor and students work on creating a new type of concrete
Lori Tunstall, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, discusses the environmental benefits of a new type of concrete she and her students are developing.
July 10, 2026
Freeing Guam's future through technology
Through a partnership between the University of Guam, Mines and ASTRO America, students in Guam will have the opportunity to earn a mechanical engineering degree with a specialization in additive manufacturing.
July 10, 2026
Electricity and military power
Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, co-authored this article noting that electricity is becoming the foundational resource for militaries of the 21st century.
July 10, 2026
Excellence in everything at Colorado School of Mines Rec Sports
The article spotlights the Rec Sports program at Mines, noting that President Paul C. Johnson is a rec sports regular, swimming laps in the pool in the morning and attending many of the varsity competitions hosted on campus.
July 9, 2026
The grid is the arsenal: Power wars and the new foundations of military strength
Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy, co-authors this article noting that technologies driving the modern civilian economy—such as AI, advanced computing and semiconductors—also enable significant warfighting advantages, and that electricity is becoming a foundational resource for 21st‑century militaries.
July 9, 2026
NASA says it’s working toward making life on the moon a reality
George Sowers, professor of space resources, explains the challenges posed by radiation on the Moon and predicts heavy use of robotics on lunar bases to mitigate exposure risks for humans living and working there.
July 9, 2026
Big tech is now targeting native American land for massive data centers
The article references commentary by Richard Luarkie, director of the NAMES Initiative at the Payne Institute, which notes that Big Tech is increasingly looking to Native American land for data centers because projects there face fewer regulatory hurdles than in other communities.
July 9, 2026
Colorado Mountain College creates guaranteed transfer pathway to Colorado School of Mines
Lori Kester, associate provost for enrollment management, said many talented students in Colorado's mountain and rural communities are looking for accessible pathways to engineering and STEM careers.
July 8, 2026
Gerry Bourne and bladesmithing at Colorado School of Mines
Gerald Bourne, teaching professor and associate department head in metallurgical and materials engineering, discusses his introduction to bladesmithing and what bladesmithing looks like at Mines
July 8, 2026
Are Michigan and Huron actually one large Great Lake?
Eric Anderson, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the Hydrologic Science and Engineering Program, says that in some ways the two Great Lakes can be considered one lake, since they share what he calls a "lake system."
July 8, 2026
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.