No Coiling (VIDEO) Brown University This video is under embargo. Please login to access this video. Caption A paper published in the journal PLOS ONE shows that Jackson Pollock's "drip" technique seems to intentionally avoid what's known in the fluid mechanics world as coiling instability -- the tendency of a viscous fluid to form curls and coils when poured on a surface. The researchers used an experimental setup using a syringe to emulate Pollock's technique. In the video, the paint is deposited on a moving canvas from distance low enough a speed high enough to avoid coiling. At higher distances and/or lower speeds, the instability creates pigtail-like curls (see additional video), which Pollock largely avoided, the researchers say. Credit Roberto Zenit Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.