Blood droplets on inclined surfaces reveal new cracking patterns

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Dried deposit of a 5 μL blood droplet on a glass surface inclined at 35° to the horizontal, showing differential cracking between the advancing (downhill) and receding (uphill) fronts. The arrow indicates the direction of gravitational acceleration (g). Credit: Bibek Kumar, Sangamitro Chatterjee, Amit Agrawal, Rajneesh Bhardwaj Drying droplets have fascinated scientists for decades. From water to coffee to paint, these everyday fluids leave behind intricate patterns as they evaporate. But blood is far more complex—a colloidal suspension packed with red blood cells, plasma proteins, salts, and countless biomolecules. As blood dries, it leaves behind a complex microstructural pattern—cracks, rings, and folds—each shaped by the interplay of its cellular components, proteins, and evaporation dynamics. These f ... Read full article.