Physicists use sliding seeds to better understand landslides and rock avalanches

Champatis, the seeds of the Lapsi tree, are valued in Nepal for their medical, economic, social, and cultural significance. They are also popular among children as simple playthings. But for a group of physicists, these unique seeds--and the way they bounce and roll down slopes--could help them better understand landslides and avalanches, leading to research that could save lives.