Want to make waves? Just press "start"!

A very interesting article from Smithsonian Magazine highlights efforts to precisely recreate open-water conditions.  

Our U.S. Navy tests ships in an indoor ocean....yes, you read that right. In the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, a 12-million-gallon, football-field-size pool is the world's most sophisticated scientific wave-testing basin.  

Take a look for yourself...

Switching testing scenarios used to take 20 minutes.  Rolling waters can now be calmed in just 30 seconds.                         (Photo credit: Ryan Hanyok, U.S. Navy)