A team of New York University scientists has created a gear mechanism that relies on fluids to generate rotation. The invention holds potential for a new generation of mechanical devices that offer greater flexibility and durability than do existing gears—whose origins date back to ancient China.
While neat, I highly doubt you can get any amount of torque through this.
It’s possible to design fluid couplings for torque. That’s what a torque converter in an automatic transmission does.
It’s not quite as elegant, of course, but still.