Why the universe can be described by the equations of fluids

Studying the universe and the flow of fluids may seem worlds apart, but they involve some of the same equations, writes Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

By Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

ONE of the best parts of sharing my scientific interests with the public is how engaged people are with the ideas. In my time writing for New Scientist, I have received lots of lovely and thoughtful notes from diligent readers. Occasionally, there is a question that I quietly respond to in a future column. Since I only write once a month, I can’t address all of the questions, but I was particularly pleased last month to get an email asking me in what ways calculations in cosmology are similar to calculations involving fluids. The person who sent …