Is the Universe a Type of Fluid?

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    Fluid Type Universe
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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the concept of whether the Universe and gravity can be considered types of fluid, particularly in relation to the properties of spacetime. It includes references to theoretical models and speculative ideas within cosmology and physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Debate/contested, Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that spacetime may exhibit superfluid properties, referencing popular articles and a journal source discussing this idea.
  • Others argue that while there are models suggesting spacetime has fluid-like characteristics, the analogy is complex and not straightforward.
  • A later reply mentions that the idea of spacetime as a fluid is still being discussed in certain scientific circles, providing a link to a relevant paper.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus; there are multiple competing views regarding the fluid-like nature of the Universe and gravity, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on theoretical models and the lack of peer-reviewed sources to substantiate the claims made in popular articles. The complexity of the analogy between spacetime and fluid dynamics is also noted.

Madefornomad
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Hello, everyone I am new to the site

I was wondering if the Universe and gravity are types of fluid?

As you can read I am not a cosmologist or even a physicist but I love science
 
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Welcome to PF!

Some scientists have speculated that spacetime may be a superfluid. I've seen some articles where it was talked about but haven't found a peer reviewed source yet. These popular articles were published in 2014.

http://Earth'sky.org/space/is-spacetime-like-a-liquid

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/superfluid-spacetime-relativity-quantum-physics/

Still searching and found this journal article:

http://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.151301

Someone more knowledgeable at PF will have to comment on the current state of this idea though as a lot can change in two years as they dig deeper into it.
 
Last edited:
Madefornomad said:
I was wondering if the Universe and gravity are types of fluid?

Not in any simple sense. The links jedishrfu gave talk about models where spacetime has some properties along these lines, but the analogy is still not a simple one.
 
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This idea is still kicked around in some circles - e.g. ,http://arxiv.org/abs/1309.7296, Astrophysical constraints on Planck scale dissipative phenomena
 

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