Why Navier-Stokes Pushes Math and Physics to the Edge

By Quanta Magazine

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The Navier-Stokes equations are among the most important — and most challenging — equations in physics. For centuries, scientists and engineers have used them to describe the motion of fluids, from turbulent air and ocean currents to blood flowing through our bodies. But mathematicians couldn’t prove whether their solutions always remain smooth, a mystery that became one of seven $1 million Millennium Prize Problems. So, what makes the Navier-Stokes equations so difficult? What happens when their solutions blow up? And how could a new OpenAI proof finally resolve the problem? We break it all down with Steven Brunton (@Eigensteve), a physicist at the University of Washington, in this comprehensive explainer covering fluid dynamics, turbulence, the new proof, and more. 00:00 Intro to the equations and the Millennium Prize problem 1:19 Building up the Euler equations 3:39: The viscosity term and the full Navier-Stokes equations 5:06: The profound mathematical challenge of turbulence

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