The Convection in Skillets and StarsHow heat creates order across the universe

Understanding fluid dynamics reveals a surprising unity in nature. Driven by the competition between buoyancy and viscosity, Rayleigh-Bénard convection shapes both the microscopic flow of oil in a pan and the massive granules on the Sun. Recognizing this distinct tessellated appearance across vast scales makes the universe feel like a coherent machine rather than a chaotic mess.

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