Strogatz: a Navier-Stokes singularity wouldn't invalidate the model, just end the continuum approximation
stevenstrogatz · x · 2026-09-09
In a follow-up thread, Strogatz argues that even if the Navier-Stokes equations do develop finite-time singularities, it wouldn't mean the equations are a bad model of water—they work spectacularly well across the continuum range, failing only below molecular scales. What would be astonishing is the mathematics itself: viscosity relentlessly smooths small-scale structure, yet could a nonlinear cascade defeat that smoothing and reach zero scale in finite time.
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