The idea that bulk viscosity could be an alternative to dark energy for a cosmological effective theory has been around for a while. For example, Gagnon , 2011 Dark goo : bulk viscosity as an alternative to dark energy, or Hu, 2024 Viscous universe with cosmological constant , or Khan, 2025 Spatial Phonons : A Phenomenological Viscous Dark Energy Model for DESI . Paul , 2025 Origin of bulk viscosity in cosmology and its thermodynamic implications , uses FLRW expansion gradients with apparent-horizon thermodynamics. The real issue however, is: Is viscosity relaxation toward de Sitter, or dark energy itself ? This is equivalent to saying: Is $\Lambda$ geometry itself (equilibrium curvature, the standard view), or an emergent attractor from dissipation (NESS fixed point). If viscosity replaces $\Lambda$ (NESS fixed point) Let $$\varepsilon_\Lambda = \frac{3H^2c^2}{8\pi G}$$ be the ...
An easy-to-read journey spanning 100+ years of geometric algebra, quantum mechanics and relativity, right up to some of the biggest questions (and solutions) of present-day physics. Many giant shoulders stood upon.