The Purcell question: why do all viscosities stop at the same place?

TL;DR

This paper explains why all liquid viscosities seem to have a lower limit by linking it to fundamental physical constants, particularly the Planck constant, revealing a connection between water, life, and the quantum nature of the universe.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical explanation for the universal viscosity minimum using fundamental constants, connecting physical laws to biological and chemical phenomena.

Findings

Viscosity minima are determined by fundamental physical constants.

Water's viscosity is tuned to the quantum scale.

The Planck constant sets a lower bound on liquid viscosities.

Abstract

In 1977, Purcell asked why liquid viscosities all stop at the same place? Liquids are hard to understand, yet today we can answer the Purcell question in terms of fundamental physical constants fixing viscosity minima. With the Planck constant setting the minimal viscosity, water and life appear to be well attuned to the degree of quantumness of the physical world.