Hi everyone,

I'm not a physicist by trade (I work in materials science), but I’ve been obsessing over a specific question lately: What actually is time, and why does it scale (dilate)?

I couldn't get my head around the standard geometric explanation, so I started looking at the vacuum through the lens of my own field—treating spacetime as a physical medium with density and refractive index.

Then I thought of a new angle: Hydrodynamics.

This work proposes a paradigm shift in foundational physics: rather than treating spacetime geometry as fundamental, we posit that it emerges from a deeper Planck-scale stochastic background field. By reinterpreting the Einstein field equations as hydrodynamic equations of this quantum vacuum, we successfully unify the principles of General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics without introducing extra dimensions or fine-tuning.

Key Derivations and Results:

· Origin of Time Dilation: Derived as a hydrodynamic wave drag effect. The relativistic Lorentz factor ( ) is mathematically identified with the aerodynamic Prandtl-Glauert singularity, arising from the vacuum's finite impedance.

· Origin of Gravity: Modeled as an optical refraction process caused by lattice density gradients. We successfully derive the precise 1.75 arcsecond light deflection angle by summing temporal (impedance) and spatial (curvature) contributions.

· Origin of Inertia: Explained via the Langevin dynamics of particles interacting with the stochastic background, recovering Newton's laws from statistical averages.

· Resolution of Singularities: The discrete lattice structure naturally imposes a physical cutoff, preventing the divergence of curvature invariants and eliminating singularities.

· Nature of Dark Energy: Identified as the intrinsic lattice pressure of the background field, providing a dynamic explanation for cosmic acceleration.

This framework offers a rigorous, mechanistic explanation for relativistic phenomena, suggesting that the "mysteries" of the universe are emergent properties of a fluid-like quantum vacuum.

I uploaded the full derivation (v1.1 PDF) to Zenodo today.

Link to the paper (DOI):https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18514660

I am specifically looking for feedback on Section 3, where I show how the Einstein Field Equations emerge from the fluid dynamics. The mathematical mapping seems robust, but I want to see if anyone can find a hole in the logic.

Thanks for taking a look.