The team used an AI method known as equation discovery to develop a model to simulate the interactions between small eddies—circular, vortex-like currents—and large-scale ones. These interactions are critical in the workings of the atmosphere, ocean and the mantle of the Earth, among others.

When the resulting equations were close but not quite accurate, the scientists dug into the physics and math to understand what was lacking. Then they asked the AI algorithm to incorporate certain missing laws of physics into its discovery.

The result is an equation that provides a more efficient way to compute these interactions, which could potentially boost our modeling of everything from the global climate to the flows inside the sun.

Nice to see proper use of this tech. It’s good for these things where you are in control and can improve iteration speed. That’s really where the value is, and had always been.