This paper proposes a novel theoretical framework that applies cosmological modeling techniques to the study of population dynamics. Specifically, it adapts the Friedmann equations—traditionally used to describe the expansion of the universe—to model the growth and evolution of a population expanding within a material environment. The author introduces an analogy in which living matter corresponds to dark matter, while a scalar field—interpreted as an “elixir of life”—plays the role of dark energy. Using a variable mass particle (VAMP) model with a tachyonic scalar field, the study incorporates interactions between matter and the scalar field to describe changes in population density and total biomass over time. A key result is that the Friedmann equations can be reformulated to govern population expansion, where growth is driven not by the scalar field energy density itself, but by the density of living matter and an effective pressure arising from its interaction with the scalar field. Analytical expressions are derived for the time evolution of the scale factor, population density, and total amount of living matter. Under simplifying assumptions, the model predicts exponential growth behavior linked to the dynamics of the scalar field. Overall, the work establishes a conceptual bridge between cosmology and population dynamics, suggesting that tools from theoretical physics can provide new insights into biological and ecological growth processes.
Harald Boettger (Thu,) studied this question.