In this essay we explore analogies between macroscopic patterns, which result
from a sequence of phase transitions/instabilities starting from a homogeneous
state, and similar phenomena in cosmology, where a sequence of phase
transitions in the early universe is believed to have separated the fundamental
forces from each other, and also shaped the structure and distribution of
matter in the universe. We discuss three distinct aspects of this analogy: (i)
Defects and topological charges in macroscopic patterns are analogous to spins
and charges of quarks and leptons; (ii) Generic (3+1) stripe patterns carry an
(energy) density that accounts for phenomena that are currently attributed to
dark matter; (iii) Space-time patterns of interacting nonlinear waves display
behaviors reminiscent of quantum phenomena including inflation, entanglement
and dark energy.Comment: 15 Pages, Essay with 3 technical appendice
