Coalescente

Coalescente is a term used to describe something that tends to merge or to cause separate elements to become a single entity. In Portuguese, as in other languages, it functions as an adjective or noun, with English equivalents coalescent (adjective) and coalescence (noun).

In population genetics, coalescent theory models the ancestral relationships of gene copies by tracing lineages backward in time to a common ancestor. Introduced by John Kingman in the 1980s, it provides a probabilistic framework for inferring demographic history and evolutionary parameters from genetic data. Extensions handle recombination, selection, and structure.

In physics and astronomy, coalescence describes the merging of two or more bodies into one. Examples include the coalescence of liquid droplets due to collisions and surface tension, and the astrophysical coalescence of compact objects such as black holes or neutron stars, whose mergers produce gravitational waves detected by observatories.

In meteorology and chemistry, droplet coalescence leads to rain and to changes in emulsions and foams. In cloud physics, droplets collide and fuse to form larger drops; in emulsions, destabilization of stabilizing films allows droplets or bubbles to merge, altering texture, stability, and appearance.

Etymology: from Latin coalescere “to grow together.” Related terms include coagulation, but coalescence emphasizes merging into fewer, larger entities rather than mere aggregation.