Editorial preface: Fluid dynamics of life

This editorial preface introduces the special collection Fluid Dynamics of Life, which brings together recent advances at the interface of fluid mechanics and biological systems. The collection highlights how fluid dynamic principles shape processes across scales, from molecular transport and cellular mechanics to organ-level flows and engineered biofluidic devices. This special collection is associated with BITES-2024 held at the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela during December 18–20, 2024, and is published in Physics of Fluids. Out of 57 submissions, 16 papers were accepted after editorial screening and peer review. The papers reflect strong interdisciplinary collaboration among biologists, physicists, engineers, and mathematicians, demonstrating how theory, computation, and experiments jointly advance biological understanding and technological innovation. Together, these works illustrate the growing impact of fluid dynamics in understanding life processes and in developing solutions for biomedical, environmental, and engineering challenges. This collection aims to serve as a valuable reference and inspiration for future research in the emerging field of fluid dynamics of life.