Fundamental physical constants play a profound role in physics. For example, they govern nuclear reactions, formation of stars, nuclear synthesis and stability of biologically vital elements. These are high-energy processes discussed in particle physics, astronomy and cosmology. More recently, it was realised that fundamental physical constants extend their governing reach to low-energy processes and properties operating in condensed matter systems, often in an unexpected way. These properties are those we experience daily and can routinely measure, including viscosity, thermal conductivity, elasticity and sound. Here, we review this work. We start with the lower bound on liquid viscosity, its origin and show how to relate the bound to fundamental physical constants. The lower bound of kinematic viscosity represents the global minimum on the phase diagram. We show how this result answers the long-standing question considered by Purcell and Weisskopf, namely why viscosity never falls below a certain value. An accompanying insight is that water viscosity and water-based life are well attuned to fundamental constants including the Planck constant. We then discuss viscosity minima in liquid He above and below the λ-point. We subsequently consider a very different property, thermal diffusivity, and show that it has the same minimum fixed by fundamental physical constants as viscosity. We also discuss bounds related to elastic properties, elastic moduli and their analogues in low-dimensional systems, and show how these bounds are related to the upper bound for the speed of sound. We conclude with listing ways in which the discussion of fundamental constants and bounds advance physical theories.

基本物理常数在物理学中发挥着深远的作用。例如，它们控制核反应、恒星形成、核合成和生物重要元素的稳定性。这些是粒子物理学、天文学和宇宙学中讨论的高能过程。最近，人们意识到基本物理常数通常以意想不到的方式将其控制范围扩展到在凝聚态系统中运行的低能过程和特性。这些特性是我们日常体验到的并且可以常规测量的特性，包括粘度、导热性、弹性和声音。在这里，我们回顾这项工作。我们从液体粘度的下限及其起源开始，并展示如何将下限与基本物理常数联系起来。运动粘度的下限表示相图上的全局最小值。我们展示了这个结果如何回答 Purcell 和 Weisskopf 考虑的长期问题，即为什么粘度永远不会低于某个值。随之而来的见解是，水的粘度和水基生命与包括普朗克常数在内的基本常数很好地协调。然后我们讨论液体 He 中的粘度最小值高于和低于λ - 点。我们随后考虑了一个非常不同的属性，即热扩散率，并表明它具有与粘度相同的由基本物理常数固定的最小值。我们还讨论了低维系统中与弹性属性、弹性模量及其类似物相关的界限，并展示了这些界限与声速上限的关系。我们最后列出了基本常数和界限的讨论推进物理理论的方式。