biostudies-literatureMei BDOE | SC | Basic Energy Sciencese2025341118https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8106312biostudies-literatureUnknown118(18)Understanding in a unified manner the generic and chemically specific aspects of activated dynamics in diverse glass-forming liquids over 14 or more decades in time is a grand challenge in condensed matter physics, physical chemistry, and materials science and engineering. Large families of conceptually distinct models have postulated a causal connection with qualitatively different "order parameters" including various measures of structure, free volume, thermodynamic properties, short or intermediate time dynamics, and mechanical properties. Construction of a predictive theory that covers both the noncooperative and cooperative activated relaxation regimes remains elusive. Here, we test using solely experimental data a recent microscopic dynamical theory prediction that although activatedProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaExperimental test of a predicted dynamics-structure-thermodynamics connection in molecularly complex glass-forming liquids.PMC8106312DE-SC0020858Schweizer KSZhou YMei BfalseExperimental test of a predicted dynamics-structure-thermodynamics connection in molecularly complex glass-forming liquids.Understanding in a unified manner the generic and chemically specific aspects of activated dynamics in diverse glass-forming liquids over 14 or more decades in time is a grand challenge in condensed matter physics, physical chemistry, and materials science and engineering. Large families of conceptually distinct models have postulated a causal connection with qualitatively different "order parameters" including various measures of structure, free volume, thermodynamic properties, short or intermediate time dynamics, and mechanical properties. Construction of a predictive theory that covers both the noncooperative and cooperative activated relaxation regimes remains elusive. Here, we test using solely experimental data a recent microscopic dynamical theory prediction that although activated2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 May2025-04-04T18:41:59.185Z2025-04-04T18:41:59.185ZS-EPMC81063123390324510.1073/pnas.2025341118