What these two processes share is baked into the math of each. In fact, in that respect, they're nearly identical. They both involve some stuff (atoms or money) that is either growing or shrinking.

You might have heard people use the term compound interest, but if you can’t answer the question “What is compound interest?” then you’re missing out on how compound interest affects your finances.

Compound interest grows by reinvesting earnings, creating larger interest over time. Increasing compounding frequency (e.g., monthly) can significantly accelerate investment growth. Compound earnings ...