Understanding the behavior of solutions to the compressible Euler equations for large times necessitates a sharp analysis of possible singularities that can form. Our understanding of shock singularities in three space dimensions has enjoyed a dramatic surge in progress in the past two decades due in part to the mathematical techniques that were developed to study Einstein’s equations. In this talk, I will discuss my recent work which provides a sharp localized description of a shock singularity as part of the boundary of maximal development of smooth data. The set of Cartesian spacetime points on which a singularity occurs, which we call the singular boundary B, has the structure of an embedded hypersurface with very degenerate causal properties. I will give an overview of the difficulties that occur in the construction of the singular boundary, and if time permits, also discuss the construction of the Cauchy horizon which emanates from the past boundary of B.

This is joint work with J. Speck.