  A vibrational model of transport properties of dense fluids assumes that
solid-like oscillations of atoms around their temporary equilibrium positions
dominate the dynamical picture. The temporary equilibrium positions of atoms do
not form any regular structure and are not fixed, unlike in solids. Instead,
they are allowed to diffuse and this is why liquids can flow. However, this
diffusive motion is characterized by much longer time scales compared to those
of solid-like oscillations. Although this general picture is not particularly
new, only in a recent series of works it has been possible to construct a
coherent and internally consistent {\it quantitative} description of transport
properties such as self-diffusion, shear viscosity, and thermal conductivity.
Moreover, the magnitudes of these transport coefficients have been related to
the properties of collective excitations in dense fluids. Importantly, the
model is simple and no free parameters are involved. Recent achievements are
summarized in this overview. Application of the vibrational model to various
single-component model systems such as plasma-related Coulomb and screened
Coulomb (Yukawa) fluids, the Lennard-Jones fluid, and the hard-sphere fluid is
considered in detail. Applications to real liquids are also briefly discussed.
Overall, good to excellent agreement with available numerical and experimental
data is demonstrated. Conditions of applicability of the vibrational model and
a related question concerning the location of the gas-liquid crossover are
discussed.
