  We present several examples of fundamental problems involving weak continuity
and compactness for nonlinear partial differential equations, in which
compensated compactness and related ideas have played a significant role. We
first focus on the compactness and convergence of vanishing viscosity solutions
for nonlinear hyperbolic conservation laws, including the inviscid limit from
the Navier-Stokes equations to the Euler equations for homentropy flow, the
vanishing viscosity method to construct the global spherically symmetric
solutions to the multidimensional compressible Euler equations, and the
sonic-subsonic limit of solutions of the full Euler equations for
multidimensional steady compressible fluids. We then analyze the weak
continuity and rigidity of the Gauss-Codazzi-Ricci system and corresponding
isometric embeddings in differential geometry. Further references are also
provided for some recent developments on the weak continuity and compactness
for nonlinear partial differential equations.
