What is the key to generating power law patterns?
Power law patterns emerge from processes that are steeped in history - where the future emerges out of a string of accidents, each leaving its indelible trace on subsequent events. The compound interest effect also generates power law outcomes.
What is the ubiquity of the critical state?
The ubiquity of the critical state in complex systems may be considered the first major discovery of complexity theory. Complex systems naturally evolve to the critical state between order and chaos, where small disturbances can lead to large chain reactions.
How did autocatalysis explain the origin of life?
Kauffman showed that as the number of molecule types in the primordial soup reached a threshold, autocatalytic sets - where each molecule catalyzes others - inevitably emerge. This creates a positive feedback loop where concentrations take off.
How does historical physics explain the rhythm of history?
The buildup and release of tensions in global networks lead to rhythms in history. Individuals are products of their times, with little influence. Wars are like earthquakes that relieve accumulated stresses.
What happens when the world nears criticality?
When the world nears a critical state, even tiny forces can have huge effects by triggering avalanches of chain reactions. Feedback loops are required to maintain criticality.
How did the sandpile model demonstrate criticality?
The sandpile model enters criticality spontaneously without tuning. Avalanches of all sizes occur according to a power law. Lack of small fires leads to catastrophic system-wide ones.
What enables lollapalooza effects?
Lollapalooza effects arise from large combinations of factors interacting nonlinearly. Tuberculosis required combining three drugs. Airplane flight combines multiple components.
ref:
- Ubiquity by Mark Buchanan
- Chaos by James Gleick