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The bone fractures that often go unlinked to osteoporosis

A new nationwide Austrian study found that bone fractures are often part of a complex pattern of multiple conditions, underscoring the need for consistent osteoporosis screening at the time of a fracture. Osteoporosis is not systematically documented for many fracture types, highlighting a diagnostic gap, especially in men.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalBone·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 20, 2026

Topology helps build more robust photonic networks

Researchers have shown that topology can guide multiple, information-carrying light signals through chip-based photonic communication systems, making them more powerful and reliable. This breakthrough could enable the creation of networks of chips that communicate using light while taking advantage of topology's robustness.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 19, 2026

Power grids to epidemics: study shows small patterns trigger systemic failures

Researchers identified small clusters of interacting components that act as amplifiers, triggering outsized reactions in complex systems. These clusters can control how strongly a system reacts after a disruption, and their presence can determine the stability of entire systems.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 18, 2026

Model connects animal movement and population dynamics

Researchers developed a new theoretical framework that links individual animal movements to population dynamics across space and time. The range-resident logistic model incorporates interactions between multiple animals, providing a more accurate prediction of population sizes and helping inform real-world conservation recommendations.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalEcology Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 5, 2026

One and Done? Research challenges past studies of evolution

A new study found remarkable variation in how populations evolve in variable environments, with some cases benefiting from changes and others being hindered. The research has implications for understanding evolution and adapting to climate change, as well as informing AI and machine learning.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 17, 2025

New algorithm developed that enables wireless communications without perceptible delays in industrial environments

A team of researchers developed an innovative algorithm called 'Ponte' that integrates advanced functionalities to provide reliable wireless communications in industrial environments. The algorithm guarantees strict limits on delay and reliability, even over Wi-Fi, making it suitable for controlling robotic arms and autonomous vehicles.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalIEEE Internet of Things Journal·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 17, 2025

People in isolated cities in Africa suffer more violence against civilians

A new study by Complexity Science Hub researcher Rafael Prieto-Curiel challenges the assumption that larger cities are more violent. The study shows that isolated cities, with limited highway connections, experience nearly seven times more violence against civilians per 100,000 residents than well-connected cities.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 19, 2025

Double disadvantage hurts more than twice as much

A new study from the Complexity Science Hub finds that belonging to more than one marginalized group can significantly harder forming social connections. The researchers developed a mathematical model and tested it using friendship data from around 40,000 U.S. high school students, revealing how overlapping disadvantages can interact.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalScience Advances·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 5, 2025

Moth-like drone navigates without AI

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati developed a flapping wing drone that can hover like a moth around a light source using an extremum-seeking feedback system. The drone makes fine adjustments to maintain stability and distance, without relying on AI or complex calculations.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalPhysical Review E·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2025

Why so many microbes fail to grow in the lab

A new study from researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity offers fresh insights into why many microorganisms fail to grow in the lab. The study suggests that the survival of microbes depends on a hidden web of relationships between species, which can collapse with small structural changes.

SourceUniversity of Oldenburg·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 12, 2025

Study proposes a new theoretical framework for understanding complex higher-order networks

The study proposes a new framework for understanding complex higher-order networks, which could lead to breakthroughs in physics, neuroscience, computer science, and more. The framework integrates discrete topology and non-linear dynamics, offering insights into how topology shapes dynamics and evolves dynamically.

SourceIndiana University·JournalNature Physics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 27, 2025

Breakthrough in the development of a new low-cost computer

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have made a breakthrough in developing a new low-cost computer using spintronics, which enables information transmission at room temperature. The study demonstrates the ability to control and synchronize spin waves in complex networks, paving the way for the next generation of Ising machines.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalNature Physics·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 26, 2025

Grating the cheese of networks: New tool finds critical points in everything from cybersecurity to ecological conservation

Researchers introduce 'fitness centrality,' a faster method to identify crucial elements in any network, with practical applications in supply chains, ecological conservation, and cybersecurity. The approach streamlines analysis, making it practical for vast networks.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalJournal of Physics Complexity·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 28, 2025

Which countries are more at risk in the global supply chain?

Researchers analyzed firm-level data from the global supply network, revealing that wealthy nations are only exposed to supply chain disruptions from other high-income countries. Poor and developing nations are disproportionately affected by economic shocks due to their structural embeddedness in their local or national supply chains.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 19, 2024

Hidden threat: Global underground infrastructure vulnerable to sea-level rise

A recent study by University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers highlights the hidden threat of global underground infrastructure vulnerability to sea-level rise. Shallow and saltier groundwater exacerbates corrosion and failure of critical systems such as sewer lines, roadways, and building foundations in cities worldwide.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalAnnual Review of Marine Science·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateApr 15, 2024

New scientific methods for analyzing criminal careers

The study analyzed over 1.2 million criminal incidents, revealing that specialists tend to operate within a confined geographic area and collaborate with local networks. The method can help law enforcement agencies anticipate criminal developments and tailor measures for prevention, policing, and rehabilitation.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateNov 13, 2023

The Ising on the cake

A team of researchers from Kyoto University and international institutions has developed a mathematical solution to the temporal asymmetry of nonequilibrium disordered Ising networks. This breakthrough offers insights into the behavior of biological systems, machine learning, and AI tools.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 4, 2023

Bridging traditional economics and econophysics

Researchers from Complexity Science Hub highlight similarities in models used by economists and physicists to analyze financial markets. The study aims to create an overview of these models, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and avoiding research that gets lost in translation.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalJournal of Economic Interaction and Coordination·TypeSystematic review·DateJun 19, 2023

Why are networks stable?

Bar-Ilan University researchers found that large and heterogeneous complex networks exhibit enhanced stability due to non-random patterns of interaction, contradicting Sir Robert May's original prediction. This discovery offers new guidelines for designing stable infrastructure networks and protecting fragile ecosystems.

SourceBar-Ilan University·JournalNature Physics·DateApr 20, 2023

Amazon heat drives Tibet temperatures: climate tipping elements connected half around the globe

Scientists have discovered a connection between Amazon rainforest temperature changes and Tibetan Plateau climate patterns, highlighting the global impact of Earth system tipping elements. The study found a pronounced propagation pathway from South America to Tibet via Southern Africa and the Middle East.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalNature Climate Change·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJan 26, 2023

Perturbing the Bernoulli shift map in binary systems

A recent study by Tokyo University of Science researchers provides theoretical foundations for effective parameter tuning in the Bernoulli shift map. They used modular arithmetic to determine optimal parameter values for preserving chaos, with implications for other chaotic maps like the tent and logistic maps.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalChaos Solitons & Fractals·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 3, 2022

Unveiling the dimensionality of complex networks through hyperbolic geometry

The study infers the dimensionality of complex networks using hyperbolic geometry, which captures relational structures in real-world domains. It reveals extremely low dimensions for molecular networks and higher dimensions for social networks and the Internet, with implications for network characterization and predictive capability.

SourceUniversity of Barcelona·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 27, 2022

Safe havens for cooperation

A research team used game theory to analyze cooperation in networks and found that networks with a high level of cooperation can emerge if individuals take a clear-cut position against free riders. The study also showed that if contributors leave an environment too quickly, it leads to a lower level of cooperation.

SourceUniversity of Oldenburg·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 11, 2022

And when will YOUR medical care collapse?

A research team from the Complexity Science Hub Vienna has developed a stress test to identify weaknesses and strengths in healthcare systems. They used data from Austria to show how many resident physicians can drop out before patients don't find a new doctor within reasonable distance, highlighting regional differences in resilience.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 28, 2022

Prepare for the next supply chain disruption

Researchers at CSH create the first complete representation of Hungary's economy, mapping production networks and supply relationships. They find that only a few firms pose a substantial risk to the overall economy, with nearly 75% of systemic risk concentrated on just 100 high-risk companies.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalScientific Reports·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 12, 2022

Learning chemical networks give life a chiral twist

A mathematical model reveals that spontaneous symmetry breaking in chemical reactions leads to homochirality, optimizing energy harvesting from the environment. This phenomenon could explain how life developed on primordial Earth and has implications for the synthesis of chiral drug molecules.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalNature Communications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 26, 2022

New methods for network visualizations enable change of perspectives and views

Researchers developed a new method for generating network layouts that allow for visualizing different information in two- and three-dimensional virtual space. This facilitates the exploration of complex protein interactions and provides more versatile, comprehensible representations of networks.

Examining the dynamics of complex networks

The special issue examines the collective dynamics of complex networks with applications in neuroscience, climate modelling, and Earth science. The papers cover a broad range of topics including dynamics of excitable systems, cluster dynamics, and interplay of noise and feedback.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal Special Topics·DateNov 23, 2021

Dragged along by micro-swimmers

Researchers have developed a new model for micro-swimmer-based transport, which shows that a swarm of micro-swimmers can transport particles more efficiently than traditional methods. The study's findings suggest that this phenomenon could be useful in biological applications, such as delivering drugs to specific locations in the body.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2021