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Taking appropriate protective measures during pandemics

Researchers developed a model to optimize countermeasures while considering containment costs, identifying a clear threshold for optimal control. The study found that measures become necessary only when the disease reaches a certain severity, and that vaccination campaigns can help reduce transmission rates.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 7, 2026

Cooperation beats selfishness more often than scientists thought

A new study reveals that cooperation does not require close family ties or reputation, but rather opponent-specific responses, leading to the emergence of cooperative behavior. This finding challenges conventional evolutionary theory and has implications for the design of more collaborative artificial intelligence systems.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJul 20, 2026

Unstable software tests cause issues that spread across projects

Researchers found that over half of projects in the popular OpenStack ecosystem are affected by shared instability from “flaky tests”, resulting in a cumulative loss of 1,156 days of developer time. The study identifies environmental and system-level factors as major causes of test instability.

SourceKyushu University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Software Engineering·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 26, 2026

Vegetation patterns and ecosystem resilience: relationship status “complicated”

Researchers challenge long-held assumptions about vegetation patterns in dryland ecosystems, finding that such patterns can actually indicate reduced ecosystem resilience. The new theoretical framework takes into account spatial constraints and environmental heterogeneities, revealing that ecosystem stability depends on specific enviro...

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateApr 1, 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

Environmental variability and migration promote the evolution of cooperation among humans: A simulation-based analysis

This study investigates how environmental variability and human migration influence the evolution of cooperation among humans. Simulation results reveal that cooperation is more likely to evolve when these factors are sufficiently high, hindering non-cooperative groups and encouraging cooperative groups.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalChaos Solitons & Fractals·DateDec 11, 2025

SNU-KHU researchers jointly develop a framework to manipulate emergent behavior and decode real-world flocking

Scientists at Seoul National University have developed a framework to manipulate emergent behavior in animal groups and robot swarms. The approach uses physics-informed AI to learn local interaction rules, enabling the control of collective patterns such as rings, clumps, and flocks.

SourceSeoul National University College of Engineering·JournalCell Reports Physical Science·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 24, 2025

FAU engineers develop smarter AI to redefine control in complex systems

Researchers at FAU have developed a smarter AI framework that can manage complex systems with unequal levels of authority and adapt to imperfect information. The framework, based on reinforcement learning and game theory, reduces unnecessary computation while maintaining system stability and optimal strategy outcomes.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Systems Man and Cybernetics Systems·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 23, 2025

Beyond words: the cognitive force of metaphor

Researchers Marie Teich and Wilmer Leal develop a formal framework to analyze metaphors, confirming they are enduring linguistic and cognitive structures. The study reveals two significant metaphorical processes: mappings from concrete to abstract topics and the emergence of new mappings between domains.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPLOS Complex Systems·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 27, 2025

Scientists find a 'speed limit' for innovation

A new study from the Complexity Science Hub reveals that innovation can only endure over time if it is balanced with exnovation - the loss or forgetting of older possibilities. The researchers found an interesting trade-off between innovation speed and system stability.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalPhysical Review Research·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 5, 2025

How not to form a state: Research reveals how imbalanced social-ecological acceleration led to collapse in early medieval Europe

A new study in PNAS examines the rise and fall of Piast Poland, identifying key factors that contributed to its collapse. The research highlights the importance of balancing capital accumulation with social connectivity for sustainable political systems.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Geoanthropology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 21, 2025

A new chapter in Roman administration: Insights from a late Roman inscription

A newly discovered Tetrarchic boundary stone provides valuable historical insights into the sweeping tax reforms of Roman Emperor Diocletian. The inscription mentions two previously unknown village names, a new imperial surveyor, and reflects the socio-economic dynamics during the Tetrarchy period.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalPalestine Exploration Quarterly·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 20, 2025

Scientist proposes deducing commonality from complexity to resolve global challenges

Professor LI Jinghai proposes Mesoscience, a concept exploring common principles among complex systems at mesoscales. This approach aims to identify and develop solutions for global challenges such as climate change, human health, and sustainable development goals.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences·DateNov 18, 2024

Experts urge complex systems approach to assess A.I. risks

The study emphasizes the need for a coherent approach to understanding A.I. threats, recognizing the intricate interplay between technology and society. Experts propose involving laypeople and experts in risk assessment processes, as well as promoting social resilience to ensure better decision-making.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences·TypeCase study·DateNov 12, 2024

How do new words arise in social media?

Researchers analyzed 650 million tweets to identify new words and tracked their adoption. Words used by central users persisted longer, while those with less central positions had a rapid rise and decline. The study reveals the predictive power of social network position in shaping language.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Complex Systems·TypeObservational study·DateSep 3, 2024

Balancing instability and robustness: new mathematical framework to understand dynamics of natural systems

Researchers introduce ghost channels and cycles to understand transient behaviors in complex systems like climate processes or neuronal networks. This new approach challenges traditional concepts based on stable or unstable equilibria, potentially helping predict tipping cascades and ecosystem degradation.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Neurobiology of Behavior - caesar·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 26, 2024

Escaping from traps

Researchers from MPI-DS investigated how non-reciprocal interactions can help overcome static equilibrium states in complex systems. They found that these interactions can counteract energy barriers, allowing trapped systems to escape and potentially leading to more efficient molecular systems.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJul 25, 2024

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

Learning the intrinsic dynamics of spatio-temporal processes through Latent Dynamics Networks

Politecnico researchers developed a new type of neural network called Latent Dynamics Network (LDNet) that can accurately predict the evolution of complex systems in low-dimensional spaces. This approach offers significant innovations over traditional methods, enabling up to 5 times more accurate results with a reduction of over 90% in...

SourcePolitecnico di Milano·JournalNature Communications·TypeMeta-analysis·DateMar 6, 2024

Leading scientists, philosophers identify nature’s missing evolutionary law

A team of scientists and philosophers identifies a new law of nature that governs the evolution of complex systems, including plants, animals, stars, and minerals. The law states that complex systems evolve to states of greater patterning, diversity, and complexity, regardless of whether they are living or nonliving.

SourceCarnegie Science Earth and Planets Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeObservational study·DateOct 16, 2023

How wind turbines react to turbulence

Researchers from the University of Oldenburg developed a new stochastic method to mitigate sudden swings in wind turbine power output. The study found that control systems are mainly responsible for short-term fluctuations and can be optimized to ensure more consistent energy output.

SourceUniversity of Oldenburg·JournalPRX Energy·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 19, 2023

Cellular cartography - charting the sizes and abundance of our body's cells reveals mathematical order underlying life

Researchers created a comprehensive index of human cells mapping sizes and abundance across the entire body. The study reveals surprising mathematical patterns underlying cell size and number, challenging fundamental understanding of cell growth and proliferation.

SourceMax-Planck-Institut fur Mathematik in den Naturwissenschaften·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 18, 2023

Eureka baby! Groundbreaking study uncovers origin of ‘conscious awareness’

A groundbreaking study by Florida Atlantic University reveals that agency emerges from the coupled relation between humans and their environment. Infants are found to discover their causal powers and transition from spontaneous to intentional behavior at a critical level of coordination, marking an abrupt increase in movement rate.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 18, 2023

Ecology and artificial intelligence: stronger together

A new paper suggests that ecology can inspire more powerful, resilient, and socially responsible AI to solve complex problems. Artificial intelligence systems can incorporate greater amounts of data and diverse sources, discovering new interactions and drivers that may not have been considered before.

SourceCary Institute of Ecosystem Studies·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateSep 11, 2023

Bees and ETRVs: an unlikely match-up of the natural world and electric trackless rubber-tyred vehicles

The study uses an improved artificial bee colony algorithm to minimize potential issues with ETRVs, such as excessive energy consumption and operational safety concerns. The algorithm successfully finds the most competitive solution on all instances, achieving significant improvement over other comparative algorithms.

SourceTsinghua University Press·JournalComplex System Modeling and Simulation·DateAug 8, 2023