Weak links: the universal key to the stability of networks and complex systems

How can our societies be stabilized in a crisis? Why can we enjoy and understand Shakespeare? Why are fruitflies uniform? How do omnivorous eating habits aid our survival? What makes the Mona Lisa’s smile beautiful? How do women keepour social structures intact? – Could there possibly be a single answer to all these questions? This book shows that the statement: "weak links stabilize complex systems" provides the key to understanding each of these intriguing puzzles, and many others too. The author (recipient of several distinguished science communication prizes) uses weak (low affinity, low probability) interactions as a thread to introduce a vast variety of networks from proteins to economics and ecosystems. Many people, from Nobel Laureates to high-school students have helped to make the book understandable to all interested readers. This unique book and the ideas it develops will have a significant impact on many, seemingly diverse, fields of study. Contains ideas essential for stabilizing systems and societies in crisis A fascinating interdisciplinary book with wide-ranging implications in many scientific fields INDICE: Introduction: How the Links Were Formed.- A Principle is Born: TheGranovetter-Study.- Why do we Like Networks?.- Network Stability.- Weak Linksas Stabilizers of Complex Systems.- Atoms, Molecules, Macromolecules.- Weak Links and Cellular Stability.- Weak Links and the Stability of Organisms.- Social Nets.- Networks of Human Culture.- The Global-Web.- The Eco-Web.- Conclusions and Perspectives.

• ISBN: 978-3-642-01192-4
• Editorial: Springer
• Encuadernacion: Rústica
• Páginas: 430
• Fecha Publicación: 01/05/2009
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés