Why are networks stable? (IMAGE)
Caption
A single species invades an ecosystem causing its collapse. A cyberattack on the power system causes a major breakdown. These type of events are always on our mind, yet they rarely result in such significant consequences. So how is it that these systems are so stable and resilient that they can withstand such external disruptions? Indeed, these systems lack a central design or blueprint, and still, they exhibit exceptionally reliable functionality. Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have uncovered the rules that make a large complex system stable. This can offer new guidelines for tackling the pressing scientific and policymaking challenge of designing stable infrastructure networks that can not only protect against viable threats, but also strengthen the resilience of crucial, yet fragile, ecosystems. Photo: Growing strong. Complex networks become more stable as they grow in diversity.
Credit
Itamar Conforti and Baruch Barzel
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