Something Strange Happens When You Trace How Connected We Are

Ever wondered why you’re only a few handshakes away from anyone on the planet? This deep dive into “six degrees of separation” unpacks the beautiful math of small-world networks—from Duncan Watts’ rewiring trick that creates lightning-fast shortcuts, to the “strength of weak ties” that keeps big networks tightly knit. You’ll see how disease can explode through these connections, why network hubs are inevitable (thanks Barabási), and how even simple choices can ripple out to shift the whole world.

Along the way we play with simulations of epidemic spread, preferential attachment (the rich-get-richer rule that builds hubs), and even the Prisoner’s Dilemma to show how your behavior matters. By the end, you’ll appreciate not just the cool stats and models, but the real-world power of our tiny degrees of separation—and how understanding these links might help us hack better solutions for everything from viral outbreaks to social change.

Watch on YouTube