Veritasium: Something Strange Happens When You Trace How Connected We Are

Something Strange Happens When You Trace How Connected We Are

Veritasium dives into the math behind six degrees of separation, showing how our social networks transform from tight-knit cliques into a “small world” with just a few random links (thanks to Watts–Strogatz’s model). You’ll see how those all-important weak ties can make ideas—or diseases—spread in the blink of an eye, turning a local outbreak into a global phenomenon.

Next, we get the lowdown on Barabási–Albert’s preferential attachment, which explains why some people (or websites) become massive hubs while most stay in the “long tail.” Along the way, classic puzzles like the prisoner’s dilemma pop up, reminding us that a little randomness—and a few strategic connections—can totally reshape our world.

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