Something Strange Happens When You Trace How Connected We Are

Derek Muller unpacks the beautiful math behind “six degrees of separation,” from Duncan Watts’s small-world model and the power of weak ties to how diseases and ideas spread in scale-free networks (thanks to Barabási’s hubs and the long tail). Along the way you’ll see simulations of disease outbreaks and preferential attachment, plus a playful nod to dilemmas like the Prisoner’s Dilemma.

This Veritasium video is sponsored by Incogni (use code veritasium for 60% off), and even plugs Derek’s own Snatoms molecular kit. You’ll find links to simulations, further reading (Watts’s and Buchanan’s books), references, visuals, and a huge list of credits for everyone who made it happen.

Watch on YouTube