This Veritasium video dives into the math behind six degrees of separation, showing how just a few random “shortcuts” turn massive networks into tight-knit “small worlds.” It covers the strength of weak ties, proofs of the small-world phenomenon, and even simulates how rapidly diseases can sweep through these webs.
You’ll also learn why some nodes become super-connectors (hubs) through preferential attachment, and how concepts like the prisoner’s dilemma play out on networked stages. Along the way, pioneers like Duncan Watts, Steve Strogatz and Albert-László Barabási get a shoutout, and you can test the ideas yourself with interactive simulations.
Watch on YouTube
Top comments (0)