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

Something Strange Happens When You Trace How Connected We Are dives into the “six degrees of separation” phenomenon using Watts–Strogatz’s small-world model and Barabási–Albert’s preferential attachment. You’ll see how network shortcuts and weak ties surprisingly shrink the world, catch a demonstration of diseases spreading in seconds, and peek at Strogatz’s own viral journey.

Along the way, discover why some nodes become massive hubs, how the Prisoner’s Dilemma plays out on these webs, and the power your behavior has to rewire global connectivity. It’s a playful, math-fueled tour revealing that behind every viral trend or random meetup lies elegant network science.

Watch on YouTube