In this Veritasium-sponsored deep dive, Derek Muller breaks down the “six degrees of separation” phenomenon by simulating how a small-world network really works. You’ll see how shortcuts and “weak ties” make most nodes just a few steps apart, how diseases can explode through those hidden connections, and why hubs (super-connected nodes) are pretty much inevitable thanks to preferential attachment.
Along the way, he chats with big names like Watts, Strogatz, and Barabási, explores the Prisoner’s Dilemma twist, and shows that simple changes in your own social behavior can ripple out to reshape the entire network. It’s an eye-opening look at the math powering our connected world.
Watch on YouTube
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