What is #ComplexityThoughts?

We live in a world of interconnected systems—yet we often try to understand them in isolation.

#ComplexityThoughts explores how structure and dynamics interact across domains, from cells to societies, to make sense of the patterns shaping our world.

Why subscribe?

By subscribing, you will:

• Develop intuition for how complex systems behave

• Learn to see hidden structures behind real-world phenomena

• Access research-driven insights explained with clarity

• Discover connections across health, climate, AI and society

What makes this different?

This is not:

• Simplified science → but conceptual clarity without dilution

• News aggregation → but interpretation grounded in research

• A single-domain perspective → but cross-domain synthesis across systems

Most posts take 8–10 minutes to read.

Who am I?

I am Manlio De Domenico, Complexity Scientist and Professor of Physics at the Department of Physics and Astronomy “Galileo Galilei”, University of Padua, where I teach Physics of Complex Networks and I lead the Complex Multilayer Networks Lab. My research interests are broad and include theoretical and computational analysis of complex systems1.

Public talks. For an accessible introduction to the complexity-science perspective behind this publication, see my TEDx talk and a recent public lecture on YouTube (both in Italian).

What you will find here

• Short essays and digest of studies I read2

• Visual explanations and infographics

• Reflections on recent research

• Podcast extensions of key ideas

You should subscribe to develop a new way of thinking about complex systems.

Listen to the podcast

Prefer listening? You can also follow #ComplexityThoughts on Spotify and Apple.

Copyright and reuse

Note on Essays. You are welcome to reference or quote portions of the material for both commercial and non-commercial purposes, provided that proper credit is given to me (and my sources, where needed) and a link to the original source/post is included.

For any form of redistribution, reproduction, or use beyond brief excerpts — especially for commercial or derivative purposes — please request permission in advance. Respect for intellectual work ensures that knowledge can be shared responsibly and sustainably.

Note on Research Issues. Research Issues are curated scholarly reading notes intended to promote scientific discussion and direct readers to the original literature. Each paper title links to the source publication. When abstracts, excerpts, images or figures are included, they are used for identification, commentary and dissemination, with rights remaining with the respective authors, publishers or rightsholders. I do not distribute publisher PDFs or substitute for access to the original articles. For attribution corrections or removal requests, please contact me..

Disclaimer

This publication is a personal editorial and scientific-divulgation project. It reflects the author’s own views and does not represent the official position of the University of Padua or any affiliated institution. Subscription gives access to published written content, archives, and, where enabled, moderated general discussion around the posts. It does not include scientific or professional consultancy, personalized advice, tutoring, exam preparation, thesis support, curricular assistance, private research services, personalized chat, or services on request. No University of Padua logo, account, premises, equipment, staff, or infrastructure is used for this publication, which is carried out outside institutional duties and without prejudice to teaching, research, or administrative responsibilities.

Paid subscriber benefits

Paid subscribers receive:

• access to the full archive;

• the ability to comment on posts and participate in moderated general discussion.

Paid subscription does not include private consulting, personalized scientific advice, tutoring, thesis or exam support, individual feedback, personalized chat, or services on request.