The Eerie Intelligence of Swarms -Swarm Theory

[MineralMan]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/02/090211-swarm-theory-leaders.html

This is not a brand new story, but swarm theory is really interesting, and has applications in real life:

A new computer model suggests animals don't need to be fast or strong to lead their swarms, only willing—or desperate enough—to break from their neighbors and go their own way.

Swarm living provides protection against predators and a convenient supply of potential mates, so members rarely perform actions that could tear the group apart.

"If some group members are desperate to reach their optimal destination, while others care relatively less whether they reach theirs or not, the desperate ones will lead," said Conradt, whose new research will be detailed in an upcoming issue of the journal American Naturalist.

The new study is interesting, Sumpter said, because it shows how "a small number of highly motivated leaders can manipulate the group dynamics significantly for their own purposes but without destroying the cohesive motion of the flock."

More at link...

Some photos:

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Swarm theory.

I like it. The most desperate ones lead. Not necessarily the most intelligent. I see applications for even the human social order.

[MineralMan]

3. Although this is a fairly new area of study,

there are already a bunch of writings out there on how swarm theory affects human society. One of the most interesting ones I found was about Swarm Theory and the Tea Party movement. I'm still reading, but here's the link:

http://www.renaissancemob.com/?p=191

I'm going to look into this further and see how it applies to other spread out groups and see if the concept makes sense. I wonder if anyone's looking at it in terms of the Occupy movement, since that is essentially a leaderless movement. Can the most extreme or determined people in that movement control the movement in toto, as mentioned in that National Geographics article? I wonder. Seeing the Black Bloc and the Paulites insert themselves in the movement, I just wonder. I imagine that some PhD candidate is working on that idea even now.

[LiberalEsto]

2. Are those swarms of Teabaggers?

or Freepers?

[MineralMan]

4. Mostly, they're birds.

How and if this applies to human society, I'm not really sure, yet, but there's lots of stuff being written out there about it. Google Swarm Theory Human Society and you'll find lots and lots of recent links from people who are thinking about that. It's also very big in the artificial intelligence community. Very newish and controversial theory.

[Noodleboy13]

5. Reminds me of Slime Mold, but on a larger scale:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/04/science/04slime.html?pagewanted=all



Nature sure is an interesting place.


peace,
Noodleboy

[MineralMan]

7. I love slime molds. We had some in our yard in

California, on the coast. I used to watch them. Fascinating. And you're right, it's a similar phenomenon.

[Fumesucker]

6. A Murmuration of Starlings..

http://vimeo.com/31158841

[MineralMan]

8. Yes, indeed.

That's exactly it. A wonderful video. I'm jealous that I was not there to see that in person.

[Solly Mack]

9. K&R

[MineralMan]

10. Thanks. I think it's very interesting,

and that it may have social and political implications. It has me looking at a number of things in a new light.