Scale-Free Networks: A Decade and Beyond
Science (07/24/09) Vol. 325, No. 5939, P. 412; Barabasi, Albert-Laszlo
Early network models were predicated on the notion that complex systems were randomly interconnected, but research has shown that networks exhibit perceptibly nonrandom features through what is termed the scale-free property. Moreover, this network architecture has demonstrated universality through its manifestation in all kinds of real networks, regardless of their age, scope, and function. All systems seen as complex are comprised of an incredibly large number of elements that interact through intricate networks. The scale-free nature of networks has been proven thanks to improved maps and data sets as well as correspondence between empirical data and analytical models that predict network structure. The existence of the scale-free property validates the indivisibility of the structure and evolution of networks, and has forced researchers to accept the concept that networks are in a constant state of flux due to the arrival of nodes and links. The universality of diverse topological traits, such as motifs, degree distributions, degree correlations, and communities, function as a platform to analyze variegated phenomena and make predictions. By understanding the behavior of systems perceived as complex, researchers can plot out such things as the Internet's response to attacks and cells' reactions to environmental changes. This requires achieving a comprehension of networks' dynamical phenomena.
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