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The study of networks, and the related branch of mathematical graph theory, has received an increasing amount of attention during the past few years. Networks can be found throughout our closely connected world: from computer networks and electrical power grids, to social networks, neural networks, and food webs. One important insight from this research is that real networks are often scale-free, having consequences for their robustness and vulnerability e.g. the spread of viruses or the dissemination of information.
Networks play an important role also in our political systems and in scientific research itself. With the advent of the Internet, `social networking' tools have become part of our every day lives, shifting weight away from our real neighborhood and towards a virtual and self-chosen one.
The science of networks can help to unravel the growth of structures and links within these networks. Understanding the conditions necessary for resilience - may it be of a social, economical or ecological network - is essential to ensure stability of these networks, vital parts of our lives. Some examples are listed below.
- Physical Networks:
- Distribution grids (electric power, water supply, business supply chains)
Use: Efficient distribution of goods or commodities
- Telecommunications infrastructure (cellular, telephone, cable TV, Internet)
Use: Instantaneous worldwide information distribution
- Transportation networks (airports, highways, railways, shipping)
Use: Rapid movement of goods from supplier to market; modern travel
- Electronic financial transaction networks (banking, credit cards, ATMs)
Use: Electronic cashless transactions
- Social Networks:
- Affiliation/ acquaintance networks (community, business, religious, clubs, terrorist)
Use: Efficient collaboration and activity coordination
- Broadcast networks (radio, TV networks like NBC, CBS, CNN)
Use: Dissemination of identical information to large groups
- Information exchange networks (U.S. mail, local and long-distance telephone service)
Use: Cheap, convenient long distance pair-wise communications
- Group forming networks (eBay, corporate intranets)
Use: Easy, convenient formation of groups of like-minded people who have never met
- Supply chains and business networks
Use: Coordination of multiple players to achieve common goals, global cost reduction
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Social services networks (Social Security, family services, Medicare, Medicaid)
Use: Efficient delivery of government services to large, distributed constituencies
- Biological Networks:
- Disease transmitting networks (HIV, influenza, TB, malaria, cholera)
Use: Spread of disease, epidemics
- Ecological networks (food webs, river basins, rain forest)
Use: Survival of selected species; global weather and topography
- Metabolic networks
Use: Sustenance of life for a given generation of living entities
- Community networks (insect societies, animal herds, bird flocks, schools of fish)
Use: Survival of selected species
- Gene expression networks
Use: Transmission and evolution of life between generations
[Listing adapted from the 2005 National Research Council report on Network Science]
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Last Updated ( Friday, 25 July 2008 )
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