Manlio De Domenico
@manlius.bsky.social
Emergence, Networks & Complexity | Collective Behavior(s) from Cells to Societies 🧬🦠🧠🌇
Prof. @UniPadova, Galileo's University | Lab: @comunelab.bsky.social | Web: https://linktr.ee/manlius
Thoughts at manlius.substack.com
Prof. @UniPadova, Galileo's University | Lab: @comunelab.bsky.social | Web: https://linktr.ee/manlius
Thoughts at manlius.substack.com
Understanding the process that favored the emergence of life is not just about looking backward to 🌎’s first dawn: it’s about learning how complexity itself begins and how it might arise again, elsewhere.
Life as a cascade of transitions?
#ComplexityThoughts
manlius.substack.com/p/when-matte...
Life as a cascade of transitions?
#ComplexityThoughts
manlius.substack.com/p/when-matte...
November 14, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Understanding the process that favored the emergence of life is not just about looking backward to 🌎’s first dawn: it’s about learning how complexity itself begins and how it might arise again, elsewhere.
Life as a cascade of transitions?
#ComplexityThoughts
manlius.substack.com/p/when-matte...
Life as a cascade of transitions?
#ComplexityThoughts
manlius.substack.com/p/when-matte...
Absolutely stunning how media give so much voice to a scientist talking about international conspiracies to hide the "truth" about a gigantic alien spaceship, publishing "articles" on social media.
While no voice is given to scientists publishung everyday evidence on real pressing problems.
🤦
While no voice is given to scientists publishung everyday evidence on real pressing problems.
🤦
November 14, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Absolutely stunning how media give so much voice to a scientist talking about international conspiracies to hide the "truth" about a gigantic alien spaceship, publishing "articles" on social media.
While no voice is given to scientists publishung everyday evidence on real pressing problems.
🤦
While no voice is given to scientists publishung everyday evidence on real pressing problems.
🤦
In Padua on Nov 20th?
I’ll give a public non-technical talk, in the beautiful Sala del Romanino at the Eremitani Museum
In 40 minutes, we’ll travel from 3340 B.C. to 2100, exploring how demons, oracles & models have helped humans make sense of the world. Join!
🔗 www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-...
I’ll give a public non-technical talk, in the beautiful Sala del Romanino at the Eremitani Museum
In 40 minutes, we’ll travel from 3340 B.C. to 2100, exploring how demons, oracles & models have helped humans make sense of the world. Join!
🔗 www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-...
November 12, 2025 at 5:20 PM
In Padua on Nov 20th?
I’ll give a public non-technical talk, in the beautiful Sala del Romanino at the Eremitani Museum
In 40 minutes, we’ll travel from 3340 B.C. to 2100, exploring how demons, oracles & models have helped humans make sense of the world. Join!
🔗 www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-...
I’ll give a public non-technical talk, in the beautiful Sala del Romanino at the Eremitani Museum
In 40 minutes, we’ll travel from 3340 B.C. to 2100, exploring how demons, oracles & models have helped humans make sense of the world. Join!
🔗 www.eventbrite.it/e/biglietti-...
The seven sisters were literally dancing over the full moon light.
Not the best conditions for taking pics, but I tried anyway. I can confirm conditions were not good: their blue lights got destroyed by interference with the moon ones.
#Astrophotography #M45 #Pleiades
Not the best conditions for taking pics, but I tried anyway. I can confirm conditions were not good: their blue lights got destroyed by interference with the moon ones.
#Astrophotography #M45 #Pleiades
November 8, 2025 at 9:20 AM
The seven sisters were literally dancing over the full moon light.
Not the best conditions for taking pics, but I tried anyway. I can confirm conditions were not good: their blue lights got destroyed by interference with the moon ones.
#Astrophotography #M45 #Pleiades
Not the best conditions for taking pics, but I tried anyway. I can confirm conditions were not good: their blue lights got destroyed by interference with the moon ones.
#Astrophotography #M45 #Pleiades
Cooperation isn’t weakness, it’s strategy.
Axelrod’s rules remind us: fairness, reciprocity and humility often outcompete envy and cleverness.
In complexity, often simplicity wins.
Axelrod’s rules remind us: fairness, reciprocity and humility often outcompete envy and cleverness.
In complexity, often simplicity wins.
November 6, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Cooperation isn’t weakness, it’s strategy.
Axelrod’s rules remind us: fairness, reciprocity and humility often outcompete envy and cleverness.
In complexity, often simplicity wins.
Axelrod’s rules remind us: fairness, reciprocity and humility often outcompete envy and cleverness.
In complexity, often simplicity wins.
Just did yesterday night that one!
October 29, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Just did yesterday night that one!
The Laplace demon:
An entity knowing every particle and law in the universe: able to predict, with perfect accuracy, both past & future.
Laplace's demon dreamed of total knowledge.
But quantum mechanics and complexity awoke us: the world is not a clockwork!
It's an intricate web of uncertainty.
An entity knowing every particle and law in the universe: able to predict, with perfect accuracy, both past & future.
Laplace's demon dreamed of total knowledge.
But quantum mechanics and complexity awoke us: the world is not a clockwork!
It's an intricate web of uncertainty.
October 29, 2025 at 11:02 AM
The Laplace demon:
An entity knowing every particle and law in the universe: able to predict, with perfect accuracy, both past & future.
Laplace's demon dreamed of total knowledge.
But quantum mechanics and complexity awoke us: the world is not a clockwork!
It's an intricate web of uncertainty.
An entity knowing every particle and law in the universe: able to predict, with perfect accuracy, both past & future.
Laplace's demon dreamed of total knowledge.
But quantum mechanics and complexity awoke us: the world is not a clockwork!
It's an intricate web of uncertainty.
Here we go with another drawing, for the same upcoming talk (more info soon, stay tuned).
In the meanwhile, you can help me by describing this image: what's that?
CC: @ricardsole.bsky.social
___
PS: The updated version of the previous drawing, with an explanation, is in the next post of the 🧵
In the meanwhile, you can help me by describing this image: what's that?
CC: @ricardsole.bsky.social
___
PS: The updated version of the previous drawing, with an explanation, is in the next post of the 🧵
October 29, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Here we go with another drawing, for the same upcoming talk (more info soon, stay tuned).
In the meanwhile, you can help me by describing this image: what's that?
CC: @ricardsole.bsky.social
___
PS: The updated version of the previous drawing, with an explanation, is in the next post of the 🧵
In the meanwhile, you can help me by describing this image: what's that?
CC: @ricardsole.bsky.social
___
PS: The updated version of the previous drawing, with an explanation, is in the next post of the 🧵
"Paint the sky with stars"
____
Perseus double cluster
~7100 light years away
60' expsosure (180x20")
Nikon D750+Nikkor 300mm
f/5.6 ISO320. No 🔭
Skyguider pro.
Neighbors' lights like there was no tomorrow.
Bortle 7 sky.
Stacked, crop.
____
Perseus double cluster
~7100 light years away
60' expsosure (180x20")
Nikon D750+Nikkor 300mm
f/5.6 ISO320. No 🔭
Skyguider pro.
Neighbors' lights like there was no tomorrow.
Bortle 7 sky.
Stacked, crop.
October 29, 2025 at 6:25 AM
"Paint the sky with stars"
____
Perseus double cluster
~7100 light years away
60' expsosure (180x20")
Nikon D750+Nikkor 300mm
f/5.6 ISO320. No 🔭
Skyguider pro.
Neighbors' lights like there was no tomorrow.
Bortle 7 sky.
Stacked, crop.
____
Perseus double cluster
~7100 light years away
60' expsosure (180x20")
Nikon D750+Nikkor 300mm
f/5.6 ISO320. No 🔭
Skyguider pro.
Neighbors' lights like there was no tomorrow.
Bortle 7 sky.
Stacked, crop.
Eventually, I did it.
Comet Lemmon! 💫
Nice to read again the history of the attempts in the last weeks. Now, I am almost satisfied with the result: still something to fix, though.
___
About 35' integrated exposure, stacked, Nikon D750 + Nikkor 300mm f/5.6
Comet Lemmon! 💫
Nice to read again the history of the attempts in the last weeks. Now, I am almost satisfied with the result: still something to fix, though.
___
About 35' integrated exposure, stacked, Nikon D750 + Nikkor 300mm f/5.6
October 24, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Eventually, I did it.
Comet Lemmon! 💫
Nice to read again the history of the attempts in the last weeks. Now, I am almost satisfied with the result: still something to fix, though.
___
About 35' integrated exposure, stacked, Nikon D750 + Nikkor 300mm f/5.6
Comet Lemmon! 💫
Nice to read again the history of the attempts in the last weeks. Now, I am almost satisfied with the result: still something to fix, though.
___
About 35' integrated exposure, stacked, Nikon D750 + Nikkor 300mm f/5.6
Not the easiest session.
If you are curious to know what it means to take pictures from home, this should give a good idea
If you are curious to know what it means to take pictures from home, this should give a good idea
October 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Not the easiest session.
If you are curious to know what it means to take pictures from home, this should give a good idea
If you are curious to know what it means to take pictures from home, this should give a good idea
Another 15s shot.
October 24, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Another 15s shot.
Simply beautiful.
October 24, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Simply beautiful.
It's so bright that it's possible to see the tail from single shots... when there are no clouds.
October 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
It's so bright that it's possible to see the tail from single shots... when there are no clouds.
Clearly, now that it's darker, the only clouds in the whole Veneto are moving in along my direction.
What a pity.
What a pity.
October 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Clearly, now that it's darker, the only clouds in the whole Veneto are moving in along my direction.
What a pity.
What a pity.
Oops I did it again.
I could not resist: perfect sky after 2 rainy days; no clouds now; just in plain sight from my backyard.
Fingers crossed @scrutacieli.bsky.social
Raw pictures below, not yet processed (of course) 👇
I could not resist: perfect sky after 2 rainy days; no clouds now; just in plain sight from my backyard.
Fingers crossed @scrutacieli.bsky.social
Raw pictures below, not yet processed (of course) 👇
October 24, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Oops I did it again.
I could not resist: perfect sky after 2 rainy days; no clouds now; just in plain sight from my backyard.
Fingers crossed @scrutacieli.bsky.social
Raw pictures below, not yet processed (of course) 👇
I could not resist: perfect sky after 2 rainy days; no clouds now; just in plain sight from my backyard.
Fingers crossed @scrutacieli.bsky.social
Raw pictures below, not yet processed (of course) 👇
“we might add “natural cooperation” as a third fundamental principle of evolution beside mutation and natural selection”
🧪 #ComplexSystems #Evolution
www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
🧪 #ComplexSystems #Evolution
www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
October 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
“we might add “natural cooperation” as a third fundamental principle of evolution beside mutation and natural selection”
🧪 #ComplexSystems #Evolution
www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
🧪 #ComplexSystems #Evolution
www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1...
Urgent: can someone at the 🇺🇸 White House check if we’re facing an epidemic of exoplanets?
Where will this lead? Are we safe? Should we flatten the curve before it spreads?
Asking for a friend who’' extremely concerned about alien invasion, especially after recent rumors on 3I/ATLAS.
Where will this lead? Are we safe? Should we flatten the curve before it spreads?
Asking for a friend who’' extremely concerned about alien invasion, especially after recent rumors on 3I/ATLAS.
October 21, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Urgent: can someone at the 🇺🇸 White House check if we’re facing an epidemic of exoplanets?
Where will this lead? Are we safe? Should we flatten the curve before it spreads?
Asking for a friend who’' extremely concerned about alien invasion, especially after recent rumors on 3I/ATLAS.
Where will this lead? Are we safe? Should we flatten the curve before it spreads?
Asking for a friend who’' extremely concerned about alien invasion, especially after recent rumors on 3I/ATLAS.
That's because if the universe were infinite, eternal & static, every line of sight would end on ✨ and the sky would glow as the ☀️
But since it had a beginning and is expanding, most starlight hasn’t reached us yet, or has been redshifted beyond the visible spectrum
www.nature.com/articles/204...
But since it had a beginning and is expanding, most starlight hasn’t reached us yet, or has been redshifted beyond the visible spectrum
www.nature.com/articles/204...
October 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
That's because if the universe were infinite, eternal & static, every line of sight would end on ✨ and the sky would glow as the ☀️
But since it had a beginning and is expanding, most starlight hasn’t reached us yet, or has been redshifted beyond the visible spectrum
www.nature.com/articles/204...
But since it had a beginning and is expanding, most starlight hasn’t reached us yet, or has been redshifted beyond the visible spectrum
www.nature.com/articles/204...
Did you know that a simple proof that the speed of light is finite, the universe had a beginning and is expanding, is that the night sky is dark?
This is known as Olbers’ paradox, which puzzled astronomers for centuries.
1/2
This is known as Olbers’ paradox, which puzzled astronomers for centuries.
1/2
October 20, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Did you know that a simple proof that the speed of light is finite, the universe had a beginning and is expanding, is that the night sky is dark?
This is known as Olbers’ paradox, which puzzled astronomers for centuries.
1/2
This is known as Olbers’ paradox, which puzzled astronomers for centuries.
1/2
Curious? Intrigued?
Follow or subscribe (for free) at #ComplexityThoughts
👉 manlius.substack.com
to read the full post and more threads like this.
Or listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple 🎧
Thanks for reading up to here 🙏
Follow or subscribe (for free) at #ComplexityThoughts
👉 manlius.substack.com
to read the full post and more threads like this.
Or listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple 🎧
Thanks for reading up to here 🙏
October 19, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Curious? Intrigued?
Follow or subscribe (for free) at #ComplexityThoughts
👉 manlius.substack.com
to read the full post and more threads like this.
Or listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple 🎧
Thanks for reading up to here 🙏
Follow or subscribe (for free) at #ComplexityThoughts
👉 manlius.substack.com
to read the full post and more threads like this.
Or listen to our podcast on Spotify and Apple 🎧
Thanks for reading up to here 🙏
Even if life appeared on only one planet in a billion (note we have seen "just" 6,000 around), that would still be ~10¹² living worlds:
a trillion places where chemistry might have transitioned to biology.
With numbers like these, believing we’re the only ones feels… just statistically unwise.
5/
a trillion places where chemistry might have transitioned to biology.
With numbers like these, believing we’re the only ones feels… just statistically unwise.
5/
October 19, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Even if life appeared on only one planet in a billion (note we have seen "just" 6,000 around), that would still be ~10¹² living worlds:
a trillion places where chemistry might have transitioned to biology.
With numbers like these, believing we’re the only ones feels… just statistically unwise.
5/
a trillion places where chemistry might have transitioned to biology.
With numbers like these, believing we’re the only ones feels… just statistically unwise.
5/
Now, think of a 100-floors skyscraper instead.
That much sand would fill ~1.5 million buildings like that. That's an insane number of 🏢
If you laid them out side by side, their footprints would cover about 1 500 km²: roughly the size of Greater London.
A whole London of planetary sand!
4/
That much sand would fill ~1.5 million buildings like that. That's an insane number of 🏢
If you laid them out side by side, their footprints would cover about 1 500 km²: roughly the size of Greater London.
A whole London of planetary sand!
4/
October 19, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Now, think of a 100-floors skyscraper instead.
That much sand would fill ~1.5 million buildings like that. That's an insane number of 🏢
If you laid them out side by side, their footprints would cover about 1 500 km²: roughly the size of Greater London.
A whole London of planetary sand!
4/
That much sand would fill ~1.5 million buildings like that. That's an insane number of 🏢
If you laid them out side by side, their footprints would cover about 1 500 km²: roughly the size of Greater London.
A whole London of planetary sand!
4/
Imagine shrinking every planet to the size of a 1 mm sand grain.
How much space would all 10²¹ grains take up?
Assuming spherical grains with 1mm diameter, this is about 523 km³ of solid sand: the volume of all those worlds combined into one cosmic sandbox.
3/
How much space would all 10²¹ grains take up?
Assuming spherical grains with 1mm diameter, this is about 523 km³ of solid sand: the volume of all those worlds combined into one cosmic sandbox.
3/
October 19, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Imagine shrinking every planet to the size of a 1 mm sand grain.
How much space would all 10²¹ grains take up?
Assuming spherical grains with 1mm diameter, this is about 523 km³ of solid sand: the volume of all those worlds combined into one cosmic sandbox.
3/
How much space would all 10²¹ grains take up?
Assuming spherical grains with 1mm diameter, this is about 523 km³ of solid sand: the volume of all those worlds combined into one cosmic sandbox.
3/
📸 Nearly every dot in this James Webb image isn’t a star: it’s a galaxy, each with billions of stars and even more worlds.
And this? It’s just a tiny corner of the observable universe.
A short thread 🧵1/
And this? It’s just a tiny corner of the observable universe.
A short thread 🧵1/
October 19, 2025 at 1:17 PM
📸 Nearly every dot in this James Webb image isn’t a star: it’s a galaxy, each with billions of stars and even more worlds.
And this? It’s just a tiny corner of the observable universe.
A short thread 🧵1/
And this? It’s just a tiny corner of the observable universe.
A short thread 🧵1/