The Secret Lives of Networks

February 6, 2024
Stoney's British Pub

3007 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE

7:28pm

Eleni Katifori
University of Pennsylvania
“The Secret Lives of Networks”
 

It is impossible to create a large-scale organism without some kind of distribution network that nourishes it. These networks, as the arteries, veins, and lymphatics in humans or the xylem and phloem in plants, are pervasive, much like the road systems in cities. However, unlike conventional road systems, vascular networks possess the remarkable ability to dynamically self-organize, altering the flow direction as necessary and mending themselves, all without relying on a central coordinator. In this talk, I will delve into the physics underlying these phenomena, exploring the many intricate adaptations that make vascular networks so successful at their jobs.