<< Current experiments support the controversial hypothesis that a well-known concept in physics—a critical point—is behind the striking behavior of collective animal systems. >>
AA << showed that light-controlled microswimming particles can be made to organize into collective states such as swarms and swirls. By studying the particles fluctuating between these states, they provide evidence for critical behavior—and support for a physical principle underlying the complex behavior of collectives.>>
<< What we observed is that the system can make sudden transitions from one state to the other, which demonstrates the flexibility needed to react to an external perturbation like a predator, (..) and provides clear evidence for a critical behavior. >> Clemens Bechinger
<< Through very simple interactions, they have shown that you can tune a physical system to a collective state - criticality - of balance between order and disorder. >> Iain Couzin
Physics principle explains order and disorder of swarms. University of Konstanz. Jun 11, 2020.
Bauerle T., Loffler R.C., Bechinger C. Formation of stable and responsive collective states in suspensions of active colloids. Nat Commun 11, 2547. doi: 10.1038/ s41467-020-16161-4. May 21, 2020.
Also
keyword 'self-assembly' in FonT
