Giorgio Parisi, the 2021 Nobel Prize winner in Physics, has taken his lifelong fascination with the intricacies of complex systems and woven it into his book in 2023, “In a Flight of Starlings: The Wonder of Complex Systems.” Invoking the hypnotic ballet of starling murmurations, Parisi delves into the beauty and chaos that underpin both the natural world and human-made structures.
From his undergraduate days at Sapienza University in Rome, Parisi has been captivated by the challenges that physics posed, particularly when confronted with phenomena like the mesmerizing flight of birds or the puzzling behavior of solid spheres in a box. The connection between the motions of starlings and statistical physics problems illustrates the deep unity underlying diverse systems. Such realizations mark a shift from the days when physics, limited by the mathematics of the time, couldn’t handle the complexity of phenomena like friction, as exemplified by Galileo’s models.
Physics has since evolved, with Parisi at the forefront of developing models that explain phase transitions of disordered materials like glass and pitch, expanding the discipline’s reach far beyond its traditional boundaries. Parisi’s work, spanning since the mid-1990s, highlights that even in the disordered chaos, there is a predictability and order emerging from the collective behavior of individual entities. It’s a phenomenon that finds parallels across the natural and social sciences, from particles to financial markets to social dynamics.
Parisi’s reflections on the creative process of scientific discovery emphasize the value of collaboration, intuition, and the willingness to embrace unconventional approaches. The book also touches upon the importance of science in addressing global challenges like climate change and pandemics, underlining the relevance of Parisi’s insights in today’s world.
Yet, Parisi’s book is not without its critics. Some readers feel a craving for more details on the complexities of emergent systems. However, it is Parisi’s candid exploration of his journey, the revelations of a Nobel laureate, that offers a glimpse into the pursuit of knowledge, the serendipity of discoveries missed, and the power of ideas that are “often like boomerangs.”
The realm of complex systems doesn’t end with Parisi’s work. The insights gained from the physics of bird flight, notably from a study at Stanford University, where a Pacific parrotlet named Obi revealed unexpected flight mechanics, stretch the bounds of our understanding. These findings challenge established assumptions about lift and flight dynamics, promising advancements in areas such as robotic wing design.
Looking to the past, we find that Leonardo da Vinci, famed for his contributions to art and science, was the first to document dynamic soaring maneuvers used by birds to extract energy from wind shear. This revelation predates the commonly accepted explanations by centuries, as highlighted by Professor Dr. Philip Richardson. Da Vinci’s observations, though never directly influencing the development of flying machines, remind us of the profound legacy that the curiosity of historical figures leaves on modern science.
Relevant articles:
– The man who looked at birds and grasped the secrets of the universe, The Telegraph
– In a Flight of Starlings: The Wonders of Complex SystemsBy Giorgio Parisi, subhrashis.com
– Physics of Bird Flight Inspire Scientists – Pet Birds by Lafeber Co., Lafeber
– Leonardo da Vinci’s take on dynamic soaring, Phys.org