Complexity Explorables

What Complexity Explorables actually is

Dirk Brockmann collects small interactive models of complex systems: synchronising fireflies, disease spread across networks, chaotic pendulums, forest fires and reaction-diffusion patterns. Each explorable comes with a short written explanation and a full set of parameters to move.

Why it is worth your time

Turning one parameter until an orderly system tips into chaos in front of you is the quickest possible way to understand what a critical threshold means.

Common questions

Is Complexity Explorables free?

Yes. Complexity Explorables is free and does not ask you to register or hand over an email address before you can use it.

How long does Complexity Explorables take?

Clear your evening. We warned you. We file it under "Rabbit hole" — play with the models behind epidemics, flocks and chaos.

Does Complexity Explorables work on a phone?

Complexity Explorables really wants a mouse and a wide window. It will load on a phone, but the experience is built for desktop.

What kind of site is Complexity Explorables?

We list it under Explain Everything — hard things, made suddenly obvious. Turning one parameter until an orderly system tips into chaos in front of you is the quickest possible way to understand what a critical threshold means.