Santa Fe Institute
@sfiscience.bsky.social
The premier research center for #ComplexSystems #science.
santafe.edu
linktr.ee/sfiscience
santafe.edu
linktr.ee/sfiscience
Do you want to help develop new theories for systems that adapt, evolve, and interact?
Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 UCR program, a fully funded, 10-week experience for undergraduates, offering mentorship, seminars, and project development.
Apply by Jan 14, 2026
www.santafe.edu/ucr
Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 UCR program, a fully funded, 10-week experience for undergraduates, offering mentorship, seminars, and project development.
Apply by Jan 14, 2026
www.santafe.edu/ucr
December 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Do you want to help develop new theories for systems that adapt, evolve, and interact?
Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 UCR program, a fully funded, 10-week experience for undergraduates, offering mentorship, seminars, and project development.
Apply by Jan 14, 2026
www.santafe.edu/ucr
Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 UCR program, a fully funded, 10-week experience for undergraduates, offering mentorship, seminars, and project development.
Apply by Jan 14, 2026
www.santafe.edu/ucr
During the COVID-19 pandemic, UCLA biologists witnessed a rare natural experiment among dark-eyed juncos in Los Angeles. A new PNAS study by SFI External Professor Pamela Yeh and co-author Eleanor Diamant explores how sudden changes in human activity reshaped urban bird life.
Study: The surprising impact of COVID-19 on urban bird beaks
Biologists at UCLA used a natural experiment during the COVID-19 lockdowns to study the effects of human activity on urban wildlife. In a new study, SFI External Professor Pamela Yeh and co-author Ele...
www.santafe.edu
December 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
During the COVID-19 pandemic, UCLA biologists witnessed a rare natural experiment among dark-eyed juncos in Los Angeles. A new PNAS study by SFI External Professor Pamela Yeh and co-author Eleanor Diamant explores how sudden changes in human activity reshaped urban bird life.
Are you a journalist with a deep interest in complexity?
Each year, the Santa Fe Institute invites two experienced journalists to join the Complex Systems Summer School through the CSSS Journalism Fellowship.
Application deadline: Feb. 4, 2026
Learn more: santafe.edu/journalism-f...
Each year, the Santa Fe Institute invites two experienced journalists to join the Complex Systems Summer School through the CSSS Journalism Fellowship.
Application deadline: Feb. 4, 2026
Learn more: santafe.edu/journalism-f...
December 23, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Are you a journalist with a deep interest in complexity?
Each year, the Santa Fe Institute invites two experienced journalists to join the Complex Systems Summer School through the CSSS Journalism Fellowship.
Application deadline: Feb. 4, 2026
Learn more: santafe.edu/journalism-f...
Each year, the Santa Fe Institute invites two experienced journalists to join the Complex Systems Summer School through the CSSS Journalism Fellowship.
Application deadline: Feb. 4, 2026
Learn more: santafe.edu/journalism-f...
For computational devices, talk isn’t cheap.
A new study by SFI Prof. David Wolpert and former Graduate Fellow Abhishek Yadav shows that every bit of information — from neurons firing to CPUs reading memory — has an unavoidable energy cost, and more accurate communication always means more heat.
A new study by SFI Prof. David Wolpert and former Graduate Fellow Abhishek Yadav shows that every bit of information — from neurons firing to CPUs reading memory — has an unavoidable energy cost, and more accurate communication always means more heat.
For computational devices, talk isn't cheap
Every task we perform on a computer requires different components of the machine to interact with one another — to communicate. But scientists don't fully grasp how much energy computational devices s...
www.santafe.edu
December 23, 2025 at 5:58 PM
For computational devices, talk isn’t cheap.
A new study by SFI Prof. David Wolpert and former Graduate Fellow Abhishek Yadav shows that every bit of information — from neurons firing to CPUs reading memory — has an unavoidable energy cost, and more accurate communication always means more heat.
A new study by SFI Prof. David Wolpert and former Graduate Fellow Abhishek Yadav shows that every bit of information — from neurons firing to CPUs reading memory — has an unavoidable energy cost, and more accurate communication always means more heat.
New book: Allocation, Distribution, and Policy
In a new textbook, SFI Professor Sam Bowles and Weikai Chen, a professor of economics at Renmin University of China, present Ph.D.-level problem sets, exam questions, and detailed solutions based on a novel approach to microeconomics.
In a new textbook, SFI Professor Sam Bowles and Weikai Chen, a professor of economics at Renmin University of China, present Ph.D.-level problem sets, exam questions, and detailed solutions based on a novel approach to microeconomics.
Review: Allocation, Distribution, and Policy by Bowles and Chen
"Over the past 40 years, the field of microeconomics has gone through a revolution in real-world applications, yet the theoretical models taught in Ph.D. coursework have been slow to catch up," writes...
www.santafe.edu
December 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM
New book: Allocation, Distribution, and Policy
In a new textbook, SFI Professor Sam Bowles and Weikai Chen, a professor of economics at Renmin University of China, present Ph.D.-level problem sets, exam questions, and detailed solutions based on a novel approach to microeconomics.
In a new textbook, SFI Professor Sam Bowles and Weikai Chen, a professor of economics at Renmin University of China, present Ph.D.-level problem sets, exam questions, and detailed solutions based on a novel approach to microeconomics.
The simulation hypothesis has long captured our imagination, yet most arguments rely on intuition over clear definitions.
A new paper by SFI Professor David Wolpert introduces the first precise mathematical framework for defining simulation — and shows many common assumptions don’t hold up.
A new paper by SFI Professor David Wolpert introduces the first precise mathematical framework for defining simulation — and shows many common assumptions don’t hold up.
New mathematical framework reshapes debate over simulation hypothesis
The simulation hypothesis — the idea that our universe might be an artificial construct running on some advanced alien computer — has long captured the public imagination. Yet most arguments about it ...
www.santafe.edu
December 19, 2025 at 10:08 PM
The simulation hypothesis has long captured our imagination, yet most arguments rely on intuition over clear definitions.
A new paper by SFI Professor David Wolpert introduces the first precise mathematical framework for defining simulation — and shows many common assumptions don’t hold up.
A new paper by SFI Professor David Wolpert introduces the first precise mathematical framework for defining simulation — and shows many common assumptions don’t hold up.
For most of history, societies drew firm lines between those who belonged and those who didn't, shaping who was protected or excluded. Beginning in the Enlightenment, European societies began expanding rights.
A recent SFI working group is examining the historical forces driving this expansion.
A recent SFI working group is examining the historical forces driving this expansion.
Understanding the historical forces driving the expansion of human rights
For most of human history, large societies have drawn clear lines between people who belong to the in-group and those who do not. These lines determine who is recognized, protected, or granted status,...
www.santafe.edu
December 19, 2025 at 5:24 PM
For most of history, societies drew firm lines between those who belonged and those who didn't, shaping who was protected or excluded. Beginning in the Enlightenment, European societies began expanding rights.
A recent SFI working group is examining the historical forces driving this expansion.
A recent SFI working group is examining the historical forces driving this expansion.
In October, the International Society for Artificial Life recognized several SFI researchers and co-authors with the ISAL Award for Outstanding Publication of 2024.
The award celebrates the paper “Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems," which was published last fall.
The award celebrates the paper “Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems," which was published last fall.
Fundamental logic of life paper receives Outstanding Publication award
In October, the International Society for Artificial Life recognized several SFI researchers and co-authors with the ISAL Award for Outstanding Publication of 2024. The award celebrates the paper “Fun...
www.santafe.edu
December 18, 2025 at 10:03 PM
In October, the International Society for Artificial Life recognized several SFI researchers and co-authors with the ISAL Award for Outstanding Publication of 2024.
The award celebrates the paper “Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems," which was published last fall.
The award celebrates the paper “Fundamental constraints to the logic of living systems," which was published last fall.
New book: An Introduction to Ergodicity Economics
A new textbook by SFI External Professor Ole Peters and Alexander Adamou re-examines core assumptions in economic theory. It presents a formal challenge to expected-value thinking and shows how non-ergodicity can arise naturally in economic models.
A new textbook by SFI External Professor Ole Peters and Alexander Adamou re-examines core assumptions in economic theory. It presents a formal challenge to expected-value thinking and shows how non-ergodicity can arise naturally in economic models.
New book: Introduction to Ergodicity Economics
An Introduction to Ergodicity Economics is a new textbook that draws on physics to re-examine traditional economic theory. It begins with flipping a coin. And a hypothetical gambit. Imagine you were o...
www.santafe.edu
December 18, 2025 at 7:07 PM
New book: An Introduction to Ergodicity Economics
A new textbook by SFI External Professor Ole Peters and Alexander Adamou re-examines core assumptions in economic theory. It presents a formal challenge to expected-value thinking and shows how non-ergodicity can arise naturally in economic models.
A new textbook by SFI External Professor Ole Peters and Alexander Adamou re-examines core assumptions in economic theory. It presents a formal challenge to expected-value thinking and shows how non-ergodicity can arise naturally in economic models.
Three SFI External Professors and collaborators received a 2025 SAF Research Award from the Shanghai Archaeology Forum for their ongoing project, “The Global Dynamics of Inequality over the Long Term.”
The project was one of 10 celebrated at the 2025 SAF meeting, selected from 140 nominations.
The project was one of 10 celebrated at the 2025 SAF meeting, selected from 140 nominations.
GINI Project receives Research Award from the Shanghai Archaeology Forum
Three SFI External Professors and their collaborators received a 2025 SAF Research Award from the Shanghai Archaeology Forum for their ongoing project, “The Global Dynamics of Inequality over the Long...
www.santafe.edu
December 17, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Three SFI External Professors and collaborators received a 2025 SAF Research Award from the Shanghai Archaeology Forum for their ongoing project, “The Global Dynamics of Inequality over the Long Term.”
The project was one of 10 celebrated at the 2025 SAF meeting, selected from 140 nominations.
The project was one of 10 celebrated at the 2025 SAF meeting, selected from 140 nominations.
Are you an early-career researcher or research professional with a broad interest in complexity science?
Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 CSSS program, a three-week, in-residence program offering an intensive introduction to complexity science.
Apply by Feb 4, 2026
santafe.edu/csss
Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 CSSS program, a three-week, in-residence program offering an intensive introduction to complexity science.
Apply by Feb 4, 2026
santafe.edu/csss
December 16, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Are you an early-career researcher or research professional with a broad interest in complexity science?
Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 CSSS program, a three-week, in-residence program offering an intensive introduction to complexity science.
Apply by Feb 4, 2026
santafe.edu/csss
Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 CSSS program, a three-week, in-residence program offering an intensive introduction to complexity science.
Apply by Feb 4, 2026
santafe.edu/csss
A new study co-authored by SFI’s Mark Newman and Max Jerdee shows that a widely used metric for evaluating algorithms (NMI) can produce biased results, impacting scientific conclusions.
To address this, the authors developed an asymmetric, reduced version of the mutual information metric.
To address this, the authors developed an asymmetric, reduced version of the mutual information metric.
Researchers reveal bias in a widely used measure of algorithm performance
When scientists test algorithms that sort or classify data they often turn to a trusted tool called Normalized Mutual Information (or NMI) to measure how well an algorithm’s output matches reality. Bu...
www.santafe.edu
December 15, 2025 at 8:51 PM
A new study co-authored by SFI’s Mark Newman and Max Jerdee shows that a widely used metric for evaluating algorithms (NMI) can produce biased results, impacting scientific conclusions.
To address this, the authors developed an asymmetric, reduced version of the mutual information metric.
To address this, the authors developed an asymmetric, reduced version of the mutual information metric.
Applications open for SFI’s 2026 UCR program.
Are you fascinated by transdisciplinary questions that transcend or combine disciplines? UCR is a fully funded, 10-week summer research experience for undergraduates curious about complexity science.
Apply by Jan 14, 2026
santafe.edu/ucr
Are you fascinated by transdisciplinary questions that transcend or combine disciplines? UCR is a fully funded, 10-week summer research experience for undergraduates curious about complexity science.
Apply by Jan 14, 2026
santafe.edu/ucr
December 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Applications open for SFI’s 2026 UCR program.
Are you fascinated by transdisciplinary questions that transcend or combine disciplines? UCR is a fully funded, 10-week summer research experience for undergraduates curious about complexity science.
Apply by Jan 14, 2026
santafe.edu/ucr
Are you fascinated by transdisciplinary questions that transcend or combine disciplines? UCR is a fully funded, 10-week summer research experience for undergraduates curious about complexity science.
Apply by Jan 14, 2026
santafe.edu/ucr
Can we build a science of stories? This week, a transdisciplinary group at SFI asks: What if we treated stories as data? As networks? As science?
By mapping their patterns across time and culture, researchers aim to reveal how narratives shape knowledge, meaning, and power.
By mapping their patterns across time and culture, researchers aim to reveal how narratives shape knowledge, meaning, and power.
Constructing a science of stories
From December 10–12, computer scientists, folklorists, physicists, marketing experts, cognitive neuroscientists, economists, mathematicians, psychologists, and other researchers convene at SFI to conn...
www.santafe.edu
December 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Can we build a science of stories? This week, a transdisciplinary group at SFI asks: What if we treated stories as data? As networks? As science?
By mapping their patterns across time and culture, researchers aim to reveal how narratives shape knowledge, meaning, and power.
By mapping their patterns across time and culture, researchers aim to reveal how narratives shape knowledge, meaning, and power.
How likely are you to invest in a new business? Ask your partner to marry you? Move to a new country?
A new model by SFI External Professor Paul Smaldino and colleagues explains how wealth, experience, and environment shape our risk tolerance — and how those effects persist across generations.
A new model by SFI External Professor Paul Smaldino and colleagues explains how wealth, experience, and environment shape our risk tolerance — and how those effects persist across generations.
Personal risk tolerance has sweeping implications for how societies evolve
How much risk is any individual willing to take on? That depends, in part, on their individual resources and environment, which shape the learning strategies that influence their personal proclivity t...
www.santafe.edu
December 9, 2025 at 9:38 PM
How likely are you to invest in a new business? Ask your partner to marry you? Move to a new country?
A new model by SFI External Professor Paul Smaldino and colleagues explains how wealth, experience, and environment shape our risk tolerance — and how those effects persist across generations.
A new model by SFI External Professor Paul Smaldino and colleagues explains how wealth, experience, and environment shape our risk tolerance — and how those effects persist across generations.
Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 summer education programs, offering research and training in complexity science in Santa Fe, NM:
– Undergraduate Complexity Research
– Complex Systems Summer School
– Graduate Workshop in Computational Social Science
Info: www.santafe.edu/engage/learn...
– Undergraduate Complexity Research
– Complex Systems Summer School
– Graduate Workshop in Computational Social Science
Info: www.santafe.edu/engage/learn...
December 5, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Applications are open for SFI’s 2026 summer education programs, offering research and training in complexity science in Santa Fe, NM:
– Undergraduate Complexity Research
– Complex Systems Summer School
– Graduate Workshop in Computational Social Science
Info: www.santafe.edu/engage/learn...
– Undergraduate Complexity Research
– Complex Systems Summer School
– Graduate Workshop in Computational Social Science
Info: www.santafe.edu/engage/learn...
SFI welcomes complexity Postdoctoral Fellow Max Jerdee
Jerdee focuses on building unbiased methods for analyzing network data. Using tools such as Bayesian inference and related probabilistic approaches, he develops models that identify network structures while rigorously quantifying uncertainty.
Jerdee focuses on building unbiased methods for analyzing network data. Using tools such as Bayesian inference and related probabilistic approaches, he develops models that identify network structures while rigorously quantifying uncertainty.
SFI welcomes Complexity Postdoctoral Fellow Max Jerdee
Jerdee focuses on building interpretable, unbiased methods for analyzing network data. Using tools such as Bayesian inference and related probabilistic approaches, he develops models that identify net...
www.santafe.edu
November 25, 2025 at 8:34 PM
SFI welcomes complexity Postdoctoral Fellow Max Jerdee
Jerdee focuses on building unbiased methods for analyzing network data. Using tools such as Bayesian inference and related probabilistic approaches, he develops models that identify network structures while rigorously quantifying uncertainty.
Jerdee focuses on building unbiased methods for analyzing network data. Using tools such as Bayesian inference and related probabilistic approaches, he develops models that identify network structures while rigorously quantifying uncertainty.
A new special issue of Philosophical Transactions B takes on one of science’s biggest questions: how life begins.
Rather than retracing Earth’s history, the authors look for the universal conditions that could make life possible anywhere, approaching the question from many fields and angles.
Rather than retracing Earth’s history, the authors look for the universal conditions that could make life possible anywhere, approaching the question from many fields and angles.
How life begins and where it might happen again
A recent special issue of Philosophical Transactions B takes on one of the biggest mysteries in science: how life first began. Instead of trying to replay Earth’s exact history, the issue’s authors lo...
www.santafe.edu
November 21, 2025 at 6:03 PM
A new special issue of Philosophical Transactions B takes on one of science’s biggest questions: how life begins.
Rather than retracing Earth’s history, the authors look for the universal conditions that could make life possible anywhere, approaching the question from many fields and angles.
Rather than retracing Earth’s history, the authors look for the universal conditions that could make life possible anywhere, approaching the question from many fields and angles.
If you missed any of the 2025 SFI Community Lectures, remember you can stream them on our YouTube channel.
The 2025 series covered diverse topics, ranging from computation and artificial intelligence to molecular biology, history, philosophy, and cognitive science.
www.youtube.com/@SFIScience/...
The 2025 series covered diverse topics, ranging from computation and artificial intelligence to molecular biology, history, philosophy, and cognitive science.
www.youtube.com/@SFIScience/...
November 20, 2025 at 8:29 PM
If you missed any of the 2025 SFI Community Lectures, remember you can stream them on our YouTube channel.
The 2025 series covered diverse topics, ranging from computation and artificial intelligence to molecular biology, history, philosophy, and cognitive science.
www.youtube.com/@SFIScience/...
The 2025 series covered diverse topics, ranging from computation and artificial intelligence to molecular biology, history, philosophy, and cognitive science.
www.youtube.com/@SFIScience/...
At SFI, Sahana Subramanyam found a place where ideas moved freely between disciplines and mentors encouraged exploration. Her experience in the Undergraduate Complexity Research (UCR) program helped shape her path to a Ph.D. at Stanford and a research career on social inequality. Read her essay:
Essay: 2018 summer undergraduate researcher reflects on the impact of SFI experience
Sahana Subramanyam was a participant in SFI's 2018 summer Research Experience for Undergraduates — now called the Undergraduate Complexity Research program. In this essay, she reflects on how the expe...
www.santafe.edu
November 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
At SFI, Sahana Subramanyam found a place where ideas moved freely between disciplines and mentors encouraged exploration. Her experience in the Undergraduate Complexity Research (UCR) program helped shape her path to a Ph.D. at Stanford and a research career on social inequality. Read her essay:
Apply now for SFI’s 2026 CSSS Journalism Fellowship (June 9–July 8). Each year, two accomplished journalists join our summer school program for a deep dive into complexity science. Stipend, housing, and travel covered.
Applications open until Feb. 4, 2026.
Apply: www.santafe.edu/news-center/...
Applications open until Feb. 4, 2026.
Apply: www.santafe.edu/news-center/...
November 14, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Apply now for SFI’s 2026 CSSS Journalism Fellowship (June 9–July 8). Each year, two accomplished journalists join our summer school program for a deep dive into complexity science. Stipend, housing, and travel covered.
Applications open until Feb. 4, 2026.
Apply: www.santafe.edu/news-center/...
Applications open until Feb. 4, 2026.
Apply: www.santafe.edu/news-center/...
The latest issue of SFI's monthly e-newsletter is now available.
Catch up on recent research, events, and news from the Santa Fe Institute, and sign up to get the next edition in your inbox.
Read it here: mailchi.mp/santafe/sfi-...
Catch up on recent research, events, and news from the Santa Fe Institute, and sign up to get the next edition in your inbox.
Read it here: mailchi.mp/santafe/sfi-...
November 10, 2025 at 6:31 PM
The latest issue of SFI's monthly e-newsletter is now available.
Catch up on recent research, events, and news from the Santa Fe Institute, and sign up to get the next edition in your inbox.
Read it here: mailchi.mp/santafe/sfi-...
Catch up on recent research, events, and news from the Santa Fe Institute, and sign up to get the next edition in your inbox.
Read it here: mailchi.mp/santafe/sfi-...
SFI Resident Professor Sam Bowles has co-authored a new book of problem sets and solutions based on the new microeconomics, with applications to inequality, climate change, and other pressing issues in today’s world. Available now.
Test your knowledge of #inequality. CORE author Sam Bowles has co-authored a new book of problem sets packed with real-world data. Sam explains how the book helps students learn more about the things they care about.
openbookpublishers.com/books/10.116...
openbookpublishers.com/books/10.116...
November 6, 2025 at 8:10 PM
SFI Resident Professor Sam Bowles has co-authored a new book of problem sets and solutions based on the new microeconomics, with applications to inequality, climate change, and other pressing issues in today’s world. Available now.
SFI welcomes Program Postdoctoral Fellow Shuhao Fu.
Artificial-intelligence systems have made remarkable progress in recent years, but they still struggle with the kind of flexible, relational reasoning that comes naturally to humans. Fu studies how to bridge that gap.
Artificial-intelligence systems have made remarkable progress in recent years, but they still struggle with the kind of flexible, relational reasoning that comes naturally to humans. Fu studies how to bridge that gap.
SFI welcomes Program Postdoctoral Fellow Shuhao Fu
Artificial-intelligence systems have made remarkable progress in recent years, but they still struggle with the kind of flexible, relational reasoning that comes naturally to humans. Program Postdoctoral Fellow Shuhao Fu studies how to bridge that gap.
www.santafe.edu
October 31, 2025 at 3:07 PM
SFI welcomes Program Postdoctoral Fellow Shuhao Fu.
Artificial-intelligence systems have made remarkable progress in recent years, but they still struggle with the kind of flexible, relational reasoning that comes naturally to humans. Fu studies how to bridge that gap.
Artificial-intelligence systems have made remarkable progress in recent years, but they still struggle with the kind of flexible, relational reasoning that comes naturally to humans. Fu studies how to bridge that gap.
What if one model could realistically predict the economy of an entire country? The entire world? A month-long working group, co-organized by SFI External Professor @doynefarmer.bsky.social, made the case that agent-based models may bring this vision to life:
Agent-based models move into the economic mainstream
In the 1980s and ’90s, SFI played laboratory to a promising new method known as agent-based modeling. In ensuing decades, agent-based models (ABMs) proliferated across many fields, including economics...
www.santafe.edu
October 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
What if one model could realistically predict the economy of an entire country? The entire world? A month-long working group, co-organized by SFI External Professor @doynefarmer.bsky.social, made the case that agent-based models may bring this vision to life: