What The Iliad Can Tell Us About Science 2.0 And Networks
Wednesday, July 25, 2012 - 11:02
in Physics & Chemistry
Can modern physicists examine ancient myths and teach us about modern social networks, even science ones like Science 2.0?Pesky humanities types are always butting into science and a new article in EPL (Europhysics Letters) turns the tables. Pádraig Mac Carron and Ralph Kenna from Coventry University performed detailed text analyses of the Iliad, Beowulf and the Táin Bó Cuailnge and found that the interactions between the characters in all three myths were consistent with those seen in real-life social networks. Taking this further, the researchers compared the myths to four known works of fiction -- Les Misérables, Richard III, Fellowship of the Ring, and Harry Potter -- and found clear differences. read more