Percolation theory

Percolation theory studies how something, like fluid or information, spreads through a medium, such as soil or a network. Imagine water filtering through a sponge: it moves through the spaces between the sponge’s material. In a broader context, percolation examines how connected areas can impact the flow—like how disease spreads among people or how internet connectivity operates in a network. This theory helps to understand critical thresholds, where a small change can drastically affect overall connectivity or flow, which is applicable in science, engineering, and social systems.