Human dynamics: Darwin and Einstein correspondence patterns.
In an era when letters were the main means of exchanging scientific ideas and results, Charles Darwin (1809-82) and Albert Einstein (1879-1955) were notably prolific correspondents. But did their patterns of communication differ from those associated with the instant-access e-mail of modern times? Here we show that, although the means have changed, the communication dynamics have not: Darwin's and Einstein's patterns of correspondence and today's electronic exchanges follow the same scaling laws. However, the response times of their surface-mail communication is described by a different scaling exponent from e-mail communication, providing evidence for a new class of phenomena in human dynamics.
Oliveira
João Gama
JG
Center for Complex Network Research and Department of Physics, University of Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA.
Barabási
Albert-László
AL
D015709:Correspondence as Topic / Q000266:history*; D034742:Electronic Mail / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D011930:Reaction Time; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors