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Diseases can spread quickly. Someone with a cold infects a few casual contacts, who in turn infect others. Ideas can also spread that way, along so-called random¹ networks. But Damon Centola at MIT says that ideas and beliefs spread faster and more efficiently² when they’re reinforced in clustered networks, with overlapping³ connections among the members.

Centola recruited more than 1,500 participants for what was billed as a Web-based health community. Each had an anonymous⁴ profile and was matched with health buddies⁵. In one group, a minimal⁶ number of links connected the participants. The other group was denser⁷, with redundant⁸ links.

In each group, a seed participant was planted with an idea: to register for an online health forum⁹. Whenever a member registered, the member’s contacts got the message. Ultimately, 54 percent of the participants in the clustered network signed up, compared with only 38 percent in the random network. And the behavior spread about four times faster in the clustered groups. The study is in the journal Science.

Centola thinks people are more swayed when they hear that multiple contacts are trying something new and that public health officials should take advantage of clustered networks to encourage people’s healthful behaviors.

Thanks for the minute.For scientific American's 60-Second Science.I' Cynthia Graber

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1 random
adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动
参考例句：
The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。 On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

2 efficiently
adv.高效率地，有能力地
参考例句：
The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。 Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。

3 overlapping
adj./n.交迭（的）
参考例句：
There is no overlapping question between the two courses. 这两门课程之间不存在重叠的问题。 A trimetrogon strip is composed of three rows of overlapping. 三镜头摄影航线为三排重迭的象片所组成。

4 anonymous
adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的
参考例句：
Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。 The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。

5 buddies
n.密友( buddy的名词复数 )；同伴；弟兄；（用于称呼男子，常带怒气）家伙v.（如密友、战友、伙伴、弟兄般）交往( buddy的第三人称单数 )；做朋友；亲近（…）；伴护艾滋病人
参考例句：
We became great buddies. 我们成了非常好的朋友。来自辞典例句 The two of them have become great buddies. 他们俩成了要好的朋友。来自辞典例句

6 minimal
adj.尽可能少的，最小的
参考例句：
They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。 I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。

7 denser
adj. 不易看透的, 密集的, 浓厚的, 愚钝的
参考例句：
The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源 As Tito entered the neighbourhood of San Martino, he found the throng rather denser. 蒂托走近圣马丁教堂附近一带时，发现人群相当密集。

8 redundant
adj.多余的，过剩的；(食物)丰富的；被解雇的
参考例句：
There are too many redundant words in this book.这本书里多余的词太多。 Nearly all the redundant worker have been absorbed into other departments.几乎所有冗员，都已调往其他部门任职。

9 forum
n.论坛，讨论会
参考例句：
They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。 The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。