Diffusive Spreading in Nature Technology and Society Gebunden

This book deals with randomly moving objects and their spreading. The objects considered are particles like atoms and molecules but also living beings such as humans animals plants bacteria and even abstract entities like ideas rumors information innovations and linguistic features. The book explores and communicates the laws behind these movements and reports about astonishing similarities and very specific features typical of the given object under considerations. Leading scientists in disciplines as diverse as archeology epidemics linguistics and sociology in collaboration with th eir colleagues from engineering natural sciences and mathematics introduce the phenomena of spreading as relevant for their fields. An introductory chapter on ¿Spreading Fundamentals¿ provides a common basis for all these considerations with a minimum of mathematics selected and presented for enjoying rather than frustrating the reader.