Emergence is, itself, an emerging science. As such, there is disagreement
among the scientific community as to what constitutes emergence. Here
are some candidate examples.
Superconductivity. Individual electrons bounce about
randomly, but in a superconductor they fall into a single rhythmic wave
that can flow without resistance
Evolution. Random mutations that give certain individuals
a reproductive advantage collectively lead to the evolution of a species.
Consciousness. Single neurons can't think, but together
they form a web that gives rise to thought, memory, and personality.
Magnetism. In a magnetic material, electron spins align
with their neighbors to give rise to a bulk magnetism.
Ants. Each individual ant follows simple rules, but
together the ant colony has the capability of complex behaviors and grows
as a single organism.
Traffic. Individual drivers stop and go depending upon
the behavior of drivers nearest them. These simple interactions give rise
to complex patterns, including traffic "crystals" in which drivers
move as a slow-moving clump down the freeway, powerless to break the pattern.
Slime molds. Individual slime mold cells move on their
own, but under certain conditions will combine together to form a single
organism which moves as an entity.
Stock market. Individual investors follow simple rules
to create a complex, self-regulating economic system.
Weather. Air currents and temperature combine to form
powerful coherent systems, such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
The human body. The individual cells that make up our
body are renewed every seven years, yet we remain ourselves with our personality
and appearance.
Galaxy formation. Individual stars cluster together,
attracted by gravity, into coherent shapes such as the spiral arms of
the Milky Way.
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