Arthur N. Montanari, Pietro Zanin, and Adilson E. Motter examine conditions in which heterogeneity among network components or their interactions can improve stability. The analysis challenges conclusions drawn from simplified network models: whether variation stabilises a system depends on its dynamics, on where the variation occurs, and on its magnitude. The authors explore models relevant to power grids, neuronal systems, engineered materials, and ecological networks. It is a theoretical result, not a general instruction to maximise disorder.

National Science Foundation overview (30 October 2026); Northwestern University research explanation (17 September 2026); Original paper in Science (2026), DOI 10.1126/science.aeg3946.