Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos (IFISC)

26/06/2026

📣 Time is running out! Preregistration is now open for the Master’s in Physics of Complex Systems at Universitat de les Illes Balears.

Explore cutting-edge research, connect with an international network of experts, and build the skills to tackle today’s most challenging systems, from brain dynamics to social networks.

📆 Apply by June 30: https://www.uib.eu/Learn/estudis-de-master/master/MFS3/

▶ Mobility fellowships available!: https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/en/master/fellowships-for-the-masters-degree/

Fellowship deadline: July 12

16/06/2026

Do we really need complex models to understand how groups interact? 👥🕸️

In network science, there's been a big shift toward using hypergraphs to map things like peer pressure and collective decision-making. But it's sparked a good debate: when do we actually need that extra mathematical complexity, and when are simpler networks enough? A new study published in Physical Review Research by the team at IFISC (UIB-CSIC) shares some insights on this.

The researchers (Jaume Llabrés Rubio, Raul Toral, Maxi San Miguel and Federico Vázquez) showed that many social impact models on hypergraphs can actually be simplified into straightforward, pairwise interactions without losing any microscopic accuracy. This means we can often use classic, well-established network tools to study complex group dynamics.

🔬 Read the full breakdown: https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/en/news/do-group-interactions-really-require-higher-order-models/

09/06/2026

🏖 Yesterday the IFISC (UIB-CSIC) staff celebrated our usual Summer Solstice at Son Serra de Marina. Beach, sport, good food and interesting conversations!

☀ Happy Summer Solstice!

25/05/2026

🚨 What if a little chaos could help artificial intelligence learn faster?

A new study from IFISC (CSIC-UIB), published in Physical Review Research, shows that neural networks can train more efficiently when operating near the so-called “edge of chaos”: a regime between order and disorder where exploration and optimization are better balanced.

Far from being harmful, a controlled amount of chaotic behavior may actually speed up AI learning.

The study was carried out by Pedro Jiménez González, Miguel Cornelles Soriano, and Lucas Lacasa.

Read more 👇
https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/en/news/a-touch-of-chaos-can-help-artificial-intelligence-learn-faster/

🖥️ El caos controlado acelera el aprendizaje de la

⌨️Las redes neuronales artificiales son sistemas computacionales clave para la inspirados en las neuronas biológicas

🔬 Un estudio del Instituto de Física Interdisciplinar y Sistemas Complejos (IFISC) muestra que procesan la información de manera más eficiente cuando operan al inicio del comportamiento caótico

🔎Les permite refinar las soluciones conocidas y explorar nuevas posibilidades entre el vasto número de configuraciones posibles

👉 http://tiny.cc/7a04101

12/05/2026

📣 Preregistration is now open for the Master’s in Physics of Complex Systems at Universitat de les Illes Balears!

Explore cutting-edge research, connect with an international network of experts, and build the skills to tackle today’s most challenging systems, from brain dynamics to social networks.

📆 Apply by June 30:
https://www.uib.eu/Learn/estudis-de-master/master/MFS3/

▶ Mobility fellowships available!
https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/en/master/fellowships-for-the-masters-degree/

Fellowship deadline: July 12

12/05/2026

Beyond pairs: A new tool for complex systems 🧠

A new study in PLOS One introduces THOI, an open-source Python library designed to identify hidden group dynamics that traditional methods miss.

Developed by a team of researchers, including Rubén Herzog (IFISC, UIB-CSIC), this tool makes the analysis of synergy and redundancy in large datasets faster and more accessible than ever.

Check out the full press release here: https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/en/news/hidden-group-dynamics-in-complex-systems/

12/05/2026

📣 IFISC (CSIC-UIB) Scholarship Call: Master’s in Physics of Complex Systems (Academic Year 2026-2027)

IFISC is pleased to announce a minimum of two scholarships for students enrolling in the Master’s in Physics of Complex Systems at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB). These grants are designed to support excellence in research from the very start of the postgraduate journey.

The Offer:
- Full exemption from tuition fees.
- A total grant of €7,000 to cover living expenses for non-residents of Mallorca, distributed across the academic year.
- One of these fellowships is proudly sponsored by Fundación Sicómoro, Pensamiento Sistémico y Sistemas Complejos

Key Dates & Requirements:
📅 Application Deadline: July 12th, 2026.
📝 Necessary Docs: Academic certificate, CV, Statement of Interest, and two reference letters.
🎓 Target: Physics or STEM graduates with a passion for complexity science.

Don't miss the opportunity to join a multidisciplinary community at the forefront of physics.

👉 Full details and electronic submission: https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/en/master/fellowships-for-the-masters-degree/

30/03/2026

⏱️ Can time crystals become quantum clocks? A new Physical Review Letters study, involving IFISC (UIB-CSIC), shows that dissipative time crystals can function as fast, accurate, and low-dissipation quantum clocks.

By monitoring photon emissions from interacting spins, the system produces measurable “ticks” whose precision improves collectively. The work also links clock accuracy to entropy production using martingale theory. A step forward in turning exotic phases of matter into practical quantum technologies.

🔗 Read more: https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/en/news/quantum-crystals/

26/03/2026

Programming Light’s Memory: A New Frontier in Quantum Machine Learning 💡⚛️

How do we teach a quantum system to remember the past? A groundbreaking study just published in Nature Photonics has experimentally demonstrated how to equip photonic quantum systems with controllable memory.

Researchers from IFISC (UIB-CSIC) and Laboratoire Kastler Brossel - LKB (Sorbonne Université) have successfully implemented Quantum Reservoir Computing. By using real-time feedback in ultrafast laser pulses, they created a "fading memory" that allows the system to recognize and predict complex temporal patterns, critical for everything from climate modeling to financial forecasting.

🔗 Read more: https://ifisc.uib-csic.es/en/news/programming-lights-memory/

12/03/2026

Looking to kickstart your career in research? 👨🏻‍🔬👩🏻‍🔬

The Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) has launched the introductory research grants. At IFISC (UIB-CSIC), we have 2 projects available for students eager to dive into the world of complexity.

Deadline: 11 April.

🔗 Check out the full details and apply here: https://sede.csic.gob.es/tramites/programa-jae/jae-intro-2026