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arXiv · 2505.05182

Synthesis of innovation and obsolescence

Edward D. Lee·Christopher P. Kempes·Manfred D. Laubichler·Marcus J. Hamilton·Jeffrey W. Lockhart·Frank Neffke·Hyejin Youn·José Ignacio Arroyo·Vito D. P. Servedio·Dashun Wang·Jessika Trancik·James Evans·Vicky Chuqiao Yang·Veronica R. Cappelli·Ernesto Ortega·Yian Yin·Geoffrey B. West
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Abstract

Innovation and obsolescence describe the dynamics of ever-churning social and biological systems, from the development of economic markets to scientific and technological progress to biological evolution. They have been widely discussed, but in isolation, leading to fragmented modeling of their dynamics. This poses a problem for connecting and building on what we know about their shared mechanisms. Here we collectively propose a conceptual and mathematical framework to transcend field boundaries and to explore unifying theoretical frameworks and open challenges. We ring an optimistic note for weaving together disparate threads with key ideas from the wide and largely disconnected literature by focusing on the duality of innovation and obsolescence and by proposing a mathematical framework to unify the metaphors between constitutive elements.

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Edward D. Lee, Christopher P. Kempes, Manfred D. Laubichler, Marcus J. Hamilton, Jeffrey W. Lockhart, Frank Neffke, Hyejin Youn, José Ignacio Arroyo, Vito D. P. Servedio, Dashun Wang, Jessika Trancik, James Evans, Vicky Chuqiao Yang, Veronica R. Cappelli, Ernesto Ortega, Yian Yin, Geoffrey B. West. 2025-05-08. Synthesis of innovation and obsolescence. https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.05182

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