The death of at least 56 people in a stampede at a soccer stadium in Nzérékoré, Guinea, is the latest example of how quickly mass gatherings can turn catastrophic.
From a funeral of a public figure to a Halloween celebration or a music festival, history — both recent and ancient — is filled with such tragedies.
While these events often seem unpredictable, physics models can help understand how stampedes form, says Max Bi, an associate professor of physics at Northeastern University.
“Physics provides valuable tools to model pedestrian dynamics and analyze crowd behavior, offering actionable strategies to improve public safety,” Bi says.
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AP Photo/Samy Ntumba Shambuyi
Physics
