Researchers have long been puzzled by how cooperation persists in nature, as it seems to contradict the idea of survival of the fittest. Using game theory, evolutionary mathematicians have found that cooperation thrives when the benefits are high or the costs are low. However, new research published in PNAS Nexus reveals that cooperation between species can break down even when conditions seem favorable. The study, led by Dr. Christoph Hauert and Dr. György Szabó from the Hungarian Research Network, used computational models to show that when cooperation reaches a certain frequency, it becomes unevenly distributed between species, leading to unexpected shifts in behavior. This phenomenon, likened to phase transitions in physics, offers new insights into the complexities of interactions in living systems.

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