What do heavy metal moshpits and particle physics have in common?

What do heavy metal dancing and particle physics have in common? More than most of us may think, a new study suggests.

 

The National Geographic reported a recent study that attempts to explain the "mosh pit" using principles used in particle physics.

 

The study by Jesse Silverberg and Matt Bierbaum, doctoral students at Cornell University's department of Condensed Matter Physics, suggests heavy metal dancing —like in a mosh pit— follows predictable patterns of particle physics, the National Geographic said.  

 

The article also said that the heavy-metal music and accompanying "violent" dancing may help scientists understand extreme situations like riots and panicked responses to disasters.

 

During moshing, participants can bump and slam into one another during a heavy metal show.

 

"We are interested in how humans behave in similar excited states, but it's not exactly ethical to start a riot for research," said Silverberg.

 

The mosh pit thus allowed the researchers to observe excited collective movement without causing undue injury or death.

 

In studying moshing, Silverberg and Bierbaum used theories of collective motion and the physical properties of gases "to better understand the chaos of metal fans' dancing."

 

Both also applied applying models of gaseous particles that "run, bash, and slam into each other, sending the elements flying in chaotic patterns" - like people in the mosh pit.

 

Extreme physics

 

Silverberg and Bierbaum thus analyzed hours of recorded footage from concerts and visited music clubs to look at the physical patterns in the mosh pit.

 

They managed to identify two forms of heavy metal dancing - the "mosh pit" itself, which follows the gaseous pattern, and the "circle pit" where dancers run, smash, and dance in a circular rotation within it.

 

Both then created an interactive computer model based on the behavior they observed.

 

Animal instincts

 

"Herd animals behave in very similar spirit—what physicists call 'flocking' behavior," said Bierbaum.

 

This refers to simple rules on individuals in large groups, like moshers, to understand what seems to be very complex behavior.

 

Potential results

 

National Geographic said the observations of mosh pit behavior can help design spaces that may minimize trampling or injury, or to fit responses to disasters like fires.

 

"The lessons we've learned in mosh pits [could be used] to build better stadiums, or movie theaters," Silverberg said.

 

Explaining human behavior

 

Meanwhile, James Sethna, one of the researchers' advising professors, said the study of heavy metal science did not quite start due to the need to build safer stadiums.

 

"We did it because it was cool and we wanted to know if we could explain human behavior—albeit slightly intoxicated behavior—without having to use complex [models]," he said. — TJD, GMA News