May's theorem

May's theorem is a way to measure the stability of complex systems, like ecosystems or financial markets. It basically says that as the number of components in a system increases, the possibility of instability also increases.

Think of it like a Jenga tower. The more blocks you add, the more unstable it becomes and the more likely it is to fall over.

May's theorem helps scientists and researchers understand how changes in one part of a system can affect the entire thing. It also helps them predict when a system might become unstable and potentially fail.

So, just like you want to be careful when you add too many blocks to your Jenga tower, researchers want to be careful when making changes to complex systems to make sure they don't unintentionally cause instability.