Geographic rule-breakers

Tobler’s law, sometimes referred to as the First law of Geography, states that ‘everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things’. Since the 1970s, this law has been a guiding principle of the field. However, in light of recent events, namely a new virus spreading across the world in mere months, a group of scientists from Michigan State University has urged a rethink, arguing that solutions can only be found through broader views and collaborations. The team introduced a new concept called ‘metacoupling’ which lets scientists understand how actions nearby and far away – such as policies that regulate the sale of wild animals or affect the release of greenhouse gases – result in more than just cause and effect.