self-organized criticality in the Bak–Tang–Wiesenfeld model
the pile
avalanche sizes (log-log)
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Click anywhere on the grid to drop grains. When a cell reaches 4, it topples — sending one grain to each neighbor. The cascade that follows is an avalanche. After enough drops, the system organizes itself to a critical state where avalanches of all sizes occur, following a power law. No tuning required.