Friday, September 11, 2026
Science

When bad luck isn't random: Understanding 'zemblanity'

In 2025, associate professor Christian Busch's Palisades home burned down in one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history. Busch says the disaster wasn't blind bad luck; it was a clear case of "zemblanity," which he defines as a patterned and preventable form of misfortune built into...

When bad luck isn't random: Understanding 'zemblanity'
Image: Phys.org
In 2025, associate professor Christian Busch's Palisades home burned down in one of the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles history. Busch says the disaster wasn't blind bad luck; it was a clear case of "zemblanity," which he defines as a patterned and preventable form of misfortune built into the way a system, organization or individual operates.

Originally published at Phys.org

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