The idea of prediction within limits is consistent with the sand pile and avalanche examples (both are routinely predicted within limits) as well as with the propagation of the firing of neurons. All of these ate predictable within limits, once the system boundaries are stated. I think that the non-scientist author understand this, as do the authors of the research to which the article refers.

I should also add the idea that we could accurately predict the behavior of chaotic systems’ if we could only measure and calculate enough of the variables and their interactions is, in my view, fundamentally erroneous. This represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the meaning of a chaotic system.

More information on self-organizing networks and the power laws and phase shifts that accompany them can be found studying the topology of networks. Barabasi’s book, “Linked” is a good starting point.

As for the sand piles mentioned in the article, just because we haven’t yet been able to predict when the ‘avalanche’ occurs does not mean that it’s impossible predict. It means we don’t know how to predict it.