Explore the patterns and trends of modern terrorism over the past 50 years in this lecture by Aaron Clauset, Omidyar Fellow at the Santa Fe Institute. Delve into the scientific approach to understanding and forecasting terrorist events, examining severe attacks, terrorist groups, and the evolution of terrorism. Learn about the differences between secular and religious terrorism, potential future threats including cyber terrorism, and the direction of terrorism research. Gain insights into how terrorism, like natural disasters, follows patterns that can be studied and understood, potentially alleviating unfocused fear and contributing to more effective counter-terrorism strategies.