diff --git a/src/webui/data.py b/src/webui/data.py
index 0307e4d..97875ae 100644
--- a/src/webui/data.py
+++ b/src/webui/data.py
@@ -508,18 +508,18 @@ def get_author_network_full(db: Database) -> dict:
             "org": aff, "draft_count": cnt, "drafts": drafts, "avg_score": avg
         }
 
-    # Build node set: authors with 2+ drafts OR 1+ co-authorship
+    # Build node set: authors with meaningful collaboration (2+ shared drafts)
     node_set = set()
     edges = []
     for a, b, shared in pairs:
-        if shared >= 1:
+        if shared >= 2:
             node_set.add(a)
             node_set.add(b)
             edges.append({"source": a, "target": b, "weight": shared})
 
-    # Also include authors with 2+ drafts even if no co-authorships
+    # Also include authors with 3+ drafts even if no co-authorships
     for name, info in author_info.items():
-        if info["draft_count"] >= 2:
+        if info["draft_count"] >= 3:
             node_set.add(name)
 
     nodes = []
diff --git a/src/webui/templates/authors.html b/src/webui/templates/authors.html
index 1c041c2..6adfef2 100644
--- a/src/webui/templates/authors.html
+++ b/src/webui/templates/authors.html
@@ -276,8 +276,12 @@ const network = {{ network | tojson }};
         c.members.forEach(m => { clusterOf[m] = c.id; });
     });
 
-    // Prepare simulation data (deep copy to avoid mutating)
-    const nodes = network.nodes.map(n => ({...n}));
+    // Prepare simulation data (deep copy + initial positions to prevent explosion)
+    const nodes = network.nodes.map((n, i) => ({
+        ...n,
+        x: width / 2 + (Math.cos(i * 2 * Math.PI / network.nodes.length) * Math.min(width, height) * 0.35),
+        y: height / 2 + (Math.sin(i * 2 * Math.PI / network.nodes.length) * Math.min(width, height) * 0.35),
+    }));
     const links = network.edges.map(e => ({
         source: e.source,
         target: e.target,
@@ -288,18 +292,23 @@ const network = {{ network | tojson }};
     const maxDrafts = d3.max(nodes, n => n.draft_count) || 1;
     const rScale = d3.scaleSqrt().domain([1, maxDrafts]).range([4, 22]);
 
-    // Force simulation
+    // Force simulation — tuned for large graphs (498 nodes, 1142 edges)
+    const nNodes = nodes.length;
+    const chargeStrength = nNodes > 300 ? -60 : nNodes > 100 ? -100 : -120;
+
     const simulation = d3.forceSimulation(nodes)
         .force('link', d3.forceLink(links)
             .id(d => d.id)
-            .distance(d => 80 / Math.sqrt(d.weight))
-            .strength(d => 0.3 * d.weight)
+            .distance(d => 40 + 60 / Math.sqrt(d.weight))
+            .strength(d => Math.min(0.15, 0.05 * d.weight))
         )
-        .force('charge', d3.forceManyBody().strength(-120).distanceMax(300))
+        .force('charge', d3.forceManyBody().strength(chargeStrength).distanceMax(400))
         .force('center', d3.forceCenter(width / 2, height / 2))
-        .force('collision', d3.forceCollide().radius(d => rScale(d.draft_count) + 3))
-        .force('x', d3.forceX(width / 2).strength(0.03))
-        .force('y', d3.forceY(height / 2).strength(0.03));
+        .force('collision', d3.forceCollide().radius(d => rScale(d.draft_count) + 2).strength(0.7))
+        .force('x', d3.forceX(width / 2).strength(0.02))
+        .force('y', d3.forceY(height / 2).strength(0.02))
+        .alphaDecay(0.02)
+        .velocityDecay(0.4);
 
     // Zoom behavior
     const g = svg.append('g');
@@ -462,12 +471,13 @@ const network = {{ network | tojson }};
         // Reset org dropdown
         orgSelect.value = '';
 
+        // Highlight matching nodes and dim others
         node.select('circle')
             .transition().duration(300)
-            .attr('opacity', n => members.has(n.id) ? 1 : 0.08);
+            .attr('opacity', n => members.has(n.id) || members.has(n.name) ? 1 : 0.08);
         node.selectAll('text')
             .transition().duration(300)
-            .attr('opacity', n => members.has(n.id) ? 1 : 0.08);
+            .attr('opacity', n => members.has(n.id) || members.has(n.name) ? 1 : 0.08);
         link.transition().duration(300)
             .attr('stroke-opacity', l => {
                 const sid = typeof l.source === 'object' ? l.source.id : l.source;
@@ -477,22 +487,28 @@ const network = {{ network | tojson }};
 
         // Highlight cluster card
         document.querySelectorAll('.cluster-card').forEach(c => {
-            c.classList.toggle('border-blue-500', c.dataset.clusterId == clusterId);
+            const isActive = c.dataset.clusterId == clusterId;
+            c.style.borderColor = isActive ? '#3b82f6' : '';
         });
 
-        // Zoom to fit cluster members
-        const clusterNodes = nodes.filter(n => members.has(n.id));
-        if (clusterNodes.length > 0) {
+        // Zoom to fit cluster members (only if simulation has settled enough)
+        const clusterNodes = nodes.filter(n =>
+            (members.has(n.id) || members.has(n.name)) && isFinite(n.x) && isFinite(n.y));
+        if (clusterNodes.length > 1) {
             const xs = clusterNodes.map(n => n.x);
             const ys = clusterNodes.map(n => n.y);
-            const x0 = Math.min(...xs) - 50, x1 = Math.max(...xs) + 50;
-            const y0 = Math.min(...ys) - 50, y1 = Math.max(...ys) + 50;
-            const scale = Math.min(width / (x1 - x0), height / (y1 - y0), 3);
-            const cx = (x0 + x1) / 2, cy = (y0 + y1) / 2;
-            svg.transition().duration(500).call(
-                zoom.transform,
-                d3.zoomIdentity.translate(width/2, height/2).scale(scale).translate(-cx, -cy)
-            );
+            const pad = 80;
+            const x0 = Math.min(...xs) - pad, x1 = Math.max(...xs) + pad;
+            const y0 = Math.min(...ys) - pad, y1 = Math.max(...ys) + pad;
+            const dx = x1 - x0, dy = y1 - y0;
+            if (dx > 0 && dy > 0) {
+                const scale = Math.min(width / dx, height / dy, 3);
+                const cx = (x0 + x1) / 2, cy = (y0 + y1) / 2;
+                svg.transition().duration(750).call(
+                    zoom.transform,
+                    d3.zoomIdentity.translate(width/2, height/2).scale(scale).translate(-cx, -cy)
+                );
+            }
         }
     };