Since nodes in Ethereum are decentralized and distributed, how does the system ensure consistency regarding the state of the blockchain.
I am aware that a validator, once they find the answer to the POW, mints a block and broadcasts it. Other nodes then verify and accept.
But in a distributed network, what is causing multiple similar broadcast happening at different edges of the network, such that different nodes receives different things?
Also i can imagine it takes a while for a broadcast to spread across the network, in between that time, what is stopping a node who has not received the updated state to process another operation that could leave it in an inconsistent state?