my @sorted =  sort { $$a[0] <=> $$b[0] } @{$simulations[$simulation_index]->{"SPECIAL"} };
$simulations[$simulation_index]->{"SPECIAL"} =\@sorted;

##</code><code>##

$simulations[$simulation_index]->{"SPECIAL"} = \{sort {$$a[0] <=> $$b[0] } @{$simulations[$simulation_index]->"SPECIAL"} }};