Is This Why Science Advances One Funeral at a Time?
Nautilus | Science • • science
Key Points:
- A new study analyzing over 12 million scientists from 1960 to 2020 proposes that scientific creativity evolves with age, distinguishing between "connective novelty" (recombining existing ideas) and "disruptive innovation" (groundbreaking breakthroughs).
- Findings indicate that as scientists age, their ability to produce disruptive innovations declines, while their capacity for connective novelty increases, reflecting a shift from revolutionary to incremental contributions.
- The researchers suggest this pattern arises because experienced scientists become attached to foundational ideas of their careers, making paradigm shifts more difficult but enabling them to link established concepts in new ways.
- Historical examples like Albert Einstein illustrate this trend: his early career featured revolutionary ideas, while later he resisted emerging quantum mechanics, embodying the transition from disruptor to gatekeeper.
- The study echoes Max Planck’s observation that scientific progress often happens "one funeral at a time," as established experts' attachment to past ideas can slow radical advancements.