Global Scientists Stunned by Decline in Transformative Research
In a stark contrast to the perceived golden age of science, experts are sounding the alarm on the decline of radical innovations that revolutionize our understanding of the world. The field has become increasingly characterized by incremental advancements and consolidation of existing knowledge rather than groundbreaking discoveries.
Tomas Rosko's social media project "Science is Fun" showcases memes illustrating complex equations through relatable everyday scenarios, poking fun at how difficult these concepts can be to grasp. While the content is engaging and entertaining, there is a growing concern among scholars that scientists are not pushing the boundaries as they once did during significant intervals of history.
The mid-20th century witnessed an impressive series of discovery after discovery that drastically altered our understanding of the world. Examples of such discoveries include nitrogen fixation, which enabled mass food production; the atomic structure and DNA; rocketry advancements; plate tectonics; radioelectric exploration; computing breakthroughs; antibiotic invention; general relativity research; nuclear chain reactions; quantum mechanics developments – listing a significant portion.
Today, while funding levels have skyrocketed with over 137.8 billion dollars allocated in 2020 alone to federal R&D and development, there is evidence suggesting that the quality of innovative work has been slipping away.
One study published recently using metrics based on patents and papers found a substantial decrease in breakthroughs – the percentage of publications categorized by their ability to "disrupt" existing fields rather than simply build upon what previously came before it. Disruptive research tends to lead in to discoveries that significantly improve productivity, raise wages, save human lives.
Leading scholar Katalin Karolikó attributes her mRNA vaccine development journey – instrumental in modern fighting COVID-19 - as an example of how hard it is for visionaries with transformative ideas to secure funding due largely to restrictive grant systems emphasizing small incremental contributions.
While such research has indeed slowed down, some do not believe it’s inevitable and suggests a need to reconsider policy approaches and practices within the scientific field. A significant amount of time now spent in academia could instead be used more productively as suggested by Katalin Karikó.
Ultimately, experts caution the public against jumping to conclusions that scientific innovation has flat-lined when so much progress remains yet in store for groundbreaking discoveries waiting for courageous pioneers to venture into.