Published in Science · View the paper (DOI)
A new study finds that early-career scientists are more likely to drive transformative breakthroughs in science, while seasoned researchers focus on integrating and extending existing knowledge. This shift has significant implications for policies governing funding, tenure, collaboration, and scientific talent.
Coverage from 2 institutions
- How researcher age influences likelihood of disruptive innovation in science American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) · May 7, 2026 · first to report
- The ‘nostalgia effect’: Scientists produce less disruptive work as they age University of Pittsburgh · May 7, 2026