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Are groundbreaking science discoveries becoming harder to find?

Researchers are arguing over whether ‘disruptive’ or ‘novel’ science is waning – and how to remedy the problem.
By
  1. David Matthews

    1. David Matthews is a freelance writer based in Berlin.

Cartoon illustration that shows pillars of great scientists from the past and present, with other scientists wandering through the pillars, and trying to reach their heights.

Illustration: David Parkins

Russell Funk had no idea how much his work would strike a nerve. But then came a blizzard of news stories and supportive e-mails from hundreds of scientists — along with a critical backlash.

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Nature 641, 836-839 (2025)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-01548-4

Updates & Corrections

  • Correction 22 May 2025: This feature misquoted Dashun Wang in his comment about learning to be at the cutting edge.

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