"Assessing the Decline of Scientific Breakthroughs"

A recent study suggests a decline in disruptive scientific discoveries since 1945 based on changing citation patterns, but some scientists argue that this may not necessarily reflect a decrease in real breakthroughs. The decline in disruptiveness could be attributed to various factors such as changes in funding, shifts in citation practices, and the nature of scientific research. While the study's findings raise concerns about the lack of shake-ups in science, it also highlights the complexity of measuring disruption and the importance of not conflating disruptiveness with importance in scientific advancements.