A great new paper in Science about the science of science
Measurements indicate that scholars are risk-averse, preferring to study topics related to their current expertise, which constrains the potential of future discoveries. Those willing to break this pattern engage in riskier careers but become more likely to make major breakthroughs. Overall, the highest-impact science is grounded in conventional combinations of prior work but features unusual combinations.
Although more and more papers are being produced, new ideas are stagnating since 2000.
I believe it is the shift from infrastructure to project-based funding, along with the general leveling of academic education…