Part 3/6:
Further studies have found similar patterns when looking at the novelty and disruptiveness of scientific work. The number of new connections between technology sectors in US patents has been declining since the 1960s, while the narrowness of inventions has increased. Analyses of 45 million papers worldwide have shown a noticeable decrease in the number of disruptive ideas, even in top journals like Nature and Science.
Possible Causes
The decline in scientific progress is not due to a lack of funding. R&D spending as a share of GDP has remained relatively stable over the decades. Nor is it simply a matter of "low-hanging fruit" having been picked - the problem is global and systemic, affecting many different disciplines, countries, and economic sectors.
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