View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Aging and the narrowing of scientific innovation.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Aging and the narrowing of scientific innovation.
Authors: Cui, Haochuan (AUTHOR), Lin, Yiling (AUTHOR), Wu, Lingfei (AUTHOR), Evans, James A. (AUTHOR)
Source: Science. 5/7/2026, Vol. 392 Issue 6798, p588-591. 4p.
Subjects: Originality, Research funding, Creative ability, Professions, Scientific development, Paradigm (Theory of knowledge), Academic tenure, Theorists
Abstract: Scientific careers today are marked by growing polarization: A small number of scientists now remain active and influential for longer than ever (1), whereas many others pass through research as temporary workers (2). Lengthened training periods, the elimination of mandatory retirement, and funding systems that reward experience have concentrated resources among senior scientists (3, 4). As science becomes increasingly dependent on its aging core, a central question arises: How does academic age influence creativity? The answer has long divided scholars. Analyzing more than 12.5 million scientists who published between 1960 and 2020, we find that novelty—the linking of previously unconnected ideas—increases with academic age, whereas disruption—the replacement of established ideas with new ones—declines. These and other findings invite reflection on potential implications for policy, such as funding, tenure, and promotion systems; immigration and mobility; workforce development; and incentives for (and barriers to) collaboration and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Science is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 193588356
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Aging and the narrowing of scientific innovation.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cui%2C+Haochuan%22">Cui, Haochuan</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lin%2C+Yiling%22">Lin, Yiling</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Lingfei%22">Wu, Lingfei</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Evans%2C+James+A%2E%22">Evans, James A.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Science%22">Science</searchLink>. 5/7/2026, Vol. 392 Issue 6798, p588-591. 4p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Originality%22">Originality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Creative+ability%22">Creative ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professions%22">Professions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+development%22">Scientific development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Paradigm+%28Theory+of+knowledge%29%22">Paradigm (Theory of knowledge)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+tenure%22">Academic tenure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Theorists%22">Theorists</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Scientific careers today are marked by growing polarization: A small number of scientists now remain active and influential for longer than ever (1), whereas many others pass through research as temporary workers (2). Lengthened training periods, the elimination of mandatory retirement, and funding systems that reward experience have concentrated resources among senior scientists (3, 4). As science becomes increasingly dependent on its aging core, a central question arises: How does academic age influence creativity? The answer has long divided scholars. Analyzing more than 12.5 million scientists who published between 1960 and 2020, we find that novelty—the linking of previously unconnected ideas—increases with academic age, whereas disruption—the replacement of established ideas with new ones—declines. These and other findings invite reflection on potential implications for policy, such as funding, tenure, and promotion systems; immigration and mobility; workforce development; and incentives for (and barriers to) collaboration and innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Science is the property of American Association for the Advancement of Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=193588356
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1126/science.ady8732
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 4
        StartPage: 588
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Originality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Creative ability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professions
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scientific development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Paradigm (Theory of knowledge)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic tenure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Theorists
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Aging and the narrowing of scientific innovation.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Cui, Haochuan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Lin, Yiling
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wu, Lingfei
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Evans, James A.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 07
              M: 05
              Text: 5/7/2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 00368075
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 392
            – Type: issue
              Value: 6798
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Science
              Type: main
ResultId 1