As researchers age, they produce less disruptive work

Tension Between Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity

• Several comments stress that unifying QM and GR is intrinsically hard, not just an “old Einstein” problem.
• Some argue a unified theory must exist if the universe is lawful and both current theories are approximately correct, since using them together yields contradictions.
• Others note we don’t know if a “theory of everything” even exists; there’s no strong scientific basis to assume it.
• Conceptual tensions are highlighted (e.g., gravity of a particle in spatial superposition, nonlocality, collapse vs. classical fields, difficulty of quantizing gravity).
• There is debate over whether Einstein was a “gatekeeper” against QM or a key contributor whose skepticism productively exposed issues like nonlocality.

Aging, Disruption, and Scientific Practice

• Many see the shift from disruptive to conservative work as driven more by incentives and social roles than pure biology.
• Younger researchers are said to be more willing to take risks, lack strong priors on “what’s impossible,” and are still building reputations.
• Older scientists often have more to lose, more administrative and funding responsibilities, families, and less appetite for high-risk projects.
• Mental peak around 25–35 and “mental ruts” from long time in one field are mentioned; switching fields is suggested as a way to regain fresh perspectives.
• Classic “explore vs. exploit”: early career = exploration and potentially disruptive work with low pay; later = safer, better-funded work.

Gatekeeping, Institutions, and “Science by Funeral”

• The “science advances one funeral at a time” idea is both endorsed and criticized.
• Examples are given of powerful figures blocking alternative ideas for decades; others argue scientific history has many counterexamples and not all progress is a rebellion against elders.
• Institutions and grant systems are said to reward incremental, buzzword-aligned work over disruptive ideas; being in constant opposition is described as exhausting.

Technology, Generations, and Attitudes to Change

• Douglas Adams’ “three rules” about how different ages perceive new tech resonate with many, especially regarding AI, social media, and short-form video.
• Several commenters note becoming more skeptical with age, viewing new tech (crypto, AI, smartphones) through early-life values (e.g., surveillance concerns) rather than pure novelty.
• Others argue novelty itself declines; repeated hype cycles and negative side effects dampen enthusiasm for disruption.