The age at which innovators make important contributions increases with the amount and
complexity of knowledge in their field. During revolutions, existing knowledge becomes
less important, reducing the age at which important contributions are made. During
periods of ordinary science, knowledge tends to accumulate. Data on Nobel laureates in
chemistry, medicine, and physics support these hypotheses. The age at which the
laureates do their prize winning research declines during revolutions. We also find that
contributors to new paradigms do their prize winning research earlier than others. In
periods of ordinary science, the age at which the laureates do their prize winning research
tends to increase. |