As our success depends on the age: the opinion of scholars

Charles Darwin was 29 years old when he created the theory of natural selection, Einstein published his major works in 26, and Mozart wrote his first symphony at age 8. Are most significant breakthroughs occur at a young age - the journalist tried to find out The New York Times.

Benedict Carey (Benedict Carey)

American science journalist, bestselling author of "How do we learn."

Researchers studying the achievements of famous people have long noticed that in many areas the most significant advances are made in his younger years. However, analysis of the life and career of many scientists, recently published in the journal Science, found that it has nothing to do with ageQuantifying the evolution of individual scientific impact. It turns out, the case together factors such as the nature, persistence and luck. And it is typical for the different fields of activity - from music and film to science.

The main thing - do not give up. When you rent, you lose the ability to creatively approach to the problem.

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Albert-László Barabási (Albert-Laszlo Barabasi), a well-known physicist at Northeastern University in Boston

At first, the researchers considered only the physicists. They ransacked the literature of modern editions to 1893, selected 2856 of physicists who worked for 20 years or longer, and published in at least one job every five years. It is often cited works accepted for the most influential and analyzed how many of them had in his career scientist.

Indeed, significant discoveries are often made in his youth. But it turned out that just with age is in no way connected. The thing is productivity: Young scientists conduct more experiments and this increases the likelihood of discovering something really important. That is, if you work with the same productivity, you can make a breakthrough in the 25 and 50 years.

It is not necessary to write off and luck. It is very important to choose the right project and the right time to work on it. However, whether there is such a good choice of a recognized contribution to science - it depends more on one component, which scientists named Q.

Q includes such diverse factors as the level of intelligence, energy, motivation, openness to new ideas and the ability to work with others.

Simply put, it's the ability to get the most out of what to work: see the relevance in routine experiment and be able to express his ideas.

"Factor Q - a very interesting phenomenon, because theoretically, it includes the ability that people are not in themselves notice or appreciate - says Hembrik Zach (Zach Hambrick), professor of psychology at the University of Michigan. - For example, the ability to articulate their thoughts. Take at least a science, as a mathematical psychology. You can publish an interesting study, but if it is written, difficult and confusing (this is often the case), then you are unlikely to will achieve scientific recognition. No one just does not understand what you write. "

It is surprising that the Q, according to researchers, does not change with time. Contrary to popular belief, the experience does not increase the ability to find something new and important in the current work. "It's amazing - says Barabási. - We found that all three factors - the Q, productivity and success - do not depend on each other. "

Summarizing these results, the researchers concluded that successful discoveries are made while a combination of three factors: the specific qualities of the scientist, Q, and good luck. And age is not so important.

status - perhaps with age is only one factor influencing the success may vary. When a scientist has established a reputation, it's not so bad to take risks.

Biologist Jean Baptiste Lamarck, for example, was 57 years old when he first published his work on evolution, and the most significant work "Philosophy of Zoology" he published only 66 years old. This example reminds us that it's not age, and social factors. Usually scientists publish new controversial theory, when they become older and have a great store of knowledge and reputation.