科学领域创新呈减少趋势 2023届高考英语二轮复习外刊阅读训练

2023届高考英语二轮复习外刊阅读训练：科学领域创新呈减少趋势 ——改编自Papers and patents are becoming less challenging of orthodoxy Scientific and technological progress has resulted in a proliferation of ideas, papers and patents. However, there has been a documented decline in innovation within specific fields. A recent study looked to determine if this decline applied to science and technology in general. The researchers analysed 45 million papers and 3.9 million patents published and filed between 1945 and 2010. They used the CD index to quantify whether a paper or patent was "consolidating" (low CD score) or "disruptive" (high CD score). Consolidating work serves to propel science forward along its existing trajectory, while disruptive work fundamentally alters a field's trajectory or creates a new field altogether. The average CD score for papers has fallen by between 92% and 100% since 1945, and for patents between 79% and 92%. This decline is not simply due to changing publication, citation or authorship practices. One hypothesis is the "low-hanging-fruit theory," that all the easy findings have been discovered. However, the decline has been comparable in all big fields of science and technology. Another idea is that the decline stems from lower quality published work. However, even papers in premier publications and Nobel-prize-winning discoveries showed a similar downward trend. The researchers argue that scientists and inventors are producing work based on narrower foundations. As the amount of published science grows, it becomes harder to form creative connections between disparate fields. However, the researchers maintain there is room for optimism, as there are still highly disruptive discoveries being made. Humanity does not appear to be reaching the end of science. 【重点词汇】 1. Scientific /ˌsaɪənˈtɪfɪk/ [adj.] 科学的 2. Technological /ˌtek.nəˈlɑː.dʒɪ.kəl/ [adj.] 技术的 3. Progress /ˈprɒɡ.res/ [n.] 进步 4. Proliferation /prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃən/ [n.] 激增 5. Idea /aɪˈdiːə/ [n.] 想法 6. Paper /ˈpeɪpər/ [