How does science make its great leaps forward? The academic establishment—and the funding bodies—will tell you that all the important advances take place through research at universities and institutes. But then they would say that, wouldn't they? The reality is more surprising. Look at the history of science and you will see that it progresses mostly through accident or rebellion—or as a result of somebody's hobby. Innovators often come from fields outside those in which they make their mark. It seems that a fresh mind, or a viewpoint born of a free spirit, is best placed to offer revolutionary insights—something that the people who fund science consistently fail to take account.
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