I read the top 100 scientific papers of all time | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The video explores the top 100 most cited scientific papers, focusing on their subjects, authors, and key techniques used.

Key Insights

• 🖐️ Citations play a significant role in determining the impact and success of scientific papers, with more citations indicating higher influence.
• 👂 The top 100 list is dominated by biology-related papers, highlighting the importance of biological research and techniques in the scientific community.
• 👂 Collaboration is common in scientific research, but single-author papers are still prevalent in the top 100 list, particularly in earlier years.
• 👨‍🔬 Techniques and methods used in scientific research, such as protein assays and DNA sequencing, are highly cited due to their widespread application in various fields.
• 👂 The list does not include many famous scientific breakthroughs, as it is focused more on methods and techniques rather than groundbreaking discoveries.
• 🏮 The inclusion of some papers in the top 100, such as determining handedness or simulating liquid water, may seem bizarre, but these papers contribute to specific fields and have received significant citations.
• 👂 The list reflects the evolution of science over time, with an increasing focus on computer-based techniques and software development.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What does it mean for a scientific paper to be in the top 100 most cited list?

The top 100 most cited scientific papers are determined based on the number of times they have been referenced by other scientific papers. This indicates their influence and impact in the scientific community.

Q: Why are the majority of papers in the top 100 related to biology?

Biology dominates the list because many of the papers describe techniques used in biology labs and advancements in studying living beings. These papers are widely referenced due to their practical applications in biological research.

Q: Why are there single-author papers in the top 100 list?

While scientific research is often collaborative, the top 100 list includes a significant number of single-author papers. This may be because certain breakthroughs or techniques were achieved by individual scientists working independently.

Q: How many citations does a paper need to be in the top 100?

To be considered one of the top 100 most cited scientific papers, a paper needs to have over 12,000 citations. This is an extraordinary number considering that the majority of published papers receive fewer than 10 citations.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The top 100 most cited scientific papers are determined by the number of citations they have received, indicating their impact and relevance in the scientific community.

• The majority of the papers in the top 100 are related to biology and techniques used in biology labs, followed by physical chemistry.

• Many of the papers are focused on specific techniques or methods used in scientific research, such as protein measurement, DNA sequencing, and RNA isolation.

• Single-author papers are surprisingly common in the top 100 list, though the frequency decreases over time.