A book review examining the history of Nature journal and how it became one of the most prestigious scientific publications. Longer summary

This book review explores the history of the scientific journal Nature, focusing on how it gained its prestigious status. The review is structured in three parts: Nature's origins in 1869, its first century of building reputation, and the shift towards prestige in the 1970s. The author argues that Nature's success was due to factors like publication speed, network effects, and survival through financial difficulties. The review also discusses the broader context of scientific publishing and the rise of prestige in the 1970s, suggesting that the founding of the journal Cell in 1974 may have been a pivotal moment in this shift. Shorter summary

Scott proposes a 'low-hanging fruit' model to explain trends in scientific discovery, using a foraging analogy to illustrate why early scientists make more discoveries and at a younger age. Longer summary

Scott Alexander proposes a model to explain several trends in scientific discovery over time, using an analogy of foragers in a camp. The model suggests that early scientists make more discoveries than later ones, amateurs are more likely to contribute early on, and the age of discovery increases over time. These trends are less pronounced for brilliant scientists and don't apply to new fields. The model provides a mechanical explanation for trends often attributed to political factors, though Scott estimates it accounts for about 75% of the effect. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander analyzes a photo of Alois Alzheimer's research team, discussing the reasons for their scientific productivity and theorizing about patterns of scientific progress. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses a historic photograph of Alois Alzheimer and his colleagues, noting the concentration of scientific talent in that group and era. He explores reasons for this concentration, including new histological staining techniques, the geographic and temporal context of fin de siecle Central Europe, and Emil Kraepelin's organizational skills. Scott theorizes that scientific progress often comes from exploiting a fruitful paradigm until it's exhausted, rather than continuously developing new ones. The post concludes with a brief history of Alzheimer's institute, including its unfortunate involvement with Nazi eugenics and its post-war reformation. Shorter summary