Nobel Prize worhty work at the age of 30

[marlon]

Just want to share with you the content of an article that i read this morning on the train. Research groups (i believe in the UK) have done extensive studies among scientists that concluded that you reach your TOP level at around 30. We all know that Einstein was around 25-27 when he wrote his most important articles but the researchers argue that nowadays it takes more effort and more study-time to reach the level at which you are able to do new innovating stuff. So guys, you know your deadline :)

regards
marlon

ps: i will try to find a link to the results of this research

 

[dextercioby]

In 1905,Einstein was 26.In 1900,Planck was 42.In 1921,Pauli was 20.In 1926,Schrödinger was 35.In 1925,Heisenberg was 24,etc.

So it varies quite significantly,Marlon.

Daniel.

 

[Joel]

9 (soon 8) years to go! I got plenty of time. That I havn't began my degree yet, is only a slight complication.

Ps. Was that a study only about phycists or mortals as well?

 

[Grogs]

Is 30 a peak, or the beginning of a plateau? If so, it means I'm on a downhill slide.

 

[dextercioby]

It should be a peak,but as I've proven by giving examples,it's not a rule.

Daniel.

 

[moose]

People who think all the time and always train their brain can sustain or even build on what they have at the age of 30.

 

[Pengwuino]

Bah! so I am useless for another 11 years >:(

 

[marlon]

Bah! so I am useless for another 11 years >:(

well, you can always try to break the limits, right ?

me, i still got 5 years to go...but time passes by very fast once you started college...

marlon

 

[Math Is Hard]

It should be a peak,but as I've proven by giving examples,it's not a rule.

I expect that we will be able to enjoy at least a good fifty years or so of your brilliance, Daniel. I am hoping, anyway

 

[marlon]

I expect that we will be able to enjoy at least a good fifty years or so of your brilliance, Daniel. I am hoping, anyway

That's nice

marlon

 

[Math Is Hard]

That's nice

marlon

I expect this from you, too, Marlon - but I figure we'll lose you to Hollywood when you become a famous actor!

 

[marlon]

I expect this from you, too, Marlon - but I figure we'll lose you to Hollywood when you become a famous actor!

well, how about an academy award instead of a Nobel Prize...I will lose the latter to dexter anyway, so...

marlon

 

[dextercioby]

I expect that we will be able to enjoy at least a good fifty years or so of your brilliance, Daniel. I am hoping, anyway

*flattered* Thank you, MIH. I'll do my best to live up to expectations.

As for you, Marlon,you already have a few laps ahead of me...

Daniel.

 

[cronxeh]

my professor of engineering said roughly the same thing - that profs in math/science reach their peak at about 25-30 and he drew a graph that started off at 0, peaked at around 30 and then went down to 0 again - sort of like a half circle

interestingly enough when he was drawing an engineer's graph he simply drew a straight line y=x with a positive slope, starting from 0

 

[marlon]

interestingly enough when he was drawing an engineer's graph he simply drew a straight line y=x with a positive slope, starting from 0

your prof was just joking, trust me

marlon

 

[cronxeh]

yes perhaps. he is a mech eng prof, and his explanation was that 'an experienced engineer will now if something would work or not without even making calculations'

 

[marlon]

okelidokeli

marlon

 

[cronxeh]

was that more of a sarcasmic 'okelidokeli' ?

 

[Astronuc]

Perhaps some peak intellectually at 30, but I would disagree with this in general. Possibly those who achieve Nobel Prize worthy work peak, i.e. they go on to other things.

I have observed older colleagues who seem to begin to coast at some point, or who seem to become complacent and do not wish to struggle to learn new things.

As for me, some of my best work has come during my 40's, and the best is yet to come. There are a host of challenging technical issues to be addressed and new concepts to develop. There are still many problems to be understood and solved, and I am still learning, and I will do so for the rest of my life.

My paternal grandfather was still productive beyond 100.

 

[dextercioby]

Okay,Evo,what was wrong with getting personal?She called me "Daniel"...

Daniel.

 

[Galileo]

One of the things I love about physics/maths (or exact sciences in general) is that you can keep doing it for a long time. Lorentz continued to contribute to physics even when he was around 70 or so. Marten Durieux, a physicist here in Leiden of respectable age is still incredibly active where people from other fields would've retired long ago. Lots of 'old' people are in the mathematics department as well who are incredibly active and I've never seen one getting senile. It's like mathematics help you stay young.

 

[Lisa!]

Too bad.I don't have time,I plan to die at the age of 28.

 

[Kalimaa23]

Hmm, still get ten years to go.
For some I reason I still don't feel stressed out

Seriously though, I think it's more a matter of having established yourself in the research community. Once you get to a respectable (tenured?) position, the urge to prove yourself becomes smaller... It's mostly a personal thing, and I think most people if willing are able to do great things well beyond 30.