All of that may be true, but there's also the uncomfortable fact that the pickings of major discoveries are much fewer than they were in previous generations.

All of that may be true, but there's also the uncomfortable fact that the pickings of major discoveries are much fewer than they were in previous generations. Not to say that the great scientists (or their assistants) weren't geniuses, but as our knowledge advances it gets exponentially more difficult to make meaningful contributions, much less significant discoveries.