I think you are on to something. For example, many people see research in the sciences as the progress of a few unbelievable geniuses, with 99% of people contr

I think you are on to something. For example, many people see research in the sciences as the progress of a few unbelievable geniuses, with 99% of people contributing nothing and wasting their time. So, for example, progress in Physics is just waiting for the next Einstein to show up to make the next insanely brilliant advance. However, I think that is wrong. Einstein was obviously a huge genius, but with an IQ of 160, I calculate there are currently about 9 million (=3 billion * .003) people walking the earth with higher ones. The stars have to be properly aligned so that it is possible to make such an advance. It is no coincidence that Einstein's discoveries were made so soon after other physicists make the contributions necessary for them. If he hadn't done it, it would have been somebody else.