Nat Commun March 2023 PMID 36964138

Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders from distant disciplines.

Feng Shi, James Evans

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Mentions

22
Peak: 6 in Mar 2023
across 4 sources since Mar 2023

Extended reach

14,824
potential audience

Total likes

25

Video views

45

Mentions per month

Mar 2023 – Mar 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter11 posts
  • News8 articles
  • Facebook2 posts
  • YouTube1 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone emphasizes the importance of crossing disciplinary borders, with phrases like 'interesting read' and 'value of crossing disciplinary borders' indicating active interest. Some posts cite the article's point about surprising combinations leading to impact, showcasing engagement through reflection on interdisciplinary collaboration and its potential to produce groundbreaking results.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions recognize and support the significance of combining diverse scientific contents and contexts to generate impactful research, indicating a general consensus on the value of interdisciplinary work.

InterestHigh interest

Posts are highly engaged, with several describing the topic as 'interesting' or highlighting the importance of crossing disciplinary boundaries, reflecting strong curiosity.

EngagementModerate engagement

While some posts simply affirm the article's findings, others delve into the broader implications of interdisciplinary collaborations, showing moderate to deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions suggest that incorporating diverse disciplines can lead to impactful innovations, but some comments remain cautious or neutral about the direct influence of the research.

Abstract in brief

  • The study explores how surprising research breakthroughs, characterized by unexpected combinations of scientific contents and contexts, tend to have a significant impact, often ranking in the top 10% of citations.
  • Using a hypergraph model that analyzes tens of millions of research papers and patents across various fields, the research finds that these surprising advances usually occur when scientists from different disciplines collaborate or publish for audiences in distant fields, rather than within a single team.
  • This approach models science and technology as a complex network of high-dimensional research contents and contexts, providing a way to identify and measure groundbreaking, surprising innovations that push the frontiers of knowledge.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
The Innovation | Physics
@InnovationPhys · X

Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders from distant disciplines | Nature Communications https://t.co/KYMgTuwrjC

Mar 27, 2023 · 23 likes · 8 shares · 2,215 followers View post →
Adel Al Jord
@AdelAlJord · X

Interesting read! Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders from distant disciplines | Nature Communications https://t.co/cNUy6ZoIcc

Sep 26, 2024 · 2 likes · 389 followers View post →
emilio lindosa lucas
@411emilio · X

RT @InnovationPhys: Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders fr…

Mar 28, 2023 · 8 shares · 4,852 followers View post →
דוד David Preiss
@DavidDPreiss · X

On the value of crossing disciplinary borders

Apr 29, 2023 · 4,397 followers View post →
jayoujin
@innostudy · X

Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders from distant disciplines https://t.co/yI1uFSlrn3

Apr 7, 2023 · 1,357 followers View post →
Daniel AM
@dbdanieljnr · X

RT @InnovationPhys: Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders fr…

Mar 28, 2023 · 8 shares · 474 followers View post →

All mentions

Noke - cybernetics/acc
@Neurosyncretic_ · X

Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders from distant disciplines https://t.co/gGCB2qNsDF https://t.co/S8NhCcmVhW

Mar 25, 2025 · 302 followers View post →
Adel Al Jord
@AdelAlJord · X

Interesting read! Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders from distant disciplines | Nature Communications https://t.co/cNUy6ZoIcc

Sep 26, 2024 · 2 likes · 389 followers View post →
דוד David Preiss
@DavidDPreiss · X

On the value of crossing disciplinary borders

Apr 29, 2023 · 4,397 followers View post →
顺心顺意
@weilinghulu1 · X

RT @InnovationPhys: Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders fr…

Apr 7, 2023 · 8 shares · 50 followers View post →
jayoujin
@innostudy · X

Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders from distant disciplines https://t.co/yI1uFSlrn3

Apr 7, 2023 · 1,357 followers View post →
emilio lindosa lucas
@411emilio · X

RT @InnovationPhys: Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders fr…

Mar 28, 2023 · 8 shares · 4,852 followers View post →
Daniel AM
@dbdanieljnr · X

RT @InnovationPhys: Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders fr…

Mar 28, 2023 · 8 shares · 474 followers View post →
Fly4EverHi!
@Fly4everHi · X

RT @InnovationPhys: Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders fr…

Mar 28, 2023 · 8 shares · 343 followers View post →
esewe
@_elperrro · X

RT @InnovationPhys: Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders fr…

Mar 27, 2023 · 8 shares · 238 followers View post →
Kittiwat Kamlungsua
@KKamlungsua · X

RT @InnovationPhys: Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders fr…

Mar 27, 2023 · 8 shares · 50 followers View post →
The Innovation | Physics
@InnovationPhys · X

Surprising combinations of research contents and contexts are related to impact and emerge with scientific outsiders from distant disciplines | Nature Communications https://t.co/KYMgTuwrjC

Mar 27, 2023 · 23 likes · 8 shares · 2,215 followers View post →