Small Science Teams Are Becoming Less Common
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Small Science Teams Are Becoming Less Common

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The proportion of scientific papers with only one or two authors is decreasing, while research conducted by large teams is on the rise. This shift has implications for how science is done and who gets credit for discoveries.

The Nature Index data reveals a rapid decline in the percentage of publications authored by small teams. The trend indicates that science is increasingly being performed by larger collaborations rather than individual researchers or pairs working independently.

According to Nature, the proportion of one- and two-author papers within the Nature Index is shrinking. This change coincides with a surge in research conducted by large teams. While the article does not state *why* this shift is occurring, it highlights a significant alteration in the landscape of scientific publishing and collaboration.

The Nature Index tracks publications from a select group of high-impact journals to assess global science trends. The observed decrease in small-team authored papers suggests that securing funding and conducting research often requires the resources and expertise available within larger groups.

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