Statistical characteristics of breakthrough discoveries in science using the metaphor of black and white swans

Carl J. Zeng; Eric P. Qi; Simon S. Li; H. Eugene Stanley; Fred Y. Ye

doi:10.1016/j.physa.2017.05.041

Author(s)

Carl J. Zeng
Eric P. Qi
Simon S. Li
H. Eugene Stanley
Fred Y. Ye

Detail(s)

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	40-46
Number of pages	7
Journal / Publication	Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications
Volume	487
Online published	12 Jun 2017
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2017
Externally published	Yes

Link(s)

DOI	DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physa.2017.05.041 Final Published version
	Check@CityULib
Link to Scopus	https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85021966582&origin=recordpage
Permanent Link	https://scholars.cityu.edu.hk/en/publications/publication(2b1074ce-4473-47d5-ab1f-72fe1a74f271).html

Abstract

A publication that reports a breakthrough discovery in a particular scientific field is referred to as a “black swan”, and the most highly-cited papers previously published in the same field “white swans”. Important scientific progress occurs when “white swans” meet a “black swan”, and the citation patterns of the “white swans” change. This metaphor combines scientific discoveries and scientometric data and suggests that breakthrough scientific discoveries are either “black swans” or “grey-black swans”.

Research Area(s)

Black swan, Breakthrough discovery, Grey swan, Scientific discovery, White swan

Citation Format(s)

[ RIS ] [ BibTeX ]

Statistical characteristics of breakthrough discoveries in science using the metaphor of black and white swans. / Zeng, Carl J.; Qi, Eric P.; Li, Simon S. et al.

In: Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Vol. 487, 01.12.2017, p. 40-46.

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews (RGC: 21, 22, 62) › 21_Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Zeng, CJ, Qi, EP, Li, SS, Stanley, HE & Ye, FY 2017, 'Statistical characteristics of breakthrough discoveries in science using the metaphor of black and white swans', Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, vol. 487, pp. 40-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physa.2017.05.041

Zeng, C. J., Qi, E. P., Li, S. S., Stanley, H. E., & Ye, F. Y. (2017). Statistical characteristics of breakthrough discoveries in science using the metaphor of black and white swans. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 487, 40-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physa.2017.05.041

Zeng CJ, Qi EP, Li SS, Stanley HE, Ye FY. Statistical characteristics of breakthrough discoveries in science using the metaphor of black and white swans. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications. 2017 Dec 1;487:40-46. Epub 2017 Jun 12. doi: 10.1016/j.physa.2017.05.041

Zeng, Carl J. ; Qi, Eric P. ; Li, Simon S. et al. / Statistical characteristics of breakthrough discoveries in science using the metaphor of black and white swans. In: Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications. 2017 ; Vol. 487. pp. 40-46.