[onedoug]

Like most scientists who make their contributions early....

Of course there are exceptions to everything, though I, being 57, can't think of any just now.

[aruanan]

Like most scientists who make their contributions early....

This is a truism. They had insights early on. Nowadays it's when they are post-docs. After that, if they stay in academia, they're too busy using the fame from that to create and consolidate their academic fiefdom and to continue its funding to devote themselves to anything radically different. They've found their barrel and they've devoted the rest of their lives to digging out of it everything they can.