Scientific papers, known as “sleeping beauties,” often receive little attention initially, then become highly cited years later. These papers contain groundbreaking discoveries that may have been overlooked for various reasons. Examples include the work of Herbert Freundlich and William Hummers, whose papers were rediscovered decades later due to their relevance to new technologies. The concept of sleeping beauties is prevalent in hard sciences like physics and chemistry, with examples such as Albert Einstein’s famous paper challenging quantum mechanics. Advances in technology and interdisciplinary collaboration are key to uncovering and furthering knowledge, with the potential for AI systems to help discover new hypotheses buried in the vast scientific literature.
https://worksinprogress.co/issue/waking-up-sciences-sleeping-beauties/