Stop doing studies, people.

How many times have you heard/read/said this week: “A new study has shown…”

Well, this just in: A new study has shown that scientists are so oversaturated by studies and research results, that they are finding it hard to retain information from studies that could otherwise impact their work.

In other words: Too many studies are spoiling the broth.

It’s much harder for the scientists. When us non-scientists come across an article about a ‘new study’, we only read a small summary of the results (usually ‘studies show that you can eat chocolate AND stay thin’, or ‘kale benefits disproved in new study’, etc). The science-y people have to read the actual study, facts and all. It’d be like one of those fantasy books that has so many characters with complicated names, you have to keep starting the book over again to remember who’s who.

But much more important.

Speaking of studies: A study has shown that younger siblings are the better ones, pretty much.

This study of studies was published by researchers in California and Finland (they’re friends? Who knew?!). They proved that scientists forget statistics from recent studies they’ve read much more quickly than old studies they have studied.

“

We found that this has to do with the exponential growth in the number of publications, which inevitably accelerates the turnover of papers, due to the finite capacity of scholars to keep track of the scientific literature.” The study of studies concluded.

So. Much. Studying.

It also must have a disheartening effect on the scientists, knowing that any study they produce is probably going to be just one more studious drop in the ocean of studies. But don’t despair, professors. Keep up the good work. We believe in you.

Study on, scientists. Study on.