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An extrapolation of its present rate of growth reveals…

“An extrapolation of its present rate of growth reveals that in the not too distant future Physical Review will fill bookshelves at a speed exceeding that of light. This is not forbidden by general relativity since no information is being conveyed.” quote by David Mermin
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“An extrapolation of its present rate of growth reveals that in the not too distant future Physical Review will fill bookshelves at a speed exceeding that of light. This is not forbidden by general relativity since no information is being conveyed.”

David Mermin

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The growth of scientific publishing could outpace even the speed of light, but it doesn't violate relativity because no info travels faster than light.

In simple terms: Publishing may expand faster than light speed, but no info is transmitted.

Key Takeaway

Focus on quality over quantity.

Themes

science technology future information physics

Mood

concerned analytical

Type

observational critical

When to use this quote

  • academic libraries
  • digital archives
  • research dissemination
  • policy planning

Key Concepts

exponential growth relativity information theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can we ensure valuable content amid rapid growth?
  • What limits should we set on publishing volume?
A Different Perspective

Even if speed is high, relevance can suffer.

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