It’s often stated that breakthroughs cannot be scheduled. I’m here to let you know that this is twentieth century thinking. The statement assumes that this word “breakthrough” is unambiguously defined. This web site post questions that assumption and offers one step-by-step guide to achieving a breakthrough. My focus is on batteries, but with some tweaks, one could adapt this for other areas also.
Let me begin with saying that within the last century there was clearly a feeling which a breakthrough was regarded as when, by way of example, you discover a whole new material for li ion battery pack that has, say, higher energy or perhaps is safer or something. Those kinds of breakthroughs then browse through the traditional rigmarole of publications, licensing, technology transfer, peer appreciation, awards, products and all of those other boring items that takes two decades to get settled. In age of Twitter, Facebook, Uber, and, Snapchat, these kinds of time frame is perfect for the folks unwilling to search to new methods of achieving breakthroughs. If you belong to this “old” club, I suggest you move on. This guide is going to be of no use for your needs.
But exactly what is a breakthrough anyway? In terms of I understand there is no body that proclaims something a breakthrough (a Pope for science?). And is there really such a thing as an eureka moment? Although you may have one, it will be per year in order to reproduce the experiment and acquire all the approaches to spot to prove it. And when the breakthrough should really be a product, it will take you 10 more years to scale it and then make it.
But imagine if there was a professional publication that really called something a breakthrough. After which this is validated and verified by other publications saying the same? That appears to be in step with the scientific method, would it not?
So, to the purposes of advancing, let us define a breakthrough as exactly that: It is actually proclaimed as a result by several publication. Also to allow us to move forward, publications is going to be broadly classified as a peer reviewed journal article, or a newspaper, or possibly a blog, or even a tweet etc. i.e., provided that the term breakthrough plus your work display on the World Wide Web somewhere, you happen to be golden. This informative guide will assist you to arrive.
Step 1: Before beginning the study, try not to read the literature. The peer-reviewed literature is filled with things that have been tried before. In the event you read them carefully, then what you are actually doing will never be new. Keep this in mind mantra (courtesy of NBC after they were promoting reruns in the 90s): “If you haven’t seen it before, its unfamiliar with you”.
Step 2: While you start the studies, do not forget that facts just get in the manner. The literature is loaded with facts (hence Step 1). In 1492 everyone thought the world was flat; until Columbus took to the seas.1 Then we all think it is round, until Tom Friedman proved it had been flat. Before The Matrix came out, we thought gravity was forever binding us to the earth. Breakthroughs happen when these laws are broken and yes it needs a bold person to travel where no person has gone before. To paraphrase Marsellus Wallace from Pulp Fiction, you could possibly feel a little sting once in a while when it seems like you might be violating faraday’s law. Those are the facts f*ing together with you. f* facts.
Step Three: Now you did your due diligence and ignored everything, it is a chance to focus. Attempt to work on a newly-discovered material, or atleast one which has been forgotten for a time. It is an important step. As much as you may go after Steps 1 and two, the better studied the content, the harder it is to prove to yourself that you are violating all of the popular laws simply because you are charting a new path as opposed to screwing up. It’s far less difficult to assume this if it’s a new material. Graphene is nice (not as battery power material, but remember Step 2). So may be fullerenes (granted these are old, but it appears as though its time to revisit them). Graphite, alternatively, could possibly be bad; except if you intend to apply it inside a new way; in which case it could be good. Lithium metal is ALWAYS good; but if you decide to go this route you will need to get religion on Steps 1 and two.
Step 4: While you start to get data about the new invention, revisit Step Two. Revisit many times, it, particularly when you are feeling down.
Step 5: Time and energy to start writing the paper. Always declare that your invention is better than Li-ion. The best way to get anyone excited would be to say that. This may sound hard, yet it is not. There are several metrics that should be satisfied for industrial battery, including, energy, power, charge time, cost, life, safety, low temperature and high temperature stability. If you feel that you have a thing that looks better in every one of those, you are doing better than Li-ion. Cost is the 55dexhpky one if all else fails. You can always safely say something similar to “our preliminary cost estimates advise that battery costs under something-small/kWh”. Opposite end of your spectrum is energy, which is the hardest. If you drop this path you really want Step 6.
Step 6: Always confuse energy with power. It’s completely appropriate to mention “Our pixie dust battery can discharge an aspect of 10 faster than Li-ion, therefore EVs based upon pixie dust possess a longer driving range much like Li-ion EVs” or “our batteries may be charged in five minutes, providing more energy than any battery recognized to man or aliens. With a separate note, we only often get one cycle from my battery; we believe it has something connected to aliens”
Step 7: The paper is prepared and it is time to submit. Never send the paper into a journal that focuses on publishing papers in batteries. This may get the paper in to the hands of traditional battery-types who remember past history, know what works and what does not, and have a strong scientific foundation within the field. Such knowledge can be an impediment for your out-of-the-box thinking. Remember Step 2. Always go with a journal that may be disconnected through the battery field.
Step 8: With the paper being released, it really is time to get prepared for a press release. Keep in mind that the press wants to hear that it is a breakthrough. So despite exactly what the peer-reviewed paper proves, make sure you call it a breakthrough at the press release. Do not forget that Steve Jobs failed to have a working iPhone as he announced it around the world, and stated that they could ship in 6 months. If it is suitable for Steve, I’m sure it is adequate for you. So don’t be shy in telling the press how great 18650 rechargeable battery will be. Be sure that you give interviews to numerous publications. Remember our definition of a breakthrough: you need multiple publications to express it can be one. So target many outlets.
Step 9: The day has arrived; the publications are out; and you have spend the better section of the day googling yourself to find out how far the phrase has spread. This is basically the day whenever you may hear skepticism (some contained throughout the articles and others in emails addressed for you). Remember Step Two. Remind yourself the iPhone had many critics (e.g, the proximity sensor is not going to work. Who would like to surf the net with a phone anyway? Atleast they got the initial problem right!). When it determined for Steve Jobs, this could workout for yourself too.