Academia's hierarchy crisis

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There is not enough knowledge hierarchy in academia! Every person can only read \(n\) papers, and unless we undergo significant genetic modifications, that number will stay a constant. Yet as more and more research papers are published each year, the collective academic consciousness will grow to be more scattered. A scholar in one hemisphere may remain totally unaware of recent breakthroughs by scholars in another. Researchers may unknowingly duplicate or contradict each other's work. Literature reviews help, but frankly academic is growing so rapidly that it is now only a bandage. Today and tomorrow, we need a knowledge hierarchy. I'm calling for "layered" literature reviews that build atop each other. We need annual digests for every reputable scholar. Journals need comprehensive quarterly synopsis. This century marks the awakening and wiring up of a collective academia brain. The first agenda item should be organization and ontology.