Put priority in its place

An image showing Eliud Kipchoge at the finish line

Source: © Alex Halada/AFP/Getty Images

Why is priority so pervasive in science?

We have a thirst for firsts. The first person to achieve something gets their place in history, and competing to be first is a powerful motivator. Yet while competition for first place is the lifeblood of athletics and sports, in science it can come with damaging consequences.