The Most Cited Science Papers of All Time

TL;DR

A 2025 Nature ranking reveals the five most-cited scientific papers ever, spanning materials science, computer science, physics, biology, and chemistry.

Key Points

• 1.Graphene's 2004 discovery earned 52,000 citations as the top materials science paper. Its one-atom-thick honeycomb carbon structure delivers exceptional conductivity, transparency, and strength, enabling uses from smartphone screens to tennis rackets.
• 2.'Deep Residual Learning for Image Recognition' (2015) tops computer science with 116,000 citations. It solved the 'telephone game' problem in deep neural networks by adding shortcut paths between layer chunks, enabling reliable image recognition for self-driving cars and tumor detection.
• 3.'Generalized Gradient Approximation Made Simple' leads physics with 174,000 citations. It simplified density functional theory by replacing molecule-specific calculations with universal physical constants, advancing semiconductor research, drug design, and even breathable fabrics.
• 4.A 1970 biology paper on SDS-PAGE has over 250,000 citations. The method uses sodium dodecyl sulfate to separate proteins by mass, and remains a daily lab tool for diagnosing HIV and other diseases despite being over 50 years old.
• 5.The most-cited paper of all time is a 1951 chemistry paper with over 350,000 citations. It describes the Lowry assay, which uses a copper-and-Folin Phenol reagent that turns blue in proportion to protein concentration, still widely used where newer assays fail.
• 6.The most enduring scientific papers are methodological tools, not flashy discoveries. Like building foundations, these papers — spanning graphene, AI, quantum physics, protein separation, and protein measurement — are cited because thousands of other scientists build directly on them.