[orbifold]

I actually think it is the same in chemistry, knowledge of which approaches don't work are a competitive advantage that is passed around under the hand. I've definitely observed this is in theoretical physics and pure mathematics, it is often much more important to know about things that have never been published then it is to read close to incomprehensible publications. So for example it is much more valuable to have attended the right seminars and have private copies of lecture notes, because by the time something is published it probably is out of date 1-3 years.