[robocat]

Another question is asking why retired people are not working on high impact problems?

Many have the free time, the knowledge and skills, and often some spare cash for light expenses.

In theory the influence of retirees on science and the arts should be huge! In practice not so much?

[janosdebugs]

A lot of retired people don't have the energy anymore and have to deal with health problems. Also consider that retired people help out in the family a lot. My grandmother used to cook for us, for example.