I also note that in this case other people may have competing outright opposing interests (in the 'aggressively want to get' sense rather than just the 'curiosity' sense). In such cases it isn't a matter of not interesting enough. Some people will have an interest in outright suppressing that kind of discovery. I have a relative who has been battling to get research done on alternative fertaliser methods. Pivot really don't like people doing that and they have purchased a lot of power in most of the relevant academic institutions.

Prognosis is good for making discoveries, but abysmal for gaining status thereby.