The Structural Determinants of "Hydration" in Computational Science: A Constraint-Based Theory of Disciplinary Robustness

The pervasive concern over "low-information-content" or "hydrated" publications is not evenly distributed across computational science. This paper argues that susceptibility to "hydration" is not a function of researcher ethics but a structural property determined by a field's epistemic constraints. We present a formal model based on two multiplicative axes: Theoretical/Experimental Anchor Strength (A = T·V) and Methodological/Narrative Freedom (F = M·N). A field's Hydration Potential, H = F/A, is determined by the balance between these forces. High-H fields (e.g., bioinformatics) operate with weak anchors and high freedom, making low-information contributions easy. Low-H fields (e.g., lattice QCD) are bound by strong anchors that rigidly dictate methodology and eliminate interpretative flexibility, making "hydration" almost impossible. This model explains divergent paper structures, peer-review cultures, and the reproducibility crisis. We conclude by proposing targeted interventions to increase the effective anchor strength in high-H fields. Keywords: Scientific Methodology, Reproducibility Crisis, Computational Physics, Computational Biology, Epistemology, Lattice QCD, Bioinformat ics, Research Integrity.