revolutionizing the more primitive new territories occupied most of the time of federation scientists ; the strangest truth about exploration and discovery was that it had the indirect affect of stagnating the progressive development of the home territories ; their civilization was so preoccupied with teaching the new territories and controlling them that few people had time to pioneer new scientific innovations , especially with all of the efforts marankeil had made to stifle genius , in case that genius were to ever be used against him .