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What did Thomas Kuhn mean by normal science?

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Marble bust of Aristotle with a beard and draped robe, showing detailed facial features and wavy hair, set against a dark background. — Philosophy of science Aristotle, marble portrait bust, Roman copy (2nd century bce) of a Greek original (c. 325 bce); in the Museo Nazionale Romano, Rome.

In the philosophy of science, Thomas Kuhn defined normal science as a research tradition in which scientists operate under a shared paradigm—a conceptual framework consisting of formal theories, classic experiments, and trusted methods.12

During this period, the scientific community is committed to the prevailing paradigm, which dictates the types of questions asked and the experiments performed. Key characteristics of normal science include:12

Puzzle Solving: Research is primarily directed toward solving well-defined problems, or "puzzles," that arise within the paradigm.2
Professional Standards: The failure to solve a puzzle is typically attributed to the researcher's lack of skill rather than a flaw in the paradigm itself.2
Cumulative Progress: Scientists work to extend the scope of the paradigm by refining theories, explaining puzzling data, and establishing more precise measurements.1

Normal science continues as long as the paradigm successfully guides research. However, when puzzles repeatedly prove resistant to solution, they may be reclassified as anomalies. If these anomalies accumulate and generate a crisis, the community may eventually shift to a new paradigm, initiating a scientific revolution.12