Maybe the meaning of life should be to improve our scientific knowledge. By understanding more deeply the nature, the universe that we live in and how the brain works, we could answer better this question.
This has been the conundrum of the existentialist for well over a century. However, you need to consider those who don't enjoy science. For me personally, it was mostly the arts that spurred my love and thirst for scientific knowledge.
Thea beauty of being human (assuming free will isn't an illusion) is that since life has no meaning, the individual gets to define a personalized meaning of life.
If one finds the popping of bubble wrap their life's calling and has their physical, psychological, social, etc. needs met, then by all means pop those bubbles until transcendence. :)
Don't shortchange yourself. History is an extremely abridged version of reality. For things like, say Einstein's theory, his wife was an important contributor in the sense that he'd converse with her almost every day in formulating his theories.
Of course you have to pay bills, but you don't have to published papers that are heavily referenced to have success. If you enjoy it, that is its own reward.