The problem is lack of semantics. Computers don't understand the content of a web page or article, and you have to manually parse it and make sense of it. You'll find 80% of what you need in 20% of relevant pages, and the remaining 20% in the other 80% of pages.

The semantic web is the solution. A system that understands content, understands what you know, and understands what you want. Then, all it has to do is show you what's relevant and necessary to the task you're trying to accomplish. In most cases, you won't have to actually do the task, as it will be automated.

I don't see any way around this. Changing how search engines work will still not let you find articles that complement each-other perfectly. And you'll still have to read more than necessary.