I once read that the 20th century was the domain of physics, and (by all predictions) the 21st century will be the domain of biology and chemistry. Perhaps the breakthrough advances are in those fields?
But can you name ANY amazing breakthrough in physics in the 20th century past about 1960? Or in biology and chemistry for that matter? The original question still stands.
I have a form of cystic fibrosis and have figured out how to get myself well in spite of doctors and most of the world telling me it couldn't be done. My oldest son has the same diagnosis and is even healthier than I am. I was able to do this in part because of the avalanche of information available online even to ordinary schmucks who can't afford pricey subscriptions to some of the medical journals or what not that some folks I know subscribe to. So I think there is quite a lot of amazing information about biology and chemistry available. They are researching tissue regeneration and have done things like had someone regrow a fingertip that had been cut off. I think stuff like that is pretty amazing. Any reason you wouldn't?
And, actually, I haven't seen a doctor in nearly five years. (Possibly politically incorrect to comment on that but it bugs me to imply I am under a doctor's care by not mentioning it. It's simply not accurate.)
- Various advancements in stem cell research. Eg: skin cells into stem cells.
- The creation of a living organism with a completely synthetically constructed genome.
- The sequencing of the human genome.
- Nearly all of neuroscience.
Those example are all technology. Astounding technology, sure, but still technology. They're not great theories or discoveries. (And by "discovery" I mean a discovery of something that exists in nature -- like plate tectonics -- not discovering a way to make something.)
