For Science!

An interesting point to note is that there are very few inventions though. Most things are developments from existing inventions. It is down to the immense data storage and processing power of computers that maybe helps handling the inferences that lead to positive directions of research. Such is the precision of computer control of machines and manufacturing tolerances that levels of performance and reliability are now way ahead of things just a few years ago.

Most of the energy sources have been around a long time too. It's just that they are more practically harnessed these days.

For example, electric cars have been around for over a hundred years with the first electric vehicle nearly 200 years ago. Computer science theory is even older. It's interesting to note that, even in aviation with jet aircraft, much of the actual performance was realised soon after WWII, well over 50 years ago. It is, to a large extent, only refinement which has happened since. Yes, it has changed the face of the world, but I find it interesting lo look at The Flintstones cartoon with their pterodactyl airliners and compare what would be the equivalent in immediate post WWII designs adapted for the present day with 1940 / 1950's technology.. Perhaps not impossible, just not really practical.