How long was the time gap from quantum machanics work in the 1920s until serious practical applications for that work?
Also, nuclear power...
1930s — video image tubes
1940s — nuclear power, atomic clocks, transistors
1960s — lasers, fiber-optic communications, PET-CT scans
1970s — MRIsPeople had singular focus - not on the betterment of humanity in the abstract sense, but for primal SURVIVAL - because both sides believed that if given the chance the other would wipe them out.
This created a unifying focus (amongst two divided sides).
A lot of people have hoped for some event to unify humanity (like the space squid in the watchmen) towards a common goal again. Alas, COVID has shown that is just simply not possible any longer.