Icons of the 1900's that could have had a profound effect on society?

Apart from the most popular icons, like Hitler and Stalin etc... are there any other characters from history that had a radical theory that if put to the test could have changed the world?
 
Hannes Olof Gösta Alfvén and Plasma Cosmology theory. Solves some problems with the Big Idea concept, fails on others.

Wilhelm Reich with loads of fascinating ideas that caused too much controversy for his own good. Could've changed psychiatry, become a guru of a sex-cult.
 
I can't help but wonder how a Trotskyite Soviet Union would have affected the world at large. Or a Machnovskian Ukraine.

There are loads of revolutionaries that didn't quite get the chance to have their ideas put to the test that you can pick and chose from.
 
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