I've heard it said modern technology depends on knowledge of atomic physics.
It makes me wonder: if transistor, frex, had been invented before physics had advanced far enough to explain how they worked, would that have slowed development of newer models or follow-on projects? That is, if you don't understand how it works, but have to improve strictly by observation (trial & error), does it slow technical advancement?
Any thoughts? (Leave off how you delay the science...tho if you have suggestions on how to make technical advances sooner, I'd love to hear them.)