There's certainly phases of progress in particular fields. e.g. in physics, we had relativity and quantum mechanics... and no further revolutions for quite a wh

There's certainly phases of progress in particular fields. e.g. in physics, we had relativity and quantum mechanics... and no further revolutions for quite a while. If Einstein's genius made some of it possible... he also didn't make further progress. He was older yes, but also perhaps there was less to find? Other people were smart enough to find what he found, but weren't bold enough. Looking at the bigger picture, Einstein had unexplained empirical evidence (speed of light constant in all directions, inconsistent with waves in an ether). So that was a driver. Looking bigger again, even with better equipment, that senses further, we can only discover new things if they can be sensed with that equipment. (Without evidence) my opinion is we will have periods of slow progress and periods of rapid progress. We are currently in a period of stagnation. We need empirical data, intelligent analysis, and boldness.