Was it Derek John de Solla Price who showed that WWII, far from being a time of scientific breakthroughs, had permanently slowed the climb of science (measured

Was it Derek John de Solla Price who showed that WWII, far from being a time of scientific breakthroughs, had permanently slowed the climb of science (measured by published papers)? Very fine technical work took place, but at the expense of basic science which simply halted. Maybe we're seeing something of the same thing as our best minds have been occupied for decades (yes, really - some saw further) with the practical problem of climate change. With good results; cheap solar panels, practical electric cars. Elon Musk, way back when had a physics degree but didn't dream of solving the paradoxes and problems of quantum mechanics; even then he was preoccupied with creating electric cars to tackle climate change. It's no wonder the very best minds don't go in for basic research in a world (legitimately) screaming emergency.