Or the "WW1 technology" angle, the example that comes to mind is the invention of the Haber process for ammonia production. This allowed mass production of fert

Or the "WW1 technology" angle, the example that comes to mind is the invention of the Haber process for ammonia production. This allowed mass production of fertilizer (saving many from starvation) but also enabling mass production of explosives (again with many peaceful civil applications) which enabled industrial scale wars like WW1.