> So at the time, practically all US physicist were interested in building actual stuffs, and not working on theoritical models/math equations? The problem wit

> So at the time, practically all US physicist were interested in building actual stuffs, and not working on theoritical models/math equations? The problem with that approach is: It inevitably leads to stagnation. If all I do is build practical stuff from what exists, I will get very big, very efficient, very impressive steam engines. But I will never arrive at an internal combustion engine. Because that requires exploring another path that, in the beginning, and probably for quite some time, will be less efficient compared to my best steam engines.