10. The marriage of technology and science (throughout the 1900's)

Technology before the 1900's was largely empirical, based on practical experience with little or no regard for science or theory. The alliance of science and technology, largely fulfilled in the 1900's, accelerated change in both areas. Scientific theory and mathematical calculations proved to be useful tools in guiding research and design in practically all areas of technology. Meanwhile, cutting-edge research in the sciences was often guided by problems first encountered in technology and became more and more dependent on technological instrumentation. The interaction between science and technology played a large role in most, if not all, of the most important developments of the century, including, for example, the emergence of nuclear power, the transistor, and the laser.