I think what you mean to say is select topics in specific fields in physics have stagnated. Possibly because they are not necessarily the most interesting fields of study. Astrophysics is doing just fine, as one counter example.
Astrophysics is doing just fine, as one counter example.
I would argue that almost all of that is due to improvements in instrumentation that have lead to no new fundamental theories with wide acceptance. If anything, several older theories are now being increasingly questioned, but with no viable alternatives. (Or too many viable alternatives.)
However, there have been many "medium sized" astrophysics theoretical achievements in recent decades, which puts astrophysics head and shoulders above much of the rest of physics.
I.e.: we now better understand the theory of elemental synthesis and can account for the origins of the entire periodic table, which is research from this century. That's pretty decent chunk of fundamental knowledge that we've acquired only recently!
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I think what you mean to say is select topics in specific fields in physics have stagnated. Possibly because they are not necessarily the most interesting fields of study. Astrophysics is doing just fine, as one counter example.
I would argue that almost all of that is due to improvements in instrumentation that have lead to no new fundamental theories with wide acceptance. If anything, several older theories are now being increasingly questioned, but with no viable alternatives. (Or too many viable alternatives.)
However, there have been many "medium sized" astrophysics theoretical achievements in recent decades, which puts astrophysics head and shoulders above much of the rest of physics.
I.e.: we now better understand the theory of elemental synthesis and can account for the origins of the entire periodic table, which is research from this century. That's pretty decent chunk of fundamental knowledge that we've acquired only recently!