Whether it was fraudulent or just incorrect is a different question. We don’t know all of the details of human biology. We don’t even know what all we don’t know. Most guesses work to some degree to keep pharma alive - otherwise nobody would fund the business.

Edit: Google the in the pipeline blog. This and other have discussed this at length.

Cue Pink Floyd.

And as others have said, today's society has too many financial requirements and distractions to make it easy to "live traditionally". People don't seem willing to give up their economic freedom/toys, either.

Wallis and Gromit would be a partial substitute, but the boomers are still around.

Local goods, regional goods, choice of international goods are there for the picking.

There are also fewer ships than in the 80’s, and everything costs too much. F-35’s vs. F16 birds, the gripen argument in Canada or Europe. How to get companies and staff to embrace low tech solutions in a rapid mapper.

Perhaps they can remember history and make planes that support ground operations rather than high tech birds. Having more, slower birds with cannons would help with drone warfare. Armour also helps.

And yeah, selling ads vs more interesting tech solutions was a cliche 10+ years ago.

While it’s still convenient to gather together to discuss a field, it’s not crucial as it was in past times. Easier to do what’s best for the largest number of people.