Information packed!

The issue in Physics, as I see it, is the same as the broader issues with higher education, research in the U.S., e.g. government research funding (NIH, NSF, NASA, ONR, AFRL, etc. Note some are defense!) and so on. A more successful model was broken in the early-to-mid 2000s. The best approaches to science were lost. Those who are best at asking for money win the money. And the priority for the money comes at political whims.