Numbers Don't Lie: A Moore's Law-for Bombs: The rising power of destructiveness is, unfortunately, the most impressive metric of modern technology

The rising number of components on a micro-chip is the go-to example roaring innovation. Intel's first microprocessor, 4004, released in 1971, had 2,300 transistors; half century later highest count surpasses 50 billion, for Apple M1 Max—an increase seven orders magnitude. Most other technical advances have lagged behind: During entire 20th century, maximum travel speeds rose less than tenfold, from about 100 kilometers per hour express trains to 900 km/h cruising jetliners. Skyscrapers got only 2.4 times as tall, Singer Building (187 meters) Petronas Towers (452 meters).