Question: What is 

the most impactful scientific breakthrough of the last 300

years and how it impacts society today?
Answer:
The most important scientific discovery of the past 300 years was made by
James Clerk Maxwell and Michael Faraday when they discovered electricity and its
laws. British chemist and physicist Faraday made the electromagnetic induction
discovery in 1831, which paved the way for the invention of the electric generator.
The electromagnetic laws that Maxwell discovered in 1865 set the groundwork for
the current electrical power generating and distribution system.
Numerous industries use electricity, including those in lighting, heating,
cooling, transportation, communication, and medicine. Millions of people all around
the world now live better lives because to innovations that were made possible by
the understanding of electricity and its rules. Industry has undergone a revolution
thanks to the widespread usage of electricity, which has increased factory production
and efficiency through electrically powered machinery.
Electricity has made a very remarkable impact on society! It has altered how
people travel, communicate, and get information. The telegraph, telephone, radio,
television, and internet have transformed communication by enabling real-time
connections between individuals around the globe. The words of Faraday, "Nothing
is too marvelous to be real if it is consistent with the laws of nature," sum up the
effects of the discovery of electricity and its rules on civilization precisely.
The ability of electricity to produce light has had a significant influence on
society. Electric illumination is widely used, which has boosted safety and
productivity while enabling people to work, study, and engage in a variety of leisure
activities well into the night. Through the use of medical technology like X-rays, CT
scans, and MRI machines, the study of electricity and its rules has increased life
expectancy and improved health. People may now instantaneously access
information and communicate with one another, no matter where they are.
It is impossible to emphasize how much electricity has affected society and
how people live, work, and communicate. It now serves as a necessary component
of modern life, supplying the energy required for basic services as well as running
houses and businesses. The creation of a wide variety of electrical gadgets and
devices as a result of the widespread usage of electricity has made it simpler and
more convenient to obtain information, communicate, and carry out daily duties.
In summation, Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell's discovery of
electricity and its principles continues to have a huge impact on the globe today. It
has become an essential component of contemporary life and will keep playing a
significant role in determining the course of events. (Maxwell, 1865).
J. C. Maxwell (1865). A Dynamical Electromagnetic Field Theory. 155(0), 459–512,
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London
https://doi.org/10.1098/rstl.1865.0008