Achievements in the technology of the gilded Age gave the opportunity to scientists throughout the Progressive Era to make new discoveries. For example, in 1878 physicist Albert A. Michelson first measured the speed of light; this later played an important role in Albert Einstein’s 1905 development of the “The Special Theory of Relativity”. In 1907, Albert Michelson became the first Nobel Prize winner from the United States ("Albert A. Michelson"). Among the other significant breakthroughs were the discovery of moons orbiting Mars and Jupiter, the exploration of extensive dinosaur fossil fills in Colorado and Wyoming as well as the first studies linking chromosomes to specific inherited characterizes (Perry and Smith [317]).
I think that the Gilded Age had a more significant impact upon the development of the United States than the Progressive Era. The Gilded Age gave rise to new industries, created transportation and communication networks and provided infrastructure for further development of technology and science in the Progressive Era. Without the work done in the Gilded Age, the scientific and engineering breakthroughs of the Progressive Era would’ve been