You do realise that the Higgs boson was predicted 50 years ago, right? Its discovery five decades after it was theorised to exist is not really the best example for the sort of revolutionary step forward in science that I think Kasierith is referring to. Same with improving our telescope to the point of seeing exoplanets, but stem cells might be one I think.
It's overrated honestly. It's still an idea that relies on non-existent (as far as we know) materials to build.As for interstellar travel like Haven was saying, there have been big theoretical advances recently into the theory of warp (Alcubierre) drive.