It's European invasion

It's global, really. We 'Americans' (I'm assuming you meant the US - though I happily include North and South, Arctic to Antarctic) remain innovative as do all other people across our planet. I believe this is a very good thing.

Geoff, we didn't eat enough crystals in our breakfast cereal. : )

I don't disagree. Innovation continues in the US.

The Nobel generally displays latency with respect to the sciences. The physicists you refer to began their work in the 1980s. It will be interesting to see who wins in ~ 35 years. That will be telling.

Geniuses walk among us today, here in the U.S. and elsewhere across the planet.

Geoff, you are off your game today. What's up...usually so sharp.

The waves were detected in 2015 and announced in 2016. The work to do so started much much earlier. It was their work that made the detection possible and was recognized.

And one member of the trio is a naturalized citizen, originally from Berlin.

Since 2000: 33 of 85 'American' [US] (sic) winners have been immigrants (for the Nobel in Chemistry, Medicine and Physics) [Courtesy Forbes].

My intentions are neutral, just like cables. : )