The greatest physicists - Isaac Newton: Beyond the Apple

 Join us as we dive deep into the life of Isaac Newton – the man who unlocked the universe's secrets. Forget the apple story; we're exploring Newton's genius, his reclusive life, and his groundbreaking contributions to science. From his thought-provoking experiments and the invention of calculus to his rivalries and fascination with alchemy, discover how Newton's work transformed our understanding of the cosmos and continues to inspire today. This is the story of a mind that changed the world.

Links to the main sources used in this episode:
Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton by James Gleick
Newton: The Making of Genius by Patricia Fara

Transcript

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Welcome to our deep dive into Isaac Newton. Isaac Newton. You know him. Yeah. You love him, or maybe you just remember him from physics class. Right. But today we're going way beyond that apple. Yeah. Falling on his head. Way beyond. We're using biographical excerpts, historical accounts. Right. Academic analysis. The good stuff. Yeah. So we really wanted to uncover. We're on a mission here. Yeah, what's the mission? To uncover who Isaac Newton really was. beyond the legend and understand why his work still matters centuries later. I have to admit, I was really surprised when I dug into these sources. It seems like the man was practically a hermit. James Gleick, in his biography of Newton, paints this picture of a deeply reclusive, almost obsessive individual. It's true. He was brilliant, of course, revolutionizing our understanding of the universe, but also seems to have teetered on the edge of madness. It's quite a contrast to the image of a celebrated scientist. Right. I mean, he received a state funeral, an honor typically reserved for royalty. Right. Yet during his lifetime, he lived an incredibly isolated life. Really? No wife, no close friends, no romantic relationships to speak of. It's like he poured every ounce of his being into his work. It seems that way. What's even more intriguing is that he barely published anything while he was alive. Right. He kept these groundbreaking discoveries. Locked away. Locked away in his manuscripts. Yeah. It makes you wonder what else might be hidden in those pages. It does. Did he have reasons for keeping his work so private? Well, some scholars believe he was terrified of criticism, especially from his rivals in the scientific community. Others speculate that he simply wasn't motivated by fame or recognition. Yeah. It's a puzzle that continues to fascinate historians to this day. It's almost as if we're dealing with two different Newtons, the public figure and the private individual, both wrestling with these incredible ideas while grappling with their own internal struggles. Yeah, and Gleick describes Newton writing by candlelight millions of words flowing from his quill onto countless pages. It's an incredibly powerful image of a mind constantly in motion, driven by an insatiable need to understand the universe. Speaking of understanding, let's talk about the context of Newton's work. He didn't exactly live in a time of scientific enlightenment, did he? No, he didn't. No. To grasp the magnitude of his contributions. Right. We need to understand the world as he saw it. OK. Imagine a world where time wasn't standardized, where people relied on the sun's position to mark the hours. We take clocks for granted. Yeah. Can you imagine building your own sundials like Newton did as a child? Right. That's how he first began to grapple with the concept of time. Exactly. And think about this. Books and paper were scarce commodities. Oh yeah. Access to knowledge was limited. Newton's thirst for learning led him to painstakingly copy texts, sometimes entire books. Wow. Word for word absorbing information like a sponge. It reminds me of his fascination with John Bates' book, Mysteries of Nature and Art. Yes. Which was full of practical tips, scientific explanations, and magical recipes. Even as a boy, Newton was drawn to both the tangible and the mystical. Those early experiences with limited resources and a mix of scientific and esoteric ideas really shaped his path. They highlight his determination and how he viewed the world, a place full of hidden connections waiting to be discovered. But to understand how radical his discoveries truly were, we have to look at the prevailing scientific ideas of his time. So who was Newton going up against, intellectually speaking? Well, the dominant force in physics was Aristotle. Okay. whose ideas had reigned supreme for nearly 2,000 years. Wow. Aristotle believed objects move to reach their natural place. OK. A rock falls because its natural place is on the ground. That makes a certain intuitive sense. Right. But it's far from how we understand motion today. Then there was Descartes, a prominent philosopher who proposed a universe filled with swirling vortices of matter. This vortex theory was a sophisticated attempt to explain planetary motion. And many embraced it. Yeah. Yet even as a young man, Newton saw the flaws in this theory. That seems to be a recurring theme with him. It is. Questioning the status quo, challenging the accepted wisdom. Yeah. But where did his own ideas begin? How did he move beyond simply critiquing others? It started with thought experiments. One of his most famous is the cannonball thought experiment. OK, I've heard of this one. Yeah. It involves a cannon, right? It does. I'm curious to see where this goes. Imagine a cannon. firing a ball horizontally. It travels a certain distance before gravity pulls it back down to Earth. Now, Newton asked, what if you fired the cannonball with even more force? It would travel further before landing. And what if you fired it with so much force that it never landed at all? What if it fell towards Earth but kept missing because of Earth's curvature? So the cannonball would essentially be in orbit, constantly falling but never hitting the ground. That's an amazing way to conceptualize how gravity might work on a larger scale. This thought experiment was groundbreaking because it helped Newton imagine gravity as a force acting between any two objects with mass, not just something inherent to objects themselves. It's like he was rewiring how people thought about the very nature of the universe. He was. And to express these radical new ideas, he needed a new kind of math, right? Enter calculus. I'm calculus. I vaguely remember it from school, but I had no idea Newton was the one who invented it. Well, Newton and Gottfried Leibniz developed calculus independently, though they had very different approaches. What we call calculus today is a combination of their work. Newton called his version Flick Sections, and it was revolutionary because it allowed him to describe continuous change mathematically, like the speed of a falling object at any given moment. So he believed the universe was made of tiny indivisible particles called atoms discrete things. Yes. But he invented a math that describes continuous change. That seems like a paradox. That's the brilliance of Newton. Yeah. He wasn't afraid to embrace seemingly contradictory ideas. Hmm. He recognized that nature was full of complexities and that simple explanations often fell short. Right. And this way of thinking, this willingness to challenge assumptions, Extended to his work with light and color as well. Right, his work on optics. Optics. That's where those famous prism experiments come in, right? Exactly. Back then, people believed white light was pure, and colors were modifications of white light. Newton proved the opposite. He used a prism to split white sunlight into a rainbow of colors. OK. And this is where it gets really interesting. I'm all ears, I have to admit, I struggle to wrap my head around how he actually proved that. He designed what he called the experimentum crucis, the crucial experiment. He took one color from the rainbow, created by the first prism, say blue, and passed it through a second prism. Now if the prism was adding color to white light, this blue beam should have changed color. Logically that makes sense. You'd assume the prism is doing something to the light to create those colors. But that's not what happened. Oh. The blue light stayed blue. Hmm. This proved that the prism wasn't creating colors, but separating them. OK. White light was a mixture of all colors, and the prism was splitting them apart like unmixing paint. OK, that's a game changer. It is. It's so simple, but it completely overturns everything people thought they knew about light. Right. It's like realizing the world isn't flat after all. And that's just the beginning. Wow. He also demonstrated that each color had its own unique angle of refraction, meaning it bent by a specific amount when passing through the prism. So each color wasn't just different visually, but had distinct physical properties. That's incredible. I'm starting to understand why Newton was considered such a radical thinker. And these discoveries didn't happen in a vacuum. Newton was part of a vibrant intellectual community exchanging ideas with other brilliant minds of the time. Yeah. We need to talk about the Royal Society. Right. Wasn't that like the Silicon Valley of the 17th century? It kind of was. Where all the geniuses were hanging out. It was a hub for scientific inquiry, fueled by letters from across Europe, reports of strange phenomena, and a shared passion for testing the boundaries of the natural world. So cool. It was a fascinating mix of scientific rigor and unbridled curiosity. I'm picturing these scientists gathered around debating everything from. the latest astronomical observations to whatever a monstrous calf might be. You're not far off. Really? They discussed everything from monstrous calves and the properties of asbestos to attempts at creating perpetual motion machines. Wow. It was a time of incredible intellectual ferment, where new discoveries were being made at an astonishing pace. Yeah. And it was within this environment that Neaton presented his groundbreaking work on light. And of course, not everyone welcomed his ideas with open arms, right? Not exactly. This collaborative environment was also a crucible of debate, and at times, intense rivalry. Newton's relationship with Robert Hooke, another brilliant mind, was particularly complex. Ah, yes. I've heard whispers of this. Yeah. The legendary feud between Newton and Hooke. It was legendary. It seems like even geniuses can have their share of drama. It seems so. Yeah. It wasn't just professional disagreements, you know? Right? That fueled their rivalry. Yeah. Both men were known for their shall we say prickly personalities. Their arguments often got quite heated and they definitely didn't shy away from public criticism of each other's work. So it sounds like it was more of a clash of egos. Maybe a little bit. Yeah, than a true scientific debate. It's hard to say. But didn't their rivalry end up benefiting science in the long run? Ironically, yes. Really? They're constant back and forth. Though often frustrating for both parties. actually forced them to refine and strengthen their own theories. They were each other's toughest critics, pushing each other to think more deeply and develop more rigorous arguments. It's amazing how these conflicts can sometimes lead to breakthroughs. It is. It's like the old saying, iron sharpens iron. But it's easy to get caught up in the public image of these figures, these titans of science. What's fascinating to me is uncovering the less known aspects of their lives. Well, in Newton's case, there were definitely sides to him hidden from the public eye. Oh really? Like what? One of the most intriguing is his deep interest in alchemy. Alchemy? Like trying to turn lead into gold. That's the popular image. I thought that was just medieval superstition. Right, but for Newton and many of his contemporaries, alchemy was much more than that. Really? It was a complex, philosophical, and experimental system that combined elements of chemistry, metallurgy, and even mysticism. So what was Nuna hoping to achieve with alchemy? Was he really trying to create gold? While the transmutation of metals was certainly a goal, it was more about understanding the hidden nature of matter. Newton believed that matter held secrets and through careful experimentation, one could unlock those secrets and even transform matter itself. Wow. It was a quest for knowledge for uncovering the fundamental building blocks of the universe. It's almost like alchemy was an early form of chemistry. You could say that. But with the spiritual or philosophical dimension added to it. Right. But I'm still trying to wrap my head around this. Here's Newton, the father of modern science, the man who gave us calculus and universal gravitation, dabbling in something that seems so well mystical. Remember, this is a time when the boundaries between science, philosophy, and spirituality were much more fluid than they are today. Newton saw the world as a grand puzzle, a reflection of divine order. And he believed that studying any aspect of it, whether through physics, mathematics, or even alchemy, could bring him closer to understanding God's plan. So in a way, he saw all of these pursuits as interconnected. It's different paths leading towards the same ultimate goal of understanding the universe and its creator. That's a pretty profound way of thinking about it. Absolutely. And this brings us to another side of Newton that often gets overlooked. His deep religious convictions. Right, I read that he was a devout Christian, but his beliefs weren't exactly mainstream, were they? Not at all. Newton rejected the traditional doctrine of the Trinity. believing that Jesus was divine, but not equal to God the Father. It's a very controversial view at the time. And could have landed him in serious trouble with the church. Wow. So we have Newton the alchemist, Newton the heretical theologian, and Newton the groundbreaking scientist. It's like he contained multitudes. He was a man of immense intellectual curiosity, constantly searching for patterns and connections in every aspect of his life. And all of these seemingly disparate pursuits. were in his mind part of a grand quest to understand the universe and his place within it. But this quest took a dramatic turn in 1680 with the appearance of not one, but two comets in the same year. Comets, okay, this sounds intriguing. At the time, comets were often seen as omens of disaster, unpredictable celestial wanderers that appeared without warning and vanished just as quickly. Right. But John Flamsteed, the first astronomer royal believed they might hold the key to unlocking deeper secrets of the cosmos. Okay. He suspected their paths weren't random, that they might even return. That's a pretty radical idea for the time. It was. So how did Newton fit into this picture? Initially he was preoccupied with his alchemical and theological studies, but Flamsteed's observations sparked something in him. The curved paths of these commas, seemingly defying traditional astronomical models, piqued his curiosity. So these comments were like a cosmic puzzle that Newton just couldn't resist solving. Exactly. They waken a new obsession in him. And once that obsession took hold, there was no turning back. Wow. According to some accounts, Newton's work ethic became even more intense. He'd forget to eat sleep only and snatches and spend hours upon hours lost in calculations and diagrams. The alchemical furnaces grew cold, and the theological manuscripts gathered dust as his attention shifted entirely to the heavens. It's almost like these comments were the missing piece he'd been searching for, the catalyst that finally brought all his diverse interests and knowledge together. And out of this period of intense focus and relentless work, emerged one of the most important scientific works ever written. Okay. The philosophy actorales Principia Mathematica. Wow! Or simply the Principia. Okay, the Principia. I've heard the name, of course, but to be honest, I'm not quite sure what it's all about. What exactly did Newton achieve with this book? It's where he lays out his three laws of motion, and most importantly, his law of universal gravitation, which provided a mathematical framework for understanding the movement of everything in the universe from falling apples to orbiting planets. So he essentially created a unified theory of the universe, explaining how all these seemingly disparate phenomena were actually connected by a single fundamental force, gravity. Precisely. And he didn't just propose this idea. He proved it mathematically, showing how his law could be used. to calculate the orbits of planets with incredible accuracy. Wow. It was a truly revolutionary achievement that transformed our understanding of the cosmos and our place within it. It's mind boggling to think that he was able to do all this to unlock these secrets of the universe without the aid of modern computers or even telescopes as powerful as the ones we have today. It is amazing. It speaks volumes about his genius, his ability to see patterns and connections that others simply missed. And what's remarkable is that even as he was creating this sense of order, revealing the underlying mathematical harmony of the universe, he recognized the inherent limits of his own predictions. What do you mean? Didn't he believe the universe worked like a giant clock, predictable and precise? He did believe in the power of mathematics to describe the universe. Yeah. But he also understood that even with his laws, it was impossible to predict the movements of celestial bodies with perfect precision, especially as the number of bodies involved increased. He saw that even within this seemingly ordered system, there was an element of chaos and unpredictability that could never be fully eliminated. It's like he was acknowledging the inherent complexity of nature, the fact that even the most brilliant minds can never fully grasp the totality of the universe. Right. But his story doesn't end with the Principia, does it? What happened to Newton after he published this groundbreaking work? Well, his life took another fascinating turn. Okay. He left the quiet world of academia and entered the realm of politics and power. OK. He served as a member of parliament, represented the University of Cambridge, and even became the warden of the Royal Mint. Wait, Newton the politician? That's not an image I've ever associated with him. I know. It's surprising. It seems like quite a departure from the solitary scholar we've been discussing. It's a testament to the growing recognition of the power of scientific knowledge. Right. His expertise in mathematics and physics made him a valuable asset in matters of finance and economics. In fact, he oversaw the Great Recoinage, a massive undertaking that involved replacing England's old devalued currency with new standardized coins. So he went from calculating the orbits of planets to managing the nation's currency. That's quite a career change. It is. It's a reminder that Newton's intellect was vast and multifaceted. It was. He was able to apply his analytical skills and problem-solving abilities to a wide range of challenges, both theoretical and practical. Exactly. And yet through all of this, he never abandoned his quest for knowledge, did he? Absolutely not. He continued to explore and experiment, pushing the boundaries of what was known until his death in 1727. Wow. And his legacy. Well, that's a story from that time. We've been on quite a journey with Isaac Newton, the secretive genius, the alchemist. the heretical theologian, the revolutionary scientist, and even the master of the royal mint. It's amazing to think how one person could achieve so much in a single lifetime. But his story doesn't end there, does it? His influence extended far beyond his own time. Absolutely. Newton's impact on the world is almost immeasurable. He didn't just change how we understand the universe. He changed how we think about knowledge itself. So it wasn't just about specific discoveries like gravity or calculus. but about a whole new way of approaching the world. Exactly. Newton's emphasis on reason, observation, and mathematical proof laid the groundwork for the Enlightenment, a period of incredible intellectual and cultural change. Thinkers across Europe embraced his methods, applying them not only to the natural world, but also to society, politics, and religion. So he was challenging people to question traditional authorities and rely on their own reasoning and empirical evidence. That's a pretty powerful legacy. It was a radical shift in thinking. and it had profound consequences. Newton's work became a flashpoint for debates about the nature of reality, the role of God in the universe, and the limits of human understanding. It's fascinating how his discoveries could be interpreted in so many different ways. Some people saw his work as proof of God's existence. They imagined a perfectly ordered universe, a grand clockwork mechanism set in motion by a divine hand. While others saw his emphasis on natural laws as a challenge to traditional religious beliefs, They argued that if the universe operated according to fixed principles, then there was less need for divine intervention or miracles. It's like his work sparked this intellectual earthquake shaking the foundations of both science and religion. And it didn't stop there. His ideas about space, time, and motion had a huge impact on the development of philosophy. Thinkers like John Locke and Immanuel Kant grappled with the implications of a universe governed by immutable laws. They questioned the nature of free will. The limits of human perception. and the very essence of what it means to be human in a world seemingly ruled by cause and effect. It's incredible to think about the ripple effects of his work, how it continues to shape our understanding of the universe and ourselves centuries later. But beyond the philosophical debates, what about Newton's direct impact on the field of science? Well, in addition to the Principia, he also published Optics in 1704, a groundbreaking work that detailed his experiments and theories about light and color. But what's especially interesting about optics is that it wasn't just a dry scientific treatise. He included a series of queries at the end where he speculated about a range of topics that went beyond the scope of his actual experiments. So he was acknowledging that there was still so much more to discover, inviting future generations of scientists to pick up where he left off. Exactly. He understood that his work was just a stepping stone, a foundation upon which others could build. He was leaving room for new questions, new challenges, and new breakthroughs. And did those breakthroughs come? Did Newton's work inspire future generations of scientists? Absolutely. His laws of motion and universal gravitation became the bedrock of classical physics, and his work in optics laid the foundation for countless discoveries in that field. But it wasn't just his specific findings that mattered. It was his approach to science, his rigorous combination of mathematical reasoning, meticulous experimentation, and careful observation that truly revolutionized the field. He established a new standard for scientific inquiry. It's like he provided a roadmap, a guide for how to explore the mysteries of the universe in a systematic and verifiable way. And that roadmap has led to countless scientific advancements over the past three centuries. Think about it. Our understanding of everything from electricity and magnetism to the structure of atoms and the nature of light itself build upon the foundation that Newton laid. It's mind blowing when you think about it that way. He essentially set in motion a scientific revolution that continues to this day. But as we've seen, fame has its complexities. Did Newton have to grapple with his own celebrity? As his fame grew, he became more than just a scientist. He became a symbol, an icon argued over and interpreted by theologians, philosophers, poets, and artists. They all wrestled with what his discoveries meant for humanity, how they fit into their understanding of the world. It seems like the meaning of Newtonian became almost a Rorschach test, with everyone projecting their own hopes and fears onto his legacy. Exactly. Some saw him as a champion of reason, demonstrating the power of the human mind to comprehend the universe. Others saw him as a symbol of cold, mechanistic determinism, stripping away the mystery and wonder of the cosmos. And to this day, debates continue about the true meaning and implications of his work. It's a testament to the enduring power of his ideas that we're still wrestling with them centuries later. You know, I started this deep dive thinking I knew a thing or two about Isaac Newton, but- I've come away with a whole new appreciation for the man and his legacy. He was so much more than the Apple myth. He was a man of contradictions, driven by an almost insatiable hunger to understand the world around him. He wasn't afraid to challenge the status quo, to explore unorthodox ideas, and to push the boundaries of human knowledge. And in doing so, he left us with a legacy of discovery and a spirit of inquiry that continues to inspire us to this day. It's a reminder that the quest for knowledge is an ongoing journey full of twists and turns, unexpected discoveries, and profound questions. And sometimes it takes a truly extraordinary mind like Newton's to illuminate the path forward. Thanks for joining us on this deep dive into the world of Isaac Newton. Until next time, keep exploring.