Astronomy Documentary 2017 HD - Brilliant Minds, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton

In 1936, Sotheby's in London auctioned a vast collection of Isaac Newton's scientific documents and personal papers. Many were written in code and purchased by economist John Maynard Keynes, who spent six years deciphering them. These papers revealed an unknown side of Newton, obsessed with religion and the occult, contrasting his image as a rational scientist. Historians now strive to reconcile the public and private personas of Newton.

Isaac Newton predicted the end of the world in 2060, based on his interpretation of the Bible. This prediction, which recently made headlines, reflects Newton's deep religious beliefs. Contrary to his image as a pure rationalist, Newton's manuscripts show him as a man profoundly influenced by theology, blending science and faith. His early life was marked by personal and political turmoil, shaping his insular and obsessive nature.

Newton's childhood and early adulthood were shaped by personal loss and political instability. At Cambridge, he immersed himself in studies, creating a plan to maintain chastity through continuous intellectual engagement. Despite his genius and groundbreaking work in calculus and physics, Newton's reclusive and intense nature made him an outsider, with only one close friend, John Wiccans.

Newton invented calculus to measure changing quantities like the speed of a falling apple. He also made significant breakthroughs in optics, discovering that white light is composed of various colors. Newton's work laid the foundation for modern physics and mathematics, but he kept many of his discoveries secret for years.

Newton designed a new type of telescope using mirrors instead of lenses, eliminating chromatic aberration. This innovation had a profound impact on astronomy, allowing clearer observations. Newton's telescope gained immediate acclaim, bringing him recognition and membership in the Royal Society.

Newton's alchemical experiments, often dismissed as pseudoscience, were systematic and reproducible. Historians now view his alchemy as an early form of modern chemistry. Newton's alchemical work, revealed through manuscripts and recreated experiments, demonstrated his holistic approach to understanding nature.

Newton privately opposed the central doctrine of Christianity, the Trinity, believing it to be heretical. His theological studies, revealed in manuscripts housed in Jerusalem, show his conviction that science and religion were intertwined. Newton's secret beliefs could have ended his career if exposed.

Newton's theological studies included attempts to predict the end of the world, which he calculated to occur in 2060. This pursuit was part of his broader quest to understand divine truth. Newton's integration of religious and scientific inquiries reflects the unity of knowledge he sought throughout his life.

Newton's realization that the same force of gravity governs both earthly and celestial objects revolutionized science. His thought experiment with a cannonball demonstrated how gravity keeps planets in orbit, leading to his formulation of the universal law of gravitation. This breakthrough unified the understanding of motion on Earth and in space.

Newton's Principia Mathematica, a monumental work in science, introduced the laws of motion and universal gravitation. This book provided a new framework for understanding the universe, influencing subsequent scientific advancements. Despite initial criticism and rivalry, Newton's Principia remains a cornerstone of modern physics.

After facing criticism, Newton withdrew from the scientific community, immersing himself in alchemical research. His alchemical pursuits, once considered a deviation, are now recognized as part of his systematic approach to understanding nature. Newton's alchemy aimed to uncover the fundamental principles of matter.

In his later years, Newton moved to London, where he took on influential roles, including Master of the Mint and President of the Royal Society. He continued to work on theology and published his second major work, Opticks. Newton's multifaceted contributions to science, alchemy, and theology solidify his legacy as one of history's greatest intellectuals.